“I just think there’s so much more to him. I wish he would go to a traditional gym and do it the conventional way.”
Danny looked at me and scowled, his top lip curled as though what I said disgusted him. I’d admit as I aired my concerns, I sounded whiny and spoiled, even to myself.
“Oh, come on, Phoenix,” Danny scoffed, “you just don’t want him to fight, full stop. Do you think he’s cut out to be stuck behind a desk tapping away at a computer or playing with numbers? You know, something sophisticated and normal.” He turned his back to me. He just didn’t want to listen.
“I’m really sorry.” I directed to Ethan, because Danny could kiss my arse. “That does sound really selfish.”
“Hey, no it’s not. That’s what anyone would want, but in Jacob’s eyes, this is his only way.”
I nodded at his answer, because I got what Ethan was saying, but Danny liked status and I’m sure if Danny was getting anything out of Jacob fighting, then he’d back him all the way. Whether or not he did get something out of this, I had no idea.I never much liked the idea of Jacob fighting, but I loved him a lot and I was willing to stand by him through this. Even if I didn’t like it.
“Well, I’m not going to be able to change his mind, he’s much too set in his ways.” A heavy sigh left my lips. “Thanks again for driving him back, both of you.”
“I’ll give him a call tomorrow,” Ethan replied. “He’ll be fine, I promise.” He started to back away from the door. Danny had already started to walk away. As he reached the end of the drive, he turned back.
“Yeah, stop worrying, he’s a big boy…”
“Whatever,” I called out and smirked. I watched them leave before I closed the door and went to tend to my boyfriend.
I stopped at the doorway of the living room and took in the sight of him. I hoped it wasn’t going to be like this all the time, but I knew if I loved Jacob and we had any kind of future, I’d have to suck it up and go with it. I let out a sigh as I pushed off the door frame. I gently sat down next to him and took his hand in mine, examining the cuts and bruises on his knuckles. Bringing them to my lips, I softly kissed them. His head rolled my way as he opened his good eye and watched me.
“I won.” The cut on his lip was deep and I wasn’t sure if he needed a stitch. It was swollen and red but there was blood caked to his skin, too, so I couldn’t tell. His words registered in my mind, and a small smile graced my lips as I leant in and kissed his cheek. “Nix, I won.”
I wanted to be enthusiastic, but I had no idea how to be. I gave him a small smile. “Let’s get you cleaned up, wait there.” I placed his hand on his thigh and headed for the kitchen to grab the first aid kit. I was hoping this was full of everything I needed to help him. I reached for the top shelf and took in a breath as I opened it to check. Luckily, we had everything. I headed back into the living room and left it on the coffee table while I got water and cotton wool.
With everything ready, I started to wipe his face and clean him up. He watched me closely, with a hiss through his teeth every so often and a flinch when I was a little rough. We got through it until he looked more human again, but the bruising was coming out now, too.
“How am I looking?” I placed three sterastrips over the cut on his eyebrow.
“Well, I wouldn’t like to see how the other guy looks, if you look like this.” I placed a sterile plaster over the strips to protect them and moved to his lips again. “This really needs a proper stitch or it’s going to scar.”
“No. They’ll ask questions. Plus, it’ll add to my hard man appeal if it scars.”
I stared at him, not quite believing what I’m hearing, and shook my head. “Hold still. This might hurt.” I peeled the strips from the backing paper and stuck the very edge to the back of my other hand so I could grab them easily. I squeezed the cut together and a groan left the back of his throat. “Oh, come on, Jay. I thought you were a hard man.” I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling and quickly stuck the sterile strips down on his cut. “That’s a good lad,” I pressed a small kiss to the other side of his mouth. “All done.” I took the water and emptied it down the sink and put the first aid kit away, then went back and helped him to his feet. As he stood, his arm went to his stomach. “Let’s get you upstairs, and I’ll take a look at your belly.”
“Do whatever you want to me, nurse. I won’t complain.”
I took his hand in mine and thread an arm around his waist to lead him up the stairs. “Honestly, Jacob, you’re in no position to complain at the moment.” I smiled at our easy banter as we reached the top and made our way into my room. I cleared the things that were left on the bed and helped him lie down. With his t-shirt pulled up as high at it could go, I ran my fingers over the patches of skin that were already discoloured. Purple bruising had already begun to mar his taut body. I pressed lightly against his bruises, careful not to hurt him anymore. “I think they’re just bruised, but without an x-ray we won’t know.”
“Come and lie with me,” I looked him over again as my comment about the x-ray went over his head. I wondered whether it was possible without hurting him more, but the need to feel him against me won out. I slid onto the bed and snuggled into his side as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. We lay silently until I realised, he’d fallen asleep. I left his side as gently as I could and turned off the light before I retook my position and closed my eyes.
CHAPTER FIVE
JACOB
My body ached and was sore when I woke up the next morning. I was sure this is what it felt like to be hit by a moving vehicle. I saw the space in the bed next to me was empty and I guessed Phoenix had already left for Uni. I was gutted that I’d missed her, but I must’ve been out cold. I knew I had to move though, so I tried to pull myself up in the bed, but my body hurt like a bitch. I pushed through it until I’d managed to heave myself up slightly, and my shoulders were against the pillows. I let out an exhausted breath as my head rest against the headboard, and I wondered where I put my phone last night.
I pulled back the duvet and saw I was still in the clothes I’d come back from the club in. I’d fallen asleep not long after Phoenix had cleaned me up.
With my foot pushing to the floor, I inched closer to the edge to sit up. As I made it to sitting up fully, the door opened. “What are you doing?” Nix asked, with her brows pinched as she walked in.
“Trying to get out of bed to reach my bag. I need my phone.” She came around to me and placed a hot cup of tea on the bedside table, then she kissed my cheek.
“Wait there, it’s downstairs,” as she turned, I caught her by the wrist and spun her back to me. Our noses brushed as I pulled her closer, I wanted to kiss her but this fucking cut on my lip stopped me. Her lips brushed softly over mine instead. The soft peck was much less than I wanted, but I guess I had to put up with it, at least until it was healed. I let her go reluctantly and she left again. I pushed my arse further back on the bed and picked up my cup while I waited for her. As soon as the hot liquid touched my lip though, I could have thrown it up the wall. I placed the drink down again while it cooled a little.
“Here it is,” she said as she waltzed back into her room.
“I thought you’d left already.”