Dirty Little Mistake (Hard to Love #2)

Chapter 1

Camryn

T wo years later…

Bouncing back and forth from side to side, shifting from foot to foot, I threw my fist fast and hard in front of me. My gaze zeroed in on the punching gloves my trainer wore on his hands. My arms and legs burned as sweat trailed down my face.

I had lots of hobbies—boxing, skating—but my real passion was dancing, or at least I thought. I started dancing when I was little, and I wasn't sure if I really loved it or if it was just a way to stay closer to my dad. The last time I'd seen him alive was on that stage performing for him.

Early mornings, I spent time on the ice with Kaia, and during the day, I attended Royal Academy of the Arts, where my main focus was dance. I also took a couple of college classes at the local university, mostly online. A couple of days a week, in the evenings, I boxed.

I threw my fist forward and then ducked when my trainer swung back at me.

I was still new to boxing, and I wasn't exactly sure how far I wanted to go with it. It started as a hobby to help me release built-up tension and aggression, but now I was itching to get into the ring.

My trainer didn't think I was ready, and he was probably right, but that didn't stop my curiosity and my need to explore the Cages, an underground fighting ring that had a reputation for being wild.

After Trystan's concert, Kaia and I were going to check it out. I wanted to see what it was all about.

"That's a wrap for today." Rex peeled off his training pads.

Rex was a retired fighter and, from what I'd heard, a pretty badass one, but in all the months we'd worked together, all the hours of training, he'd never brought up his career.

Even though Rex was much older, he was still in great shape—tall with salt and pepper shaggy hair, built like a muscular fighter who worked out and put in hours every day inside the ring.

"Hit the showers, and I'll see you Monday."

I twisted away as I tore one of my gloves off.

"Hey, Young." The rasp of Rex's voice made me pause at the ropes. "Good job today. Keep that up, and you'll have your first match soon." His words carried the weight of experience, but I just yanked off my remaining glove, hiding how much his approval meant to me.

I dipped through the ropes, sliding one leg through and then my body before straightening and pulling my other leg through. Something moved in my peripheral vision, and I glanced over.

I sucked in a sharp breath as a blur of dark hair caught my attention, and everything went downhill. I stepped out, but there was no step. My hands scrambled to grab the rope, tossing my gloves up in the air, but it was too late. I was going down. My body tensed, and my eyes closed as I braced for impact, saying a silent prayer that I didn't hurt myself as I inched closer to the floor.

But I didn't hit the ground.

Strong arms caught me. The warmth of his chest seeped through my damp workout tank, and I became acutely aware of every point of contact between us.

Each breath brought the familiar scent of his cologne mingled with something darker, earthier.

Trystan…

My pulse quickened, and I wasn't sure if it was from the near-fall or from the way his fingers splayed protectively across my ribs.

Trystan's hands steadied me, his fingers warm against my skin. "Are you okay?"

"Uh yeah." A sharp twinge shot through my ankle. I winced but tried to ignore it. "You scared me."

He ducked his head closer to mine, that infuriating smirk playing across his lips as though my clumsiness amused him.

I shook my head, willing myself to wake from what must be a dream. Trystan had never shown up at the gym. In fact, he'd never shown up anywhere that I was that Jax and Kaia were at.

In the past two years, we'd had a few run-ins at the house and exchanged a handful of words, but that was it. He'd been so distant that I actually thought I'd dreamed our kiss on the terrace.

"What are you doing here?" My fingers unconsciously tightened in the fabric of his shirt.

Trystan's thumb traced an absent pattern on my arm. "I was headed to practice, but Lennon and Creed have food poisoning."

I narrowed my eyes. "But what are you doing here?" I pointed to the floor. "At the gym."

"Kai said you've been training here, so I came to check it out."

My face twisted with confusion. "Why?" My gaze shifted down, and I realized he was still holding me. "Shit, sorry." I moved to stand and yelped when I put pressure on my right foot. My hands flew out, twisting in his black t-shirt.

Trystan's large hands grabbed my arms, helping me steady myself. "Are you okay?"

"I think I twisted my ankle." The words came out through gritted teeth.

