CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
BLAIR
T he drawn-out chime of a phone ringing has me stirring under the sheets.
The sound pulls me from sleep, but the warmth of the bed and the softness of Shay’s body keep me heavy-eyed and unwilling to move.
Instinctively, I clench my thighs together and wince at the soreness that vibrates through them.
The ringing stops, and then Shay’s voice takes over. “Hello? Yeah, I can be there in a few… Okay… Bye.”
I wait for the bed to shift as he stands, but instead, he stays where he is, and I let my eyes stay closed. His arms snake around my stomach and pull me toward him. He’s so warm.
“Good morning, Dollface,” he says quietly.
“Good morning,” I mumble.
I turn in his arms and blink slowly to clear the sleep from my eyes, trying to adjust to the soft light filtering through the curtains. I smile when I see his blurry figure still looking as half-asleep as me.
Snuggling into his side, I press my cheek against his chest. “Who was that?”
“Austin,” he replies, voice still thick with sleep. “He and Blake are at the gym and want me to come by. You wanna join?”
I sigh softly. The lingering high from last night makes it hard to think about anything else. “Yeah. I guess we can’t live in this bubble forever, right?”
Shay chuckles, and I feel his chest rumble under my cheek. “I guess not.” He places a soft kiss on the top of my head.
The reality of having to go back to how things were—see our friends’ faces, our parents… It feels like a shift back into something I know has been waiting. It’s not bad, but it’s a reminder that things can’t stay this simple forever.
He shifts beneath me, pulling the sheets off us, and the sudden cool air makes me shiver, but it isn’t enough to wake me up fully. I roll out of bed, stretching my limbs as I stand. The soreness in my legs is still there, but it’s a manageable reminder of how close we were last night.
Glancing to the bed, I see the crisp white sheets tangled with splashes of red and immediately feel embarrassed. I knew this could happen your first time, but I guess I was so wrapped up in bliss I never thought to check.
I look over at Shay just in time for him to catch my eyes and see what I’m looking at. Instead of saying anything, he just flashes me a smile and steps toward the bed.
He reaches around me and swipes the sheets, balling them up in his hands. “I’ll keep these.”
My face is already hot with embarrassment, but I feel my skin tick up a few more degrees. “Keep them?”
He nods, not giving me any more explanation. Shoving them into his duffel bag, he throws me a wink, then picks up his discarded T-shirt from the floor and starts pulling it on. I do the same and find my clothes from last night and step into them.
Once we’re both dressed, we leave the comfort of the room and head downstairs, out the door, and into the parking lot, avoiding the valet.
The morning air is thick and hot, but I’ve kind of grown accustomed to it now. The parking lot is nearly empty, making it easy to navigate toward Shay’s Jeep. He leads the way, the sounds of his shoes crunching on the gravel making the only noise between us.
I slide into the passenger seat, buckle up, and glance over at him as he starts the engine. He gives me a small, tired smile before pulling out and heading toward the main road. The ride is quiet at first. It’s comfortable, but there’s a weight between us.
Finally, he speaks as he keeps his eyes on the road. “So… last night.”
He doesn’t pose it as any sort of question, but I feel the need to answer anyway. Things have slowly been shifting between us for days now, and last night was simply the turning point. We’re at a spot now we can’t go back from. Not that I want to, but what happens next?
“We can’t keep doing that, can we? Our parents are getting married,” I finally let out.
Shay nods, still staring at the road in front of us. “I don’t want us to be some secret, though. We can’t live like that.”
I open my mouth to reply. I don’t even know what to say, but I can’t let silence swallow us. Only, I don’t get the chance.
“Let’s worry about it later. Right now, none of that matters. We can figure out the logistics another time, but for now, it’s just us. Our parents are gone, so let’s enjoy it.”
I let out a breath and nod. That definitely sounds better to me.
He turns into the lot for the gym and throws the Jeep in park. Sliding out, he rounds the car and opens my door. We walk into the gym and are immediately met with the smell of sweat and metal. Austin and Blake are already there, huddled next to the ring, but within seconds, their eyes land on us.
Austin juts his chin at us and sprints over.
He and Shay exchange a few words I can’t make out, but I hang back, giving them space.
