Page 100 of Loathe at First Sight

Sunshine and Horrible Memories

Jack

“You’re like a cat,” I say to Liz as I watch her lean back in her seat with her eyes closed as the Miami sun bakes her face.

“I’m just trying to soak up the sunshine while I can.”

The look on her face when she saw I rented us a convertible for our stay here made the extra cost completely worth it. Of course, she tried to pay for half, but there was no way that was happening.

We had the same argument about plane tickets too. The woman is about to have no job and no place to live, but she’s worried about me paying for things. She never ceases to amaze me.

“I know we aren’t here for long, Liz, but is there anything you want to do while we are here?” I ask, reaching over to take her hand in mine.

“Hmm,” she ponders. “I guess I’m not quite sure what all there is to do. What kind of stuff did you like to do when you lived here?”

“Oh, no. We are not doing that kind of stuff.”

Her eyes widen. “What kind of stuff?”

“When I lived here, I was a quintessential party boy. It was a time in my life that I’m not exactly proud of. Plus, I’d like to stay away from my old habits so that people don’t recognize me. I came here to see my mom—not put on a show for the rest of the fucking world.”

“I’m sorry,” she says, a little taken back. “I just thought it would help me get to know you a little better. I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

I bring the back of her hand to my mouth to press my lips against it. “No, I’m sorry. I’m not upset. This place just brings up some painful shit for me. I don’t want to relive that part of my life.”

“I get it. We can do whatever you want to while we are here. I’ll let you take the lead and show me the town.”

“I think I can do that,” I tell her with a small smile.

As we drive through the crowded streets of Miami, Liz looks around in awe. “Everything is so bright and colorful. It’s the complete opposite of Lilly Leaf Falls where it seems like everything is colored in shades of grey, brown, and green.”

“Yeah, it’s quite the colorful town. At night, it comes alive even more.”

“Hm,” is all she says in return, still occupied with the sights around her. When she finally does speak again, she asks, “What was your life like here? I know that you don’t like to talk about it, but this place seems like the total opposite of you.”

Although I’m not always keen to talk about my life here, I don’t want to keep things from Liz. It’s not fair to her when she’s been so open with me about her past.

Holding onto her hand a little tighter than before, I begin. “I started doing some underground fighting and kickboxing when I was in college back in Minnesota.”

She interrupts me. “You’re from Minnesota?”

“Yep. Born and raised.”

“That explains a lot. You’ve got that whole Midwestern charm thing about you.”

I joke, “Are you going to let me tell the story or not?”

“Okay, sorry.”

“Before I graduated, I was approached by a promoter that was down here in Miami. He offered me a deal. Looking back, I should have stayed in school and finished, but I saw all those dollar signs and couldn’t pass it up. When you’re young, you live in the now and don’t worry much about the future. So, I left school and headed for Miami.

“When I got here, I trained hard but partied harder. Every night was a new chance to see what kind of trouble I could get into. I was pushing it way too far, but I was winning fights, so I didn’t give a shit. Eventually, I was headlining events, and women were dying to be on my arm when I was done. Problem was that none of them cared about me at all. They only cared about what I could do for them and their image. Looking back, I think everyone around me had that mentality. The guys I worked for just wanted me to make them money. People who claimed to be my friends just wanted all the perks that came with my lifestyle.”

We drive past one of the high-rise buildings, and I point to it. “I lived in the penthouse of that building.”

“Wow,” she says, gazing up at it. “That doesn’t seem like you at all. The Jack that I know is so…minimalistic.”

“I think I got a taste of fame and just wanted to keep pushing it. When I got hurt, it all went to hell in a handbasket.”

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