Chapter 34
I place my cell phone down in frustration. This is Jimmy’s third message today, and I don’t know how many since the flower delivery yesterday.
It has been hell since last week.
I had to cut my time with Chase short on Friday because of testing, Jimmy, and my thoughts about Rey. He was nice, and like me, he needed a friend.
Chase just ended a two-year relationship and wants to find himself. We went to eat at a nice restaurant and talked about past relationships. I brought up what I went through with Jimmy and even spoke about Rey.
I left out the part about him being deaf and just kept it that Rey is a quiet guy because, in all reality, Rey is quiet by nature. He keeps things bottled up.
Ari: This is stalking, Jimmy. I already told you we are done.
Jimmy: We were never done. I don’t want Mandy. I want you. I need you.
No, he needs a maid to help him clean and baby him. He treated me like his slave. I cooked, cleaned, and drove him around so he would have enough time to screw around.
The first thing I did before calling the housing office on campus was to get tested for everything at the clinic. I was relieved I was clean, but it was scary. I have always been on birth control since my first time with Jimmy and was always careful not to get pregnant.
As a fighter, Rey gets tested often, and I know he does because there was a medical file on both Javier and Rey in the mess in his office. The last one was right before Javier’s fight in Vegas.
I didn’t need to ask if Rey was clean because I knew he was.
Rey has this way of making me feel comfortable. I didn’t have that with Jimmy, but I didn’t realize it until I was around Rey.
The gym has seen increased sign-ups since Javier’s last fight, which has made The Sweat Box a success. When I pull up, the parking lot is full, even on a Thursday, when it was our slowest day.
Other fighters from our gym have also been improving and winning in different weight classes.
I’m proud of Rey and what he has accomplished. He struggled and came from nothing.
After his father left, he sacrificed not going to college to fight for a dream and make enough money to support his brother and mother.
I jolt when I hear, “Nice car.”
Jimmy leans on his sports car, watching me walk toward the gym entrance. I didn’t notice his Porsche since it’s low compared to my SUV.
I lock my car. “Leave me alone, Jimmy.”
“I can’t do that, Ari,” he interjects .
Fear crawls down my spine. I grip my bag tighter on my shoulder, and my hands sweat despite the cold weather.
“You can, and you will. It’s over. I told you this.”
He points his finger at my car. “I can treat you just as nice, Ari. I can buy you nice things.”
“I don’t want you to buy me anything. I want you to leave me alone,” I demand.
I slide my hand into my pocket to get my phone. I play it off because Jimmy is desperate. He doesn’t look like himself. He looks like a lion about to pounce on the gazelle—me being the gazelle.
I move toward the entrance, and he blocks my path. I narrow my gaze at him and notice he hasn’t slept. He has dark circles under his eyes. He looks haggard and disheveled. “I need to get into work.”
“You can be a couple of minutes late. Your boss won’t mind. I know you’re fucking him. I didn’t think you were down like that, but you’ve been full of surprises lately.”
I grind my teeth, and I feel like they are about to snap. “I think you better leave. Stop following me, stop texting, and stop sending me flowers. I. Don’t. Want. You.”
His fists clench. “I love you, and he doesn’t! I can’t stop thinking about you fucking him. Working with him while he looks at you. You’re such a hypocrite, Ari.” He points at his chest. “I was your first. I was the one who took care of you so you didn’t have to sleep in the dorms and take on more debt. Me.”
“I didn’t ask you to do any of that. You begged me to move in with you, which was my biggest mistake. You treated me like I was your glorified housekeeper and personal driver. You shoved me, and I fell. Instead of seeing if I was okay, you threatened me. I’m sorry, but if that is how you love, then I think I’ll pass.”
I move, sidestepping him to make it to the door of the gym. I’m relieved when I get inside and walk down the hallway that leads to the office.
I hear the door open behind me. Everything happens so fast. I see a hand flash by my head, gripping my hair hard. Pain explodes over my skull as he tugs me backward.
“We weren’t done talking, Ari.” I gasp and drop my bag on the floor. I grip his hand with my fingers, trying to free it from my hair, but it’s tight, and Jimmy is strong from playing hockey.
Tears pool in my eyes from the throbbing pain. “You’re hurting me! Let go, Jimmy,” I scream.
My instinct is to hit him, so I swing. I land a slap to his cheek, causing him to release me.
“You bitch!” he roars, lunging after me, but a big brick wall blocks Jimmy from reaching me.
I step back. Rey pushes Jimmy to the ground. A couple of guys from the gym rush over.
“Hey, man. You need to leave,” one of the guys says. “Are you okay, Ari?” Ben asks, giving Jimmy a hard glare. “What the fuck, Jimmy?”
“What...you going to beat me up, Ben?”
