Page 109 of 4th Degree

“Thank you for everything,” I interrupt, giving him a tight smile. “I loved training here. You guys have a really great gym here, you know?”

I can barely get the words out without my throat closing at the threat of tears. But Jax nods. “Yeah, I know.”

I force myself to revert back to an emotionless voice, blinking back the tears burning the backs of my eyes. “Anyway, that’s all. I just wanted to tell you in person.”

I turn toward the exit, intent on leaving as quickly as possible. But I don’t make it through the door before I slow and look over my shoulder at Jax.

“Can you tell him I said I’m sorry?” I ask.

That look of panic appears on Jax’s face again. “Skylar…”

“Please,” I beg in a whisper.

Panic morphs to heartbreak, then to acceptance. “I’ll tell him.”

I manage a grateful smile before rushing out the front doors. I haven’t broken down yet, but that…seeing the gym, and seeing what I’m giving up…that has the dam breaking. It doesn’t matter that I knew subconsciously this whole time that it was going to end like this, or that I know I’m doing the right thing by distancing myself from Dominic, it’s still tearing me apart.

As I walk down the street for the last time, I say a silent goodbye to Bulldog MMA, the place that became my home and my second family, and to Dominic, the man who, even if it was for a little while, brought a happiness into my life that I never knew enough to wish for.

36

DOMINIC

I’m convinced this is rock bottom. It can’t get any worse than this. My social media is still being slaughtered with awful comments, and I can’t get an answer back from the UFC Hall of Fame Induction Committee about my status in the Hall of Fame. But worse than all of that is I still haven’t gotten Skylar to talk to me. I haven’t texted her any more, but I tried calling her again yesterday, with no response.

The silence is worse than any kind of ‘this is over’ message that I half-expect her to send. At least with that, I’d have enough information to figure out what I need to do next. But having no idea where she stands, I’m stuck in this limbo of hope and heartbreak, and it’s wearing me down.

So, I’m convinced things can’t get worse. And it takes the universe five minutes to prove me wrong.

I know something happened when I walk in and see Jax already there. He never beats me to the gym. But clearly, he needs to talk to me about something, because the second I walk in with Brutus, he’s jumping from the reception desk.

“Hey,” he rushes out.

My eyes narrow in his direction as I drop my bag on the floor and let Brutus off his leash. “What’s going on? Why are you here early?”

Nervousness blankets his expression. Fuck.

“Two things,” he says. “And you have to stay for the second one after you hear the first.”

“Just spit it out, Jax,” I bark. I can’t handle any more this week. I’ve been bled dry.

“Skylar quit last night.”

I lied. There’s more of me to bleed.

My voice is stone-cold when I finally speak. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

“I tried,” he assures me. “But she’s not a paying member, so there’s not really anything to cancel. It was basically her coming in to let us know she won’t be coming anymore.”

I curse internally. I knew I shouldn’t have gone to the local middle school yesterday. A part of me knew she was going to choose the one day she knows I’m not in to show up. If I didn’t love working with those teenagers as much as I do, I would’ve skipped it. But I couldn’t bring myself to take away the one day a week I know they look forward to.

“What did she say?” I ask instead.

Jax’s expression is pained. “She said she feels like she has to quit. Because you might be able to do damage control on your own, but you’ll never be able to move past the rumors if she’s still here.”

I thought my heart was already broken—turns out, this is what true heartbreak feels like.

Because that’s my answer. She doesn’t want to be around me. She doesn’t want me. And the worst part is, it’s such a Skylar decision. Of course, she’d be this selfless, even in a situation like this.

---