12. Drew
CHAPTER 12
DREW
I ’m sore from sparring with Caine two nights ago, but I’m doing my best to hide it as I assist Adam in teaching a Muay Thai class. I think he notices I’m favoring my left side slightly, but he doesn’t say anything as we continue with class.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Caine comes in and heads straight to the equipment to start lifting. He’s not quiet about it, the weights clunking as he loads up the bar and starts to work. Luckily class is almost over. The asshole thinks he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, and no one stops him.
Sometimes Adam tells him not to do this shit when there’s a class going on, but it doesn’t make a difference. And since he’s considered the best fighter here, it’s not like Adam is going to kick him out of the gym. It doesn’t matter anyway; I don’t give a shit.
Adam and I haven’t talked about the other night, and I don’t know if we are going to. This weekend Caine has a fight somewhere, Seattle, I think. I don’t know and I really don’t care. At least this time I don’t have to cover any classes by myself.
Everyone from Muay Thai is leaving and Adam goes right to his office without a second glance at either me or Caine.
Works for me.
I step up to the front desk as everyone is leaving just to check when I can come back without talking to a certain someone. I’m hardly paying attention when I feel the air shift as someone steps up to the desk.
“What can I help you with?” I ask without looking up.
“I want to sign up for another class.” I recognize that voice, though it sounds less snarky than I’ve heard it before.
I look up to see Max standing there, hands folded leaning forward, eyes locked on me, despite the loud thunk of weights I know come from Caine. She doesn’t even flinch or glance in that direction.
“What class are you wanting to join?” I ask simply.
“Something where I can hit people.”
I choke on a small laugh at her serious tone. She just raises her eyebrow and makes it clear that she’s serious about her request.
“None of this is about hitting and hurting people, you know that, right?” I have to ask, even if that’s why most of us started the sport. But that’s not the point of it.
“Sure.” She shrugs.
“Okay, well, if you’re wanting to hit things.” I give her a pointed look. “Then we can put you in a kickboxing class if you’d like.”
“Who teaches it?” she asks quickly, her eyes darting over to Caine briefly and I can’t tell if she’s hoping I’ll say his name or hoping I don’t.
“Coach Adam,” I answer easily. Boxing is his specialty, not everyone knows he was a professional boxer when he was young because he doesn’t talk about himself a lot. He dabbled in everything else throughout his career, but boxing was always his main focus. That is, until he retired and trained heavily in BJJ and Muay Thai as well.
“Good. Sign me up.” She nods.
“Alright,” I agree. This time I don’t need to see any of her information, because I remember it. I remember too much about this girl when I shouldn’t.
As I get her enrolled in the class, I notice her gaze flick over to Caine again. That’s when I see that he’s stopped his routine, reaches down and flicks the buckle of the lifting belt open before dropping it, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Something going on there?” I ask, and I’m not even sure why.
She scoffs, looking back at me. “No.”
The side of my lip tugs up in a small smile at her dismissal because that’s not usually the reaction he gets. I hear the door to the office open behind me and for some reason it prompts me to do something I would’ve never thought I would do.
“So, you’re single then?” I ask.
“Um, yes and not interested in that changing,” she answers slowly.
I force out a chuckle that I hope sounds lighthearted. “One date wouldn’t change it.”
She looks at me skeptically and I don’t blame her, I haven’t exactly been nice before now. And really, I’m not thinking too much about what I’m doing other than seeing how everyone will react. With the way Caine is looking over here I know I’m getting at least one reaction.
“I’m not going on a date with you,” she states seriously.
I lean forward, getting closer to her and I see her eyes catch on my exposed arms as I subtly flex them. “We don’t have to call it a date then, we can just hang out.”
“I’ll pass, thanks.”
“You don’t want any friends?” I try, feeling everyone’s eyes on us.
She must too because she glances over at Caine again, and I notice her body language change, softening as she leans in closer to me. “I don’t know what it is you’re trying to do, but leave me out of it.”
“Not trying to do anything other than be a nice person.”
She laughs loudly, tossing her head back dramatically before looking back at me again. “I don’t think any of you around here are nice people. ”
“Maybe I am, and you’ve just caught me on a bad day before.”
She leans back, keeping her hands planted on the desk with her arms outstretched as she puts distance between us. “I doubt that. See ya around.”
As she goes to leave, Karissa bumps into her shoulder in a way I know was intentional. Max narrows her eyes at her.
“Gotta watch out with those wide ass shoulders,” Karissa sneers.
“Pretty sure you just don’t know how to walk straight,” Max retorts, and without saying anything else she walks out.
I watch her leave, especially the sway of her hips and the way her tight jeans hug her round ass. My intention was to get a rise out of everyone, including her, but I feel myself having a reaction to her. I can’t deny that it’s tempting to pursue her a bit harder.
Karissa makes a disgusted look at her before turning with her eyes set on me, and the flirty look takes over. Nope. I look away at the exact same time Adam says the first words he’s said to me since he left my house the other night.
“How’d that go?”
“Great,” I grunt.
“Sounds like it.”
“Jealous?”
“Nope, but I think someone else may be.” He nods toward Caine, and I see him staring daggers at me.
I just smile at him in response.
Pulling out my phone, I make it look like I’m busy, but really, I’m entering her number that I quickly memorized from her profile into my contacts.
When I look up, Adam is gone, and I just shake my head. He may be jealous, but there’s no way he’s going to show it. Though I see Caine is still staring at me, his murderous gaze unwavering and I don’t know why, but it makes me want to fuck with him more. Maybe it’s because he seems to get everything he wants. Or maybe it’s because I never do and being able to train and fight has been one thing for myself until even that was taken away from me.
Now, maybe it’s time I take something from him.