Ben shakes his head, then his eyes lift to Rey’s murderous glare. His chest heaves, full of rage. “But he is definitely going to fuck you up if you don’t walk out of here, Jimmy. You put your hands on her. We all saw what you did. You crossed the line when you touched her.”
Jimmy snarls at Rey. “Her pussy is good, isn’t it?” he taunts.
I flinch at how vile and disrespectful Jimmy can be. I was naive and feel stupid for not seeing him for what he truly is—a glorified scumbag.
Jimmy sucks air through his teeth. He thinks Rey is backing down, but I know better. Rey can’t hear him because if he did, I’m sure Jimmy would be on the ground picking up his teeth off the floor.
I place my hand on Rey’s arm, and he turns his head, but it is a mistake on my part because Jimmy takes the opportunity to punch Rey in the jaw.
“No, Jimmy!” I scream.
I look up at Rey, who staggers from the blow but shakes it off. His mouth is full of blood when he smiles at Jimmy, and then all bets are off.
Jimmy thinks he has the upper hand and lunges toward Rey, but Rey is faster and more skilled, and he bobs and weaves when Jimmy tries to land a punch.
All the other fighters crowd around to watch.
“Kick his ass, champ,” one teenager says, watching how Rey dodges Jimmy’s punches.
“Asshole deserves to be knocked the fuck out!” another guy shouts from the back.
“Stop it, Jimmy. Leave. You’re going to get hurt,” I warn him.
He snorts. “Please. I can take this pussy. He bleeds like everyone else.”
The look in Rey’s eyes is lethal. He could kill him with just one punch if he really wanted to. I’m terrified. This isn’t a fight to Rey. This is war.
I wince when Rey swings, connecting with Jimmy’s face. He splits his brow open, but knowing Jimmy, he won’t back down. His pride won’t allow it. Blood begins to drip down his face, but he keeps stepping forward, and at this point, there is nothing I can do.
Rey watches him closely. Jimmy spits on the floor. “Fuck you, how can you call yourself undefeated. I’m still standing.”
“Jimmy, don’t... ”
Jimmy shakes his head. “Nope. Not until you come home. The only dick you’ll be riding is mine.”
Rey steps forward and hits him with a combination of punches, knocking Jimmy out cold on the ground.
I place my hands over my mouth to see how quickly Rey did it.
Rey stands over him and checks for a pulse. He nods that he is still alive. He must have read his lips, or maybe it was because Jimmy pulled my hair like he was ripping it from my skull.
I touch the part in my head and wince from the pain.
Asshole.
Rey walks over to me and lifts my chin. He takes a deep breath and looks down at me with a tenderness. He pinches his brows and grimaces when he notices that my head hurts.
He caresses my cheek with two fingers. “I will never...” He takes a deep breath. “Let anyone hurt you, Ari. I’m sorry... I was too late.” A single tear rolls down his cheek, and my heart breaks wide open.
He looks up and sniffs, trying to rein in his emotions. “I l-love... you, Ari,” he says off pitch.
Everyone stares in shock, waiting for me to respond, but I can’t sign the words. I can’t say them because he can’t hear.
He closes his eyes in frustration and walks toward the locker room. I don’t want him to just read it on my lips. I want it to be… more.
“Ben. Call the police and tell them what happened,” I tell him.
“On it, Ari.”
“Thanks. You might have to talk to the police. I don’t want any of this coming back on Rey.”
“We got it,” Ben assures me. He nudges his chin toward the locker room. “Go take care of him. ”
I nod and run after Rey when he disappears into the locker room.
When I make sure the coast is clear and no one is inside, I enter to see where he went.
When I turn the corner by the lockers, I spot him sitting on one of the benches with his head bowed. I move to stand in front of him and motion for him to look up at me. His head lifts, and his face turns into a grimace when he licks the corner of his mouth, which has a slight cut and is already swelling.
I step back and sign, “I love you, too. Thank you for defending me. He could have hurt me if it weren’t for you.” I hold the sides of his face and look at him. “I. Love. You,” I say slowly.
He smiles and makes an invisible cross with his hands over his chest.
“I prayed to God every night since you left my bed for you to love me,” he signs. “I’m sorry I can’t be like Noah. I can’t build you a house, and I’m shit at writing love notes. They’re almost as bad as my cooking. I’ve tried, Ari.”
I smile and laugh as I sign, “I don’t need a Noah. I need you, Rey.”
“I’m better looking, and I have more money.”
I shake my head and laugh. “Cocky much?” I sign.
He nods, and I lift his chin so I can inspect the damage. It isn’t too bad, but he needs to put ice on it. It’s already swelling.
After the police came and we gave our statements, they arrested Jimmy for assault and trespassing, and since Rey was defending me and did not throw the first punch, he wasn’t charged.
I have to go to the police station and file a restraining order, but Rey sent a text to his lawyer and will go with me.