Chapter 51 Violet
VIOLET
If I hadn’t attended a Harden Night before, I’d think the place was hopping, but honestly, it’s pretty low key.
Instead of the house brimming with people until there’s no available seating and the ground is littered with cups, there are plenty of places to relax, the music is just below headache inducing, and there’s room at the makeshift bar to put together a drink instead of being so crowded you’re lucky to have a random cup handed to you by the self-appointed bartender.
“Hey.” Jagger wraps his arm around the back of my neck, tugs me into him, and kisses my forehead. And if that isn’t the way a girl wants to be greeted, I don’t know what is.
“Hey, you,” I murmur. His lips linger on my skin, and I close my eyes, leaning into him. When he finally pulls away, he tilts his head, taking me in. “What is it?” I ask.
“Missed you.”
“Missed you, too,” I reply, stealing another kiss because, let’s be real, who wouldn’t? As my heels hit the ground again, I look around the room. “It’s kind of quiet tonight.”
“Yeah.” He looks around, then offers me a shrug. “We don’t usually do back-to-back Harden Nights.”
“So, why now?”
“This is a…” His mouth bunches on one side, and he scratches his jaw. “A decoy, I guess?”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re using this party to get our uncle off our backs,” Ford explains, appearing out of nowhere like a damn magician. “If Judge’s lackeys see us tonight and note there aren't any nefarious shenanigans, we’re more likely to fly under the radar tomorrow, when the real shit goes down.”
I look up at Jagger. “Do you think he’d still be upset? Even after your conversation with him at the shop?”
“Good question,” Jagger murmurs.
Ford adds, “We figured it wasn’t worth the risk. Not yet. Besides, we already had this planned, so it works out.” He grins at June beside me. “June.”
Already blushing, June sucks her lips between her teeth and looks at the ground. “Ford.”
“Nice seeing you again. You look…” His voice trails off as his gaze slides down her curvy frame.
The woman’s either a genius or a serious glutton for punishment in her sundress and jean jacket with dark brown boots.
Gorgeous? Yes. Innocent? Also, yes. Radiating untouchable vibes enough to leave a man like Ford drooling?
I glance at Jagger’s brother and bite back my grin. One hundred percent.
“Geez, Jeep,” Lexie interrupts. “If you keep eye-fucking my friend like that, she just might wind up pregnant.”
Ford’s nose wrinkles. “Aaaand, boner gone. All right, ladies.” He rubs his hands together. “Can I get anyone a drink before I continue making the rounds?’
“Beer for me,” Lexie orders.
“I’m good,” I say.
Ford turns to June, but she stays quiet. “And you?” he prods.
“I’ll take a…rum and diet, please,” June murmurs.
Ford smirks. “Coming right up.”
As he disappears to grab our drinks, Lexie says something to June when a guy from one of my classes approaches Jagger.
“Hey, man,” he says. “Heard about the fight. It’s gonna be insane.”
“Yeah.” Jagger hesitates. “You’re not going to want to miss it.”
“For sure,” the stranger replies. “I already dropped five hundred on you.”
Five hundred? As in…dollars?
Yeesh.
I mean, I guess it makes sense. The guy isn’t from The Drift, so he has more cash to spare.
Then again, even if he didn’t, it still wouldn’t be a bad bet.
Jagger’s talented. Like, really talented.
And since I’ve witnessed firsthand how hard Jagger trains, how much he eats, sleeps, and breathes this sport, I’m pretty sure he could fight professionally if he didn’t already have a promising future laid out for himself.
No. I’m not afraid of Jagger fighting. Who he’s fighting is what makes me nervous.
When I found out, I may or may not have had a baby meltdown.
I don't think Jagger will lose. I’ve seen him in action.
It’s just…well, there’s some bad blood there, you know?
And most of it’s my fault. Jagger squeezes me into his side as if he can read my thoughts while he continues his discussion with what’s-his-face.
Letting Jagger take my weight, I loop my arm around his lower back, grateful he’s here with me.
Besides, he’s going to be fine. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have said yes to the fight. Right?
“What about you?” June asks Lexie. “Are you going to make a bet?”
“Nah.” Lexie shakes her head. “Not that I think my brother’s going to lose after the way the last fight ended.
No offense to your boyfriend and all,” she adds, looking at me and pulling a small smile from Jagger who’s attempting to focus on his own conversation despite being caught eavesdropping on my discussion with my friends.
I squeeze his butt, hoping to keep things light. “I’m not worried.”
“Worried about what?” Ford interjects. He hands off drinks to everyone.
“About Jagger’s fight tomorrow,” I tell him. Jagger’s forearm muscles flex around me, and I peek up at him. “How are you feeling?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you around,” Jagger says to the guy he was talking to and turns to me. “It’ll be a good fight.” He clears his throat. “I am, uh, I’m a little tired, though.”
