Chapter 19 #2
“You got that look in your eyes.” Evander’s counter-jab sliced through the air, the punch connecting solidly with Caleb’s jaw. “Like you’re fighting demons.”
Caleb straightened and rolled his shoulders, smirking at Evander. “You’re hella chatty today.”
“Nah, this is my regular vibe. You’re just in a foul mood.”
Caleb’s jaw tightened before he pivoted, a sudden, explosive pivot that brought his hip into a punch aimed at Evander’s ribs.
His best friend absorbed the blow with a soft grunt, his stance unbroken as Caleb came at him again. “What’s really good with you, bruh?”
“Why the hell are you still yapping?” Caleb growled, each word punctuated by the sharp thwack of his gloved fist connecting with Evander’s padded chest. He wasn’t just sparring today; he was purging.
Every punch thrown was a desperate attempt to drive out the lingering memories of last night, to exorcise the crushing weight of his guilt.
Evander smirked tauntingly as they separated and circled each other.
“Only two things in the world that can drive a man crazy: good pussy and a lack of money. You, my friend, are heir to a fortune and have more money in the bank than you’ll ever spend.
So that leaves only one other possibility: a woman. ”
Caleb’s gut twisted as Daniela’s image flashed in his mind. He saw her above him, head thrown back, riding him with slow, deep plunges on his cock.
His concentration slipped, and Evander took swift advantage, delivering a hard uppercut to his jaw that dazed him for a few seconds.
He shook the sweat out of his eyes and threw an aggressive left hook that knocked Evander backward into the ropes. Caleb didn’t let up, following the attack with another left and a right cross.
“See? That’s what I’m talking about,” Evander wheezed, pointing his glove at him. “You’re fighting yourself, bro, and I’m just a convenient punching bag.”
Caleb snorted. “Still yapping. C’mon, man, make this worth my time. I got other shit to do.”
“Yeah?” A new edge of challenge sharpened Evander’s eyes before he lunged forward, throwing a punch at Caleb’s chin. Caleb ducked and countered with a brutal shot to Evander’s abdomen that doubled him over, gasping for air.
Caleb circled him, grinning sinisterly around his mouthguard. “Had enough?”
“Not even close.” Evander spat out a mouthful of blood and straightened, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Let’s go.”
Evander gave as good as he got, but Caleb kept him on the ropes with a relentless flurry of jabs and hooks that Evander took like a champ before finally waving the white flag.
“Alright, man. Call it,” he panted, bumping gloves with Caleb. “Nice work, demon.”
“You, too.” Caleb’s chest was heaving, adrenaline pumping through his veins like wildfire as he peeled off his headgear and wiped the sweat from his brow. His muscles screamed with fatigue, but he welcomed the punishing burn as he stepped through the ropes and hopped down to the floor.
Evander followed him out of the ring and started unlacing his gloves, eyeing Caleb speculatively. “So who is she?”
Caleb feigned ignorance. “Who?”
Evander barked a gruff laugh and wagged his head. “Seriously though, man. If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.”
Caleb grunted noncommittally, tugging at the laces of his own gloves. He wasn’t ready to confess his sins. He didn’t even know where to begin to articulate the depths of the deep hole he’d dug for himself.
Chugging from heavy duty water bottles, they grabbed their gym bags and headed for the locker room.
They’d been sparring partners for the past five years.
When their regular boxing gym went out of business, they joined Robinette’s upscale fitness center that featured a dedicated boxing training area with a full-sized ring.
As they neared the hallway leading to the locker rooms, a woman coming from the other direction bumped right into Caleb, grabbing his arm as she stumbled back.
“Oh my God, I am so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going!”
“No worries, you’re good,” Caleb said.
Dressed in a sports bra and short shorts that left zero to the imagination, the stacked brunette smiled up at him from beneath dark mascaraed lashes. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure? I could’ve sworn—”
“You’ve probably seen him around the gym,” Evander interjected humorously. “We’re here pretty often.”
