by Nana Prah
“I confronted him about it in the office.”
“About what?”
“It took all of a minute once I saw the way you two behaved towards each other to realize that you’d gotten involved. Why didn’t you tell me?” Trista’s voice quivered.
Oh, no. Her sister wasn’t going to turn this around so that she was the victim. “I wanted to enjoy him before you inevitably tore him apart and tried to influence me to break things off. As much as you think you know what’s best for me, once I put aside my fears, I discovered that I know even better.”
If she didn’t get away from Trista, she’d end up saying something they’d both regret. She handed over the car keys. “I’ll take a cab back.”
“But—”
Closing her eyes, Gia took a deep breath so she wouldn’t embarrass them by yelling on a public street. “Go home or wherever you need to be.”
For once she couldn’t bring herself to care about the tears in Trista’s eyes as she walked away.
A question flashed big and bold in her head. One that she couldn’t answer because everything she'd learned about the past six weeks had been turned upside down.
Lamar was a proud and accomplished man. His willingness to put his life at risk by getting back into the cage claimed it. Having the reputation of his business threatened probably didn’t sit well with him.
Everything made more sense now that she knew the reasoning behind it all. His indirect answers to simple inquiries. Wanting to keep them a secret until their sessions were completed.
The question hurt to contemplate.
Had he used her?
The anger with her sister would fade after a couple of hours. Trista's busy-body heart had been in the right place. Lamar was another matter. She'd trusted him. Although she'd never proclaimed it, she’d fallen in love. Real love.
Her emotions rebounded from livid to depressed more times in a minute than was healthy. The one thing she knew was that with the confidence she’d reestablished, she'd never let anyone take advantage of her again.
No matter why he did what he did, he hadn’t been forthcoming with the complete truth. The trust had been shattered. So had whatever they’d started.
Chapter 28
With a dozen crimson roses mixed with baby’s breath in his right hand, Lamar climbed the steps to Gia's home two at a time. Excitement and nervousness nipped at him for their first date. After that debacle with Trista earlier, Gia hadn’t contacted him to cancel, so he presumed they were still on.
He pressed the doorbell and widened his stance, expecting her to leap on him like she normally did when she opened the door.
A minute passed. It never took her this long to answer. Maybe she hadn’t heard the chime. He pressed it again. After what felt like forever, the wood panel opened to reveal the woman who’d captured his heart.
Dressed in a raggedy old t-shirt and striped pajama bottoms with her favorite fuzzy slippers adorning her feet, the outfit resembled the ones she’d gone to bed in when she’d had her period. Holding her in his arms all night during those evenings had been comfortable and right.
Confused at her outfit, but unable to stay away, he leaned in for a kiss only to miss her mouth when she turned her head to the side with her lips contorted into a scowl.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did you use me?”
Apprehension snaked down his spine. “What?”
“Trista told me about the deal she made with you. Professionalism my ass. You weren’t worried about that one bit. Keeping us a secret was all about not having my sister find out and then trashing your gym.” Her clenched jaw muscles redefined her face.
He skimmed a hand over his head and huffed out a breath. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“So you didn’t tell me to keep our rel—, um, fling a secret so that Trista wouldn’t find out?”
“There’s a reason—”
Her dark eyes shot daggers as she jabbed a finger towards his chest. “When I asked you why you were training me, were you being completely honest?”
Strike two. “No, but I—”
“We’re not working glutes here, so no buts.”
Any other time he would’ve laughed at his words being thrown back at him.
“And when you showed up at my job because I’d missed a workout. It wasn’t something you would’ve done with any other client. You were obligated and couldn’t let me miss it. I knew something was off.” She flexed her hands into fists. “I knew it.”
Rather than let him tell his side, she spun on her slippered heel to go into the house. He caught her by the arm. “Wait. Let me explain.”
When she glared down at where he touched, he let go.
“I don’t abide liars, Lamar. I can’t trust them. All they do is provide disappointment, one after the other without caring about their impact on anyone but themselves.”
His skin went clammy at her sharp tone. “I’m sorry I wasn’t completely honest, but I never lied to you. I swear,” he said to her back.
“Omission is still an offense in my book.” She rounded on him and the pain in her eyes made his heart ache. “Especially when I asked you direct questions.”
The frustration and rage that resonated from her was punctuated by the crossing of her arms over her chest and a fierce glower. “I’ve always been negligible to my parents. A non-entity. Things got worse this year at work. I was nothing to them. Nobody was willing to fight for me like I’d done for another. I was a secondary aspect of their lives. Never really belonging…” her voice cracked and she cleared it. “Except for Trista. And because of that, I wasn’t able to defend myself at work when I had to. It almost broke me.”
The back of her hand made a violent swipe at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “The worst part about this whole situation was that you knew. You knew everything.” Her balled fist landed on her abdomen. “I thought I was starting to mean something to you. That for once I could be someone’s first choice. The one you wanted to be with because I am who I am, not for what I have or could do for you, but…” The rest of the words were obliterated by a hard swallow.
