Chapter 32
Jared
Thank fuck. I finished my first fight, as a part of this team, with a solid win.
The high that normally tears through my body is clouded with thoughts of Kailey.
How is this even possible? Was she here at the arena because she’s dating a fighter?
If that’s the case, I sure hope it’s the motherfucker that I just beat the shit out of.
I rush through my cold shower—it helps with the muscles after a fight—and grab the towel that hangs next to me.
I dry my body off quickly. I’m putting my clothes on when I hear someone’s heavy steps stop next to me on my right side.
I shift my body to make eye contact and see that it’s Beau, wearing only a towel.
“Hey, man, you did good work out there.”
“Thanks.” I sit down on the bench to tie my shoes. Beau is still standing there. He leans his body against a locker in front of me, arms crossed against his bare chest, and he’s looking down at me.
“You know… I kind of thought you were choking out there, in the beginning of the fight. Was it the stress of being part of a new team getting to you?”
I give him a stern look and shake my head. “Yeah, that’s not what that was.”
Slowly, I rise from the bench and walk toward the exit, not caring enough to wait for his reply. This after-party needs to hurry up and end, so I can find her.
Well, fuck. I forgot about this… My two bleach blonde dates are standing close to the entrance where the party is being held, waiting there like two bitches in heat.
I met them at the airport when I first arrived in town.
They’re both wearing skin tight, thigh-high dresses.
One is dark blue, and the other is a dark green, which used to be my favorite color on a certain someone.
Their makeup is done to perfection, and they’re a little taller, thanks to the six-inch heels they chose to wear.
Both ladies are pretty, and happen to be sisters who don’t mind sharing…
“Hey, handsome! We thought you stood us up tonight.”
I wrap an arm around each of them, and start to lead all of us into the party through the double doors. “No way. Who’s ready to have some fun?” I better play the fuckboy part, get this night over with, and mingle with my new teammates and our sponsors.
They each giggle while clinging on to me. Once my feet cross over the barrier to the party, the air shifts, and a sharp sensation spreads. Tiny hairs on my arms stand up, and my hands become clammy. Instantaneously, I know she’s here.
My feet are on the move, dragging my dates along.
I bypass people who are patting my back and telling me, Good job.
My eyes look over the whole room, stopping at the lit-up dance floor.
Kailey is grinding her ass against a man whose hands are stroking her hips back and forth.
Motherfucker. She turns her body to face him and pulls his head down, whispering something into his ear.
The man’s hands go to her ass and squeeze those luscious cheeks.
I can feel my anger starting to bubble out of control, and I clinch my fists.
“Yo, Jared!” pulls my attention away from Kailey.
I follow the voice; it’s Skyler. I’m not sure what to think of him just yet, except he’s a hell of a fighter.
He’s waving me over to a table. Not wanting to be rude, I lead my dates over to meet him.
There’s a petite blonde standing next to him.
Once I make it to the table, his date—I assume—turns around to face us.
“Babe, this is my new teammate, Jared, the one I was telling you about. Jared, this is my smokeshow of a girlfriend, Brittney.” Skyler throws an arm over her shoulder and pulls her small body against his, kissing her cheek then the tip of her nose.
He doesn’t notice her stunned expression.
A beautiful smile drops from her face when our eyes meet.
I’m standing taller than I already was, my stare flat. “Oh, we actually already know each other, don’t we, Brittney?”
I don’t miss the tick that forms in Skyler’s jaw as his grip tightens around her waistline. “What?”
Brittney tries to shift her body away from his piercing hold on her. “Babe, it’s not like that at all.” Her hand reaches for his, the one that’s holding tight.
“What she means to say, Skyler, is that I live in her hometown and used to date a friend of hers. You might actually know her. Kailey?” My eyes sweep back to the dance floor, where Kailey had been just moments ago. She’s gone.
“Holy shit! Yes, man… KC and Brittney live together. Were they as inseparable before as they are now?” Why is he calling Kailey KC? Is that what people call her now?
Brittney is clearly uncomfortable around me, and it’s apparent she wants to exclude herself from our conversation. She turns her body, attempting to walk away, but Skyler stops her with his grip.
Her eyes turn to me in a piercing stare. “I see you’re doing real good, Jared. Two ladies tonight, huh?”
Oh, right… “Skyler, Brittney, this is Stephanie and Stacey, the first women I met when I got to Chicago.” I point to the bar. “Go ahead, ladies, get whatever you want to drink. I’ll be over in just a few minutes.”
“Nice to meet you!” Stephanie and Stacey say in unison as they turn and walk to the bar, arm in arm. After they’re out of earshot, I turn to Brittney and give her my full attention.
“Brittney, I think I’m about to be a whole lot better.”
Her eyes turn into slits. “What’s that supposed to mean, Jared?”
“Skyler might not have told you yet, but I’m here as part of his team for the next six months. You’ll be seeing a lot of me, I’m sure, since you’re dating my teammate,” I lean my body in closer, “which means… I’ll be seeing Kailey, won’t I?”
I slap her boyfriend’s back and let him know that I’ll catch up with the guys. I can feel Brittney’s hot stare on the back of my head when I walk toward my dates who are laughing obnoxiously at the bar. I need to finish this night… and this date.
Where the fuck is Kailey, and who was that guy?