Two #2
“Careful, Ol. That sounds like you might be complimenting him.” Mia teases.
“He’s an incredible fighter. Always has been.” I drop my voice even lower watching her as she remains watching the fight. “Don’t you dare tell him I said that though.” She flips her head up to look at me.
Her small hand tries to wrap around my bicep and she uses her grip as leverage to lean up. “You want to keep secrets with me?” There’s an edge to her voice now.
The sound for the end of the first round rings through the air accompanied by cheers.
I take a brief moment to turn my body fully to face her, unprepared for the nearness of our faces.
Our noses are so close that they are grazing, “We’re good at keeping secrets, yeah?
” My voice is lofty. I always have a hard time catching my breath when I’m this close to her, she’s so beautiful.
I feel her nose twitch as she tries to keep her balance while still pulling herself up to be more eyelevel with me.
Round two starts and her focus shifts from me to the fight again. Her body is lowering back down, but her hand doesn’t leave my arm and a small part of me feels a kind of petty happiness that her hand isn’t on Ty.
Rory came out strong for this round. Whatever instruction AJ gave him is paying off.
I watch him move before the other guy can even process what is happening.
Rory is favored to win tonight, but he is up against a guy that has fought in the pro ring before.
Rory has something a lot of these guys spend their entire career chasing, grit.
It’s why his soul calls to AJ’s and why hers craves his.
It was otherworldly watching her fall for him.
At the same time, it gave us all this odd sense of hope.
Hope that the world sends you what you need to heal if you are willing to accept it.
“Did he win that round?” Mia’s tender voice helps me escape my thoughts. I turn back to see her eyes are a little wider and earnest with the interest in how well he is actually doing in the fight.
“I’d say it was a draw.” Ty’s voice rudely fills the space I wish was just for her and I. He might bartend at The Poolhouse, but he doesn’t know much about the core of the sport.
I clear my throat, “he kept control of the first round and took the second round no doubt. If I know AJ, and we know I do, she will have him end the fight this round. She’ll have him come out aggressive and keep his opponent off balance and then go for the submission.
She’ll have him show his skill just enough to make him interesting but not enough that they feel like they’ve seen everything.
She’s playing chess.” Dad taught her how.
I watch Rory stand up for the final round and it plays out exactly the way I imagined it would.
Rory hits the guy so hard that blood splatters everything and Mia’s hand grips my arm tighter before she pulls it up to cover her mouth as Rory goes to one knee and takes the other guy to the ground.
Rory elbows him in the face. With fifteen seconds left on the clock Rory manages to get the guy’s back and I know it’s over.
The room explodes with cheers when Rory’s opponent taps out.
Rory just won his debut professional fight, and I can’t even fully celebrate it because my soul feels void of the excitement that should be there.
Mia jumps into Ty’s arms and I catch Maxwell and Eli celebrating together.
We all watch Rory come to the center and his hand gets lifted.
The second the ref lets go of his wrist he finds AJ and pulls her into his arms. And they celebrate states away.
It’s like everyone is tethered to the same moment in time, charged by the hunger that hope is tangible.
The hope that you can make it happen. The hope that if you don’t quit, it will become a reality.
“I’m going to go grab my stuff and see if Eli and Max will make sure everything gets locked up.
Then you can drive me home, okay?” I hear her talk to Ty but I don’t trust myself to glance over to watch them without glaring at him.
Mia moves through the crowd easily to find my brothers and Ty turns to me, full of exuberant joy.
“That was insane!” He runs his hand through his hair, eyes wide and smile even wider.
What I am about to do probably makes me the biggest asshole in the room…
eh, fuck it. I won’t make a scene but I will get my way.
I straighten up so I’m at full height, just a little taller than him.
I pat him on the shoulder, seemingly friendly enough.
“So you’re going to leave.” His excitement drains and his brows pull together in confusion as I continue, “I’m going to tell Mia that you had to go and I’m going to drive her home instead.
” Ty laughs like I’m telling the funniest joke.
When he realizes that I’m not, his face scrunches up and his chest puffs out.