His ribs tightened in desperation to relieve her of the pain. He’d caused this. Why hadn’t he been honest from the beginning? There’d been too much to lose. Reaching out to pull her to him and hold on until the pain dissipated would backfire so he kept both arms down at his sides with his free palm facing forward in total submission. “Gia, I care about you. I couldn’t tell you about the contract because it would’ve had a huge impact on more than myself. Losing Trista’s review would’ve hurt our chances of opening a new facility. Can I come in so we can discuss this?”
She cinched her lips into a tight line before flexing them and baring her teeth. “You did this for a new gym?”
His stomach plunged. “Baby, please just listen to me.”
In a flash the snarl that had just warped her face disappeared into a semblance of a smile. “At least I didn’t lose out completely in this little game you all had going on.” She perused him from head to toe, making his skin crawl with dread at whatever her next words would be. He’d never seen her eyes so cold.
“Look at you. You’re every woman’s fantasy. From what I’ve heard, you’ve fulfilled them for many. Including me. The sex was out of this world. An experience I hope the next man I date will be able to replicate. If not him, then the next until I find someone who truly cares about and respects me.”
Her tone was edged with a sharpness that twisted the machete she’d plunged into his chest.
She shook her head. “I thought I could support you in your insane need to return to the UFC. Now I know that I wouldn’t have been able to do it. Not when its only pride that drives you. You had a great career. It ended. Get over it. You have so many people you can help with your money, time, and skills. I couldn’t tell you this before because I didn’t want to interfere. Now that I’ll never see you again, it feels good to finally get it off my chest. Goodbye, Lamar.
”
“Just let me explain.”
“No. When I was ready to listen you fed me lies. I’m done.”
“Come on, Gia. I like you and I know you like me too. We can work through this.”
She shook her head, took a retreating step and went into her home closing the door in his face without a single look back.
A spark of wisdom made him halt just before banging on the door. She had every right to be angry. He would let her cool off, and then they’d discuss it rationally.
A sting in his palm registered. The thorns from the roses he fisted bit into his skin. He lowered them to the doorstep.
She hadn’t meant to end it. She couldn’t have, and yet with people you never really knew what was in their mind or heart. Even when they told you. Everyone tried to protect themselves as much as possible. Especially him. Wasn’t that why he hadn’t told her about the contract?
Did she also have so little faith in him that she hadn’t speculated that he’d calculated the risk of returning to the UFC?
The soul-wrenching desire to fight outweighed anything else.
Even having Gia in your life?
A complication he would have to contemplate.
Chapter 29
The weekend had been filled with more tears than Gia had ever shed in her life. That’s even counting her eleventh birthday when a full twenty-four hours had passed without her parents bothering to call. The day she’d realized they didn’t love her half as much as they did their work.
It was so much harder without Trista to lean on and talk to. She’d never experienced such a state of despair and loneliness. The time crawled by and all she wanted to do was sleep. Not even the thought of eating comfort food held pleasure.
She was still punishing Trista by ignoring her calls and texts. Maybe next time the meddler would think twice before interfering in her business. Knowing her sister, most likely not.
It had occurred to her after Lamar’s several attempts to get in contact that if she didn’t block him, he’d harass her with his efforts to give an explanation. What was there to say? Absolutely nothing.
Trista burst through the door Sunday evening using her key. Her sister had given her more time than her impatient nature usually allowed.
“That’s it!” She flung a bouquet of withering red roses on the coffee table. The same ones Lamar had held last night.
“I’m sorry. I did it for your own good. Now it’s time to get over yourself and start adoring me again.”
As far as apologies went, it was one of the best Trista had ever doled out. It took a surprising amount of energy for Gia to roll onto her back. When Trista noticed her puffy, red eyes, she sank onto the couch.
“Oh, my goodness, Gia. I’m so sorry.” The gentle hand Trista placed on her shoulder soothed. “It’s been horrible not talking to you. I won’t butt into your life again, I promise.”
Of course, her sister would think the evidence of her crying was all about her.
She garnered enough energy to push herself up to sit. Depleted of strength, she rested her head on the back of the couch. Served her right for not eating the whole day. A total one-eighty of how she would have dealt with her grief just six weeks ago.
“Can you get me a yogurt from the fridge?”
Trista looked as if she wouldn’t leave her side. But then she stood and went. A few minutes later, the cool, smooth mixed berry treat had made its way down to her stomach as she ignored her sister’s concerned eyes.
She emptied the container and handed it to Trista, who placed it on the coffee table.
“Do you forgive me?”
Gia sighed. “Ten minutes after I left you yesterday.”
Trista’s perfectly micro-bladed brows drew closer. “Then what’s wrong?”
“It’s Lamar.”
“He broke it off with you. I knew it. He can’t maintain a relationship to save his life. I’m going to crucify his ass for hurting you.” Her voice went down a full octave. “He’s going down.”
Before Trista could spring up from the couch, grab her cell from her bag, and do major damage to the gym, Gia clutched her arm and held her in place.
“I broke it off with him.”