Trystan crouched down, his calloused fingers hovering near but not quite touching my rapidly swelling ankle. "Can you put any pressure on it?"

I tested the weight and immediately regretted it, my fingers digging into his shoulders for support. My gaze dropped to where the skin was already turning an angry red.

"Some badass fighter I am." The laugh that escaped was more bitter than I intended. "I can't even get out of the ring without hurting myself."

Trystan's hands shifted to better support my weight. His expression softened into something that wasn't quite pity but wasn't quite humor either.

"We should get you home and get some ice on it."

He leaned forward, scooping me into his arms.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying not to let the rush of excitement I felt show on my face.

Trystan West showed up at my gym, I think, to see me and is now carrying me and my swollen ankle out.

Thank God for little miracles.

"Do you want to crash at my place tonight?" Trystan asked, carrying me out of the building.

"Uh—" The words stuck in my throat as his cologne clouded my senses. I forced myself to focus. "I can call Kaia and see what she's up to."

He stopped, his gaze shifting to meet mine. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "I meant with me."

My eyes widened before pinching with confusion. "You want me to spend the night with you?"

"Yeah." He smirked.

"That's going to be hard to explain to Kaia."

Trystan leaned closer, his voice dropping to that low whisper that always made my stomach flip. "She doesn't have to know. We can crash in the pool house tonight."

My chest twisted with the same gut-wrenching feeling I'd had after the first night we'd spent together, and I knew I wasn't going down that road again. "No, thanks." I shook my head.

His brows furrowed briefly like I'd both surprised and confused him. I wasn't going to be Trystan's dirty little secret. He would have to find someone else to play that role. If he wanted me, he'd have to step the fuck up. I'd agreed to keep our kiss and one night together a secret once, and I had no intention of repeating that night again.

"Can I give you a ride home?" Trystan shifted his weight, his arms tightening around me.

"Actually, Kaia dropped me off because my car is in the shop, and Owen offered to give me a ride home tonight." I forced a smile. "He should be here shortly."

"Owen, huh?" Trystan's jaw tightened, but I recognized that micro-expression from years of watching him. I kept my face neutral. Owen and I were friends, and I wouldn't use him to make Trystan jealous because that wasn't the relationship I wanted with Trystan.

I wanted him to want me because he was obsessed with me, not because he was jealous of someone else having me first. "Okay, well, are you coming to my concert tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll be there." I smiled. "I'll be the one in the front of the stage screaming all the lyrics like a fangirl."

He huffed out a laugh. "There's an after-party. You should come and hang out with me."

"Is that a special invite to hang out with the band's lead singer?" I channeled my inner fangirl, batting my eyelashes with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"Yeah." Trystan's gaze dropped to my lips. "And Kaia already knows that I'm inviting you, so no secrets."

My heart swelled to three times its size at the realization that this was really happening. Trystan West, the boy I'd been infatuated with since the first time I saw him, had asked me to hang out with him. I'd already made plans, but those plans would have to wait because I might never get an opportunity like this again.

A white car swerved into the parking lot, stopping in front of us.

Shoving the door open, Owen slid out of the car. "What happened?"

"She twisted her ankle." Trystan's grip on me stayed firm even as he explained, his thumb absently brushing against my thigh in a way that made my skin tingle. "She'll probably need help getting inside her house."

Owen nodded, moving to jerk open the passenger door. Trystan stepped forward before leaning over and setting me into the passenger seat. "I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered. My head shifted at the same time he leaned in, our lips collided, and fireworks boomed.

He pulled out of the kiss. "Tomorrow," I breathed. The corners of his mouth lifted in that crooked grin that I fell for over and over again as he withdrew from the car.

"Later, Owen." Trystan backed away with the fluid grace of someone used to commanding attention, his silhouette melting into the darkness beyond the parking lot's flood lights.

"What was that about?" Owen slid behind the wheel, drumming an irregular pattern on the steering wheel as he watched Trystan's retreating form.

I shook my head as my gaze shifted to stare out the window in the direction Trystan disappeared. "I have no idea." And I didn't. Trystan showed up out of nowhere, which was completely out of character for him, and invited me to hang out with him tomorrow. Something had changed, though I couldn't be sure what yet.