“You think I’m going to give up my chance with her because you’re emo about Rory being a real fighter?” Well, I wasn’t going to make a scene. Stupidity and audacity make a dangerous combination.
I glance around to make sure that Mia isn’t in sight or my brothers.
I drop my hand from his shoulder and grip the front of his shirt and walk him backwards until he is out of the front door.
I shove him away from me. “Don’t be brave.
It won’t work out for you.” I bark as he straightens out and breathes a little harder.
“You don’t stand a chance with her and you know it.
” I add a little softer. I can’t even blame him. I also chase her.
“Does she know you scare off guys that are interested in her?” No. Because this is the first time I’m doing it. Honestly, it’s the first chance I’ve been given. I absolutely would have done it before now.
“Get lost, Ty.” I motion to the parking lot where I know his gas saving and economic friendly mom car is parked.
He takes a heavy breath like he is about to fight me but there must be something dark in my eyes because he nods his head before walking away.
I would have never given up that easily.
I watch his slumped shoulders as he makes his way across the parking lot.
“Is he leaving?” I hear her scoff. Mia steps up next to me and her face is full of unbelief. She slaps my arm, hard. “What did you say to him?” Of course she would blame me. I mean, I am at fault but she doesn’t know that.
“I literally just told him to leave and I was taking you home.” Should I be admitting this? Probably not.
She lets out a huff of laughter. “Pussy.” She crosses her arms. “Well alright then. Take me home, Ol.” She starts walking to where my truck is parked but Eli drove the truck tonight. I drove my bike.
I give her a few moments before correcting her, “wrong way.” I call after and watch her spin on her foot to face me again.
I take that moment to just stare at her. Hands on her hips, hair wild and framing her pretty face. All bite and chaos.
I nod to where my bike is parked near me. Thank fuck I brought the spare helmet in case one of my brother’s needed me to take them home.
Her jaw drops and I can’t tell if she’s excited or about to tell me to go fuck myself. “No fucking way.” I close the distance between myself and the bike, unhooking the spare helmet.
“Scared?” I challenge her.
She beams, shaking her head no fervently. Her eyes dancing under the street lights as her lips twitch.
“Go for a ride with me, pretty girl?” I hold the helmet out to her.
She readjusts her bag to make it more secure before she reaches her hand out to grab the helmet.
I hold on a little tighter though before letting her have it.
She tucks her hair behind her ears before slipping the helmet on.
I beckon her closer to me so I can fasten the helmet for her.
After I get seated I help her onto the bike and she wastes no time wrapping her arms around my waist. I make sure the bluetooth is turned on for both helmets, no way am I missing the laughter I know will leave her when we ride.
“You ever ride before?” I can tell that my voice being in her ear is a small surprise by the faint gasp that comes over the speaker but her hold gets a little tighter with excitement.
“This unfortunately does make you more attractive, Oliver West.” I smile when I hear her sigh. “You’re still a dick.” She purrs into my ear. I start the bike up and let the vibrations course through my body as I feel her squeeze around my whole body in anticipation.
“Hold tight.” I tap her hands in reminder before leaving the parking lot and she squeals as we go down the street.
I take the long way home, lying to myself that it’s to clear my head but I really just like the way her head is resting between my shoulder blades and the warmth of her legs around my own.
The street lights blend with the stars and the air is the perfect cut of freshness.
I lose track of time before I remember that I have to actually take her home.
I pull to a complete stop in her apartment parking lot.
She takes her helmet off and hangs it from the handlebar before digging around in her purse.
I take my own helmet off, not rushing her.
She leans over my shoulder and I have to work extra hard to keep the bike steady.
She pulls a red tube out of her bag and takes her time painting her lips her favorite color.
She steadies herself with a hand on the top of my thigh.
Her lips flirt with the bare skin above the collar of my shirt. “Don’t scare my date off again.” She whispers into my neck right before she pulls the fabric to the side and kisses the spot firmly between my collarbone and neck. “Goodnight, Oliver.”
She swings her leg over and blows me a kiss before walking away.