Trista’s snarled upper lip and her flexed arm relaxed. Another way the two differed. Gia tended to move at a snail’s pace when it came to getting upset. Once she cared enough to get angry, it pretty much remained a permanent state, except when it came to Trista. Her sister on the other hand could cuss out anyone who pissed her off and then smile at them once she felt relieved.
“How did this all start? And why didn’t you tell me about getting involved with him?”
The moment of being able to talk about the experience with Lamar had arrived. Too bad sorrow clung to it. “There’s been an attraction between us since the first day we met. I thought it was just on my side, because…well, you’ve seen him. Every time we trained, I learned more about him. And he made me laugh even as he tortured me. On our way to the MMA match we opened up, and when he dropped me off, we…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence without diminishing the impact their lovemaking had on her. They’d been more than bodies joining. She could’ve sworn emotions had been involved, but perhaps it had only been in her mind.
Trista tipped her head and looked towards the ceiling from the corner of her eye. When she gasped, Gia knew her sister had done the calculations. “That was three weeks ago. Three whole weeks. How could you have kept this from me for so long?”
“That’s part of the issue.” Too much of an effort to straighten her spine, her shoulders fell forward. “Lamar wanted to keep it quiet. To maintain professionalism. He told me he didn’t date clients and it would look bad.”
Trista bounded to her feet. “I’m going to choke the no-good skunk with my bare hands.”
The image made Gia smile. “You can’t even wrap your hands around his neck, it’s massive. Ultimate fighting champion, remember? He’d see any of your attempts coming from a mile away. Believe me, I’ve tried when we were training.” And during our intimate times when she’d discovered how playful he could be.
A wave of gloom hit and her throat tightened. She wouldn’t be working out with him. Hell, she’d never see him again. Refusing to cry anymore, she reached forward for her glass and emptied it. Even drinking water made her think about him.
Trista must’ve sensed her grief because she sat on the couch and rested her head on Gia’s shoulder. It felt good to be loved.
“He held back the truth from me. You know how I feel about liars.”
“They can all go to hell carrying their own cans of kerosene,” Trista mumbled.
No one knew her better. “Exactly. So when he came over last night for our first date, I confronted him about not being direct with me.”
Trista’s head jerked up. “Wait a minute! You were supposed to go out with him? In public?”
“Yes.”
“Huh.” She paused as if contemplating the idea.
“There was another reason I broke it off.”
“He’s going back into the UFC.” Her sister could smell gossip from a light year away. “Yeah, I know. He’ll be fighting Ivan Fedin. I’ve heard that it isn’t a fair match. Fedin is going to get his ass whooped. The guy is good, but Lamar has a way more well-rounded fighting style.”
Gia scrambled to a full seated position. What the fuck was going on?
Trista giggled. “I got the info from Suarez. We’ve been talking. Well actually I do most of the talking. He’s a quiet sort.”
She chose the more shocking of the bombs. “My goodness, Trista. Why were you all hurt about me not confiding in you about Lamar when you were doing the same?”
“It’s not a big deal,” she said with a shrug. “He hasn’t asked me out or anything. We just chat.”
Gia could hear the disappointment in her sister’s voice. When she wanted to talk about it she would. “Are you saying that Suarez knows about Lamar returning to the UFC?�
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“Yes, but he doesn’t know they know, so they can’t support him like they want to. Not until he spills.”
“But he could get brain damage if he fights again.”
“According to Suarez, Lamar was miserable when he retired. He even went into a state of depression where he had to get counselling. A few months ago, his mood lifted, and he became himself again. When they discovered that he had entered to fight, they were incensed, but that wore off quickly. His life is MMA. If they stand against that, they stand against him, and they care about him too much to be selfish when it’s what he wants.”
The hits just kept coming. His best friends were able to support Lamar’s vision while she had been plotting ways to stop him.
“It’s one of the reasons I broke up with him.”
“Because he’s going after his dream?”
Gia shook her head. “Because he could get permanently hurt.”
“I can understand why you’d be upset with his decision, but he’s going after what he wants. Life holds no guarantees, sis.”
They sat in silence contemplating the profound words.
Trista wrung her hands together. “I have a confession. I was jealous of what I witnessed between you two. For a minute I could see you being happy with him, and I questioned where that would put me in your life, so I attacked Lamar to get him to back off.”
Gia looped an arm around Trista’s shoulders. “You’ll always be in the same place you’ve resided. I only have one sister and one best friend. You can never be replaced.”
Trista sniffled. “Thanks.”
“It looks like you’ll have me to yourself for a little longer.”
“Why? He likes you. Plus, he’s a decent guy. Out of all the things I’d heard about him, sleeping with his clients hadn’t been one. I’m not saying he doesn’t get around, but he takes his status as a businessman seriously.”
Gia was having a hard time holding on to her anger about his motives, but not about his actions. “He refused to tell me the whole truth.”
“To be honest, I wouldn’t have told you either. I swore him and his crew to secrecy, so he couldn’t. Especially when it came to my role in all of it. Telling you wouldn’t have served him.”