“Oh my God. Duh. That’s probably it.” The woman’s smile shifted from Evander back to Caleb. There was no mistaking the inviting gleam in her eyes. “Are you guys done for the night?”
“Yeah. We were just leaving.” Caleb looked pointedly at her manicured talons still gripping his bicep.
She let out a breathy laugh, trailing her fingers down his arm before reluctantly releasing him. “You guys wanna go get a drink?”
Evander chuckled and held up his left hand, displaying a platinum wedding band.
“Oh man, the good ones are always taken.” The brunette’s twinkling gaze drifted back to Caleb. “What about you, handsome? Are you single?”
“Last I checked,” he drawled. “But I’ll have to pass on drinks.”
She pouted. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. But thanks for the offer.”
“All right,” she relented, surprise warring with disappointment in her voice. “Guess I’ll see you around.”
Caleb nodded and started away.
“Dinner next time,” she said so confidently that he threw her an amused glance over his shoulder.
She was walking away, hips swaying in her tiny shorts. Looking back at him, she bit the corner of her lip and winked. Caleb chuckled and turned away, shaking his head.
Evander grinned at him. “Bruh, you definitely have more willpower than I ever did when I was single.”
If only you knew, Caleb mused darkly, thinking of Daniela.
They were halfway down the hall when a familiar woman’s voice called out from behind them, “Hey, boys!”
They looked over their shoulder to see a voluptuous, brown-skinned woman strolling toward them in a pink tank top and gray yoga pants, her long sister locs pulled back in a ponytail. She had a white towel slung around her neck and was sporting a pair of Angel Reese’s pink signature Reeboks.
A broad grin lit Evander’s face when he saw his pretty wife. “Hey, babe,” he said as Robinette reached them. “I thought you were skipping spin class tonight.”
“Oh, that was just laziness talking.” The couple shared a kiss, lips clinging before Robinette pulled away and affectionately pecked Caleb’s cheek, not minding the sweat that clung to his skin. “Hey, you. How was your day?”
“Good,” he said, giving her ponytail a playful tug. “How about yours?”
“Hella stressful. I need to burn off some steam.” Her sparkling brown eyes shuttled between Caleb and Evander. “How’d the session go today?”
“Rough,” Evander grumbled. “Your boy tried to kill me back there.”
“Please,” Caleb scoffed. “You wanted the smoke.”
Robinette laughed, wagging her head at them. “I’ve seen y’all in the ring. If I didn’t know you were best friends, I would think you wanted to murk each other,” she joked, her East Baltimore accent seeping through her words.
“Nah,” Evander said. “I’m telling you, babe, Caleb was a menace today. Something’s up with him.”
“Yeah?” Robinette’s concerned gaze searched Caleb’s face. “Everything okay?”
He forced a chuckle. “I’m fine, Nette. It’s just been a long week.”
“It’s only Tuesday.” She poked him in the ribs with a freshly manicured finger. “Evander and I aren’t the only ones who need a better work-life balance, you know. The pact included you, too.”
“Hold up,” Evander protested, tugging his wife to his side. “That was our thing, baby. You can’t be bringing third parties into our arrangement.”
“Arrangement?” Robinette echoed with lifted brows. “You act like I just invited him for a threesome.”
“What? Oh, hell nah.” Evander scowled menacingly at Caleb. “Don’t get any ideas.”
Caleb held up his hands. “I didn’t say a word.”
Robinette giggled. “Aww. Look at my man getting all possessive,” she teased, looping her arms around Evander’s neck and nibbling his jaw. “I love it when you’re like this, all hot and sweaty and oozing testosterone. Makes my kitty-cat purr.”
Caleb groaned in disgust. “Can you two get a room? Damn.”
The couple shared a diabolical laugh. They’d always gotten a kick out of messing with Caleb, who was the best man at their wedding and had been named godfather of any hypothetical future offspring.
“I’m glad I caught you guys before you left.
” Robinette leaned into Evander, her head resting against his shoulder as she traced the curve of his bicep and hummed appreciatively.
He lowered his chin, whispering something in her ear that made her throw back her head and laugh.
She playfully shoved his chest, but her body remained glued to his.
