Chapter 35 Hayden
HAYDEN
There were certain things that felt warm and comforting, in life. Rain lightly tapping the roof, for example, while you’re safe indoors. Or your favorite soft blanket, fresh from the dryer.
These things were nice, but they paled in comparison to the triple hug I received once I arrived home. And it really did feel like home. There was no doubting that now.
“You never should’ve gone over there,” Bodie warned again. His long arms were like steel cables, wrapped tightly around me. “We should’ve come with you.”
“No,” I told him, cuddling against his chest. “That training center is Cole’s turf. He’d have home field advantage.”
“He came into my bar,” Carter reasoned. “Why should we care about going to a place that’s not even his?”
“Because it is his,” I told him. “Not technically, but when Cole made the UFC roster everyone in that place went with him. Some physically, some only in spirit, but he became a hometown hero, practically overnight. The second you walked in there you’d have a hundred pairs of eyes, grilling you down. ”
“So fucking what?”
Sawyer’s voice seethed with a barely controlled intensity. Out of the three of them, for some reason he seemed the most angry.
“I’m serious,” he continued. “Who gives a shit about anything but nailing this guy to the wall for fucking with us? I don’t care how famous he is, or was, or—”
“Look, we’ll figure this out tomorrow,” reasoned Carter. “Right now it’s late. Everyone’s high strung.”
Sawyer swung his head slowly left and right. “Fuck that. I’m tired of waiting around for Diesel Doomhammer to do something else. And he will, you know. Next time, maybe even to her.”
He pointed at me, then grabbed his motorcycle helmet.
“Sawyer—”
It was already too late. Sawyer was in motion, and judging by his energy level, I knew there was no stopping him. The others knew it too. They watched, solemnly, as the door slammed behind him.
“Shit,” said Bodie.
“Yeah,” agreed Carter. “I know.”
The short blast of cold air from the doorway hit me, but it was enough to send a chill down my spine. I was tired and drained. Emotionally and physically shot.
“I’ll start a fire,” Bodie offered. “We’ll sleep down here.”
He nudged me, pointing in the direction of the floor in front of the fireplace.
“All three of us?” I asked hopefully, slipping my hand into Carter’s. Bodie was still holding the other.
Carter’s smile was enough to make my stomach do somersaults.
“Grab all the pillows and blankets you can,” he said, squeezing my hand. “I promise you’re gonna sleep good tonight.”