I linger around, crossing my arms over my chest, and try not to intrude on whatever it is Shay needs to do.
It was evident Blake was pissed the other night, and I don’t want to be a part of that.
The three of them gather at the corner of the ring, exchanging words and hand gestures, but I’m too far away to hear anything that’s actually being said.
After a while, Shay nods to both of them, then shakes Blake’s hand before crawling into the ring.
Austin isn’t far behind him and slides under the ropes.
As Shay pulls off his shirt and starts stretching his arms behind him, I know he’s slipping into fighter mode. There’s something magnetic about the way he moves—about the way he so easily shifts gears. His focus and intensity draw me in, and I find myself stepping toward the ring.
Stopping beside Blake, I watch as Shay and Austin start dancing around the ring, throwing quick jabs at each other. As I watch them, Blake steps closer to me.
“So,” he starts, crossing his arms over his chest. “How’s it feel watching these two go at it?”
I look at him from the corner of my eye but don’t bother to turn toward him. “It’s impressive. I guess.”
Blake nods. “Yeah. Always interesting to see someone get into the headspace of fighting.” He cuts himself off, then reaches his hand across his body toward me. “I’m Blake, by the way.”
I give him a quick look and shake his hand. “Blair.”
“You’ve been in this mix for a while now, huh? What’s it like, really? Hanging around a fighter, living in a world that’s all about punches and bruises.”
I finally glance at him, a little caught off guard by his question. “It’s different, I guess. But honestly, I’m getting used to it. Not sure I’ll ever understand the whole thing, but I’ve learned to appreciate the discipline.”
He looks amused with my answer. “Yeah, fighters are a weird breed. But they’ve got heart. Even if it’s a little twisted sometimes.”
I laugh and turn back to Austin and Shay. “I’ve definitely noticed that.”
He tilts his head and studies me as I watch the boys. “So, what’s your deal with Shay? I mean, you two are, well, you know. Obviously together, right?”
I don’t even know this guy, and he’s already trying to pry. I guess it makes sense, considering who he is to Shay, but it’s still fucking weird. “It’s complicated.”
“You know, it’s not easy. Getting into a relationship with someone like Shay, I mean. His world isn’t exactly built for someone to just slip into.”
I frown but quickly wipe it away. “Seems I slipped in just fine.”
Blake shifts on his feet, then glances at Shay and Austin in the ring. “You know, I get that you’re here because of Shay, but I don’t think you really know what you’re getting into.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He doesn’t immediately answer. His gaze stays locked on Shay and Austin like he’s waiting for something. “You just don’t know what it’s like to get close to someone like him.”
I shrug, trying to play it off. “I know Shay well enough.”
He shakes his head. “If you say so. But if I were you, I’d stay away.”
I turn to him fully. “Are you trying to tell me to stay away from Shay?”
He smirks maliciously. “I’m not telling you anything, Blair. I’m warning you—stay away from Shay.”
“Or what?”
Before he can answer, Shay and Austin stop moving and jog to the ropes. Blake turns to them with a smile, leaving my question hanging in the air.
“That’s what I’m talking about!” he booms. “That’s what I like to see. Always moving forward, light on your feet. Keep it up, Shay.”
I want to pry more, ask more questions and try and figure out what the fuck he’s talking about, but when I look to Shay and see the smile on his face, I don’t have the heart to ruin his moment. He’s back in the fight with a clear head. So, I stay quiet and smile instead.
Austin lifts the ropes for Shay, and he slides out, bouncing to the ground beside me. As he leans over to kiss my cheek, I look behind him where Blake is standing and see him watching me with intense eyes.
Shay moves to where he discarded his shirt, and in those few seconds, Blake walks up to me, leans over, and whispers in my ear. “Tell Sylvia I said congratulations on her wedding.”
Before I can ask how he knows my mom, let alone her name, he snaps back to his full height. Shay is back by my side and wraps his arm around my waist. “Let’s get out of here.”
I nod, wrapping my arms across my chest a little tighter as I keep my eyes on Blake.
“It was nice finally meeting you, Blair,” he comments as I turn on my heel.
I push into Shay’s side and let him lead me out of the gym.