As Caleb watched them, an unexpected pang of envy twisted in his gut.
These two were the real deal. Their connection was palpable, honest. Untainted by secrets or the threat of scandal.
Being around them sometimes made it difficult not to want what they had, or at least wonder what it would feel like.
Robinette looked at Caleb, her lips pursed thoughtfully.
Uh-oh. He recognized that gleam in her eyes.
“So, Caleb, are you free this weekend? I want to introduce you to someone. She—”
Caleb was already shaking his head. “Nah, I’m good.”
“What? You didn’t even let me finish,” Robinette protested.
“No need. I’m not interested.”
“Oh, come on, Caleb,” she whined. “Just hear me out.”
“Yeah, no.”
Evander snickered. “Can’t say I blame him, babe. You’ve been trying to fix him up for years, and your track record ain’t too great. Remember Stacey the Stalker?”
Robinette blinked. “I don’t know her.”
“Yeah, right,” Evander guffawed. “What about Harlow? The crazy chick who keyed Caleb’s Porsche and smashed the windshield just because he told her they weren’t compatible after their second date.
I know damn well you remember that shitshow.
You literally cussed her ass out and got her fired from her job. ”
Robinette cringed, mortified at the memory. “Okay, so my matchmaking efforts have been epic fails. All that means is Caleb hasn’t met the right one yet. But I’m not giving up.”
“You should.” Caleb swigged his water, looking down at her as he added, “You really should.”
“Just let me set up an introduction,” she pleaded, grabbing his free arm.
“Karina is super nice and seems perfectly sane. If you guys hit it off, maybe you can take her to dinner on Saturday. Or we could do a double date,” she quickly amended when Caleb frowned.
“That should take some of the pressure off.”
Caleb had no interest in subjecting himself to another one of Robinette’s matchmaking schemes, but he knew she’d keep pestering him until he gave in.
Evander slapped him on the shoulder. “Just say you’ll give it some thought,” he advised with a sympathetic grin. “It’s the only way to get her off your back.”
“Fine. I’ll give it some thought.” When hell freezes the fuck over.
“Yay!” Robinette exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly and then hugging him. “I have a good feeling about this one, Caleb.”
“Where have I heard that before?” he grumbled.
She laughed and checked the time on her phone.
“Oops. Let me go before I’m late to spin class.
” She leaned over and kissed Evander’s cheek.
When she moved to leave, he caught her around the waist and pulled her back in for more smooching, murmuring lewdly against her mouth, “Maybe I’ll come watch you ride the hell out of that bike.
You know I love seeing you work up a sweat with your juicy phat ass jiggling all over the place. ”
She pealed into giggles. “You so nasty!”
Caleb rolled his eyes. “Alright, I’m out. Catch you two later.”
“Don’t forget about dinner this weekend,” Robinette called after him. “I’ll text you the details.”
“Not making any promises.” He headed off down the tiled hallway to the locker room, where he stripped off his soaked sweats, tossed them in his gym bag and strode to the showers.
The scalding water hammered against his skin, sinking deep into his sore muscles.
He soaped up a washcloth and scrubbed at his chest, his arms, his face, as if he could physically scour away the memory of Daniela’s glistening naked body, her perfect bouncing tits, her trembling thighs, her look of complete ecstasy as she came screaming his name.
He slammed his eyes shut and tilted his head back, letting the water spill over his face and down his chest, trying to wash away the guilt that clung to him like a layer of dirt and grime.
He tried to rationalize what happened, tried to minimize it somehow. It was just one night. A mistake. A moment of weakness. Temporary insanity. He could fix it. He could pretend it never happened. He could distance himself from her, make it clear there’d be no round two.
But deep down inside, he knew that was a lie. Some doors, once opened, could never be closed. He knew if Daniela walked into the locker room right now, nothing would stop him from having his way with her again, onlookers be damned.
He also knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that this was just the beginning. The consequences of his actions were gathering like storm clouds, ready to unleash havoc. All he could do was wait for them to break, and hope like hell he survived the destruction.