“Tired?” Lexie scoffs. “The party just started.”
“It’s the night before a fight night,” Ford hooks his thumb toward his big brother. “And Jagger’s a superstitious fighter. Aren’t you, Jag?”
Jagger’s mouth twitches, but he doesn’t bother defending himself.
“Supersititious?” I question.
“Jagger always calls it early the night before a fight,” Ford announces. “He’s gotta do his night-before-fight-night-routine before bed. Don’t ya, brother?”
“What night-before-fight-night-routine?” Lexie asks. “And also, what a mouthful.”
“I bet Hawke’ll show you a mouthful,” Ford interjects. Jagger sucker punches him in the arm. With a gasp, Ford rubs at the sore spot as if he’s personally offended. “What, too far?”
“Ya think?” I tease.
Instead of apologizing, Ford simply rolls his eyes. “Anyway, Jagger’s night-before-fight-night-routine is pretty standard. Brush his teeth. Wear the same boxers to bed. Watch Rocky. Lights out by midnight. Right, Jag?”
“Yeah, which means I should probably get started soon.” Jagger’s hand slips to my hip, and he looks down at me. “Want to come?”
He wants me to come? My pathetic heart pitter-patters at the opportunity.
It’s not that we haven’t had any one-on-one time this week, it’s just…
Okay, so we haven’t had a ton of one-on-one time this week.
I’ve been busy, and he’s been…distracted, I guess?
The guy has spent every waking moment in the gym, at school, or at the coffee shop if I have a shift and he’s free.
I haven’t wanted to push him or step on his toes, so I’ve been quietly available as much as possible.
The idea of being included in something as integral to Jagger’s fight-night routine feels…
special. So much so, I can’t help but want to swoon.
“You sure?” I ask. “I wouldn’t want to throw off your groove or whatever.”
The man’s crooked smile tugs at the edge of his mouth, and I’m pretty sure it’s the first real one I’ve seen all week. “Not going to throw off my groove, I promise.”
Biting the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning like a lunatic, I reply, “Then sure, I’d love to.”
Lexie snorts beside me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear Jeep mention sex on the agenda.”
I smack my best friend’s arm. “Seriously?”
“Trust me, sex isn’t on there,” Ford answers.
“Oh?” Lexie quips, her voice thick with sarcasm.
My brows raise, too. Not because I was expecting to hook up with Jagger tonight, but the man’s sex drive isn’t exactly taken from a shallow pool.
To be honest, I kind of just assumed we’d wind up in bed at one point tonight.
I’m not complaining. Actually, I was totally looking forward to it. Twice, if I’m lucky.
“Yeah, our boy here has a strict no sex policy before fights,” Ford explains. “Says the testosterone release is bad for business or some shit.” His gaze slides over June. “I, on the other hand…”
“Are a pervert?” I quip, still tucked beside Jagger. I rest my temple against his shoulder as he rubs his thumb along my forearm with his opposite hand.
Grabbing his chest, Ford taps into his inner Brad Pitt and says, “Breaking my heart, Violet. Breaking my heart.”
“I think you’ll survive,” Lexie chimes in.
Glancing at June, Ford prods, “And what do you think, June? Do you think I’m a perv?”
“I think…” She steals a sip of her rum and diet Ford concocted for her. “I think you’re charismatic enough to ride the line between perv and player like a seasoned pro.”
She’s not wrong.
“Sweet, innocent, June,” Lexie chides. “Don’t you get it? They’re the same thing.”
“Don’t listen to her, June,” Ford defends. “Not all of us are surrounded by pervs every night like our dear Lexie.”
“Oh, really?” Lexie laughs.
“Mm-hmm,” Ford hums. “Us Harden brothers are nothing but gentlemen.”
“Funny.” Lexie steps closer, pinning Ford with a look that would make most men shudder. “Because Hawke has been at The Body Shop almost every night this week.”
Ford’s lips pull into a Cheshire grin. “Has he, now?”
“Mm-hmm,” Lexie confirms, mimicking Ford’s hum from seconds ago. “And since I’m apparently surrounded by pervs at work all the time, do you want to explain why your brother is our number one customer lately?”
Ford glances at Jagger as if to say, Do you want to take this one, or should I?
With a half-assed shrug, Jagger says, “You’ll have to ask him that question, Lex.” He finishes the rest of his drink, then hands the empty cup to Ford. “But for now, I’m ready to head upstairs. What do you say, Little Thief?” He looks down at me and waits.
“Rocky, and snuggling?” I grin. “Yeah, I’m in.”
“Ugh,” Lexie groans. “June, any chance you can give me a ride home?”
Ford scoffs. “I already told you—”