Page 94 of Fight

I drive the point home as I slide my credit card to the waitress as we continue to chat to see what Tommy would say. His eyes squint so hard I’m worried they’ll stay that way, but he swallows down every word he clearly wants to say.

Taking a deep breath, he grunts instead, “I’m thinking of moving to Minneapolis, so I’ll need more dates to learn all of your favorite places, so they can be mine too. Maybe I can find a hole in the wall to surprise you with too.”

“You’d move here?” I ask, surprised. “I thought your entire life was in Chicago? What about Marie?”

“I love my sister, but we butt heads more than not. We didn’t grow up together,” he explains. “I’m not far in case she needs something, and there’s nothing really keeping her there except her job.”

“But… What about everything else?” I ask, signing the receipt when the waitress returns. “You have roots in Chicago.”

“I can’t stand to be away from you for a few hours, baby girl. What makes you think I can live in an entirely different city?” he asks with a smirk, standing to help me out of the booth as I pocket my credit card.

“I… don't know,” I respond weakly. “Holy shit.”

“I’ll let you sit with that,” he says generously as we leave the restaurant.

Overwhelmed, I nod as we walk. Anyone else would be telling me where to live and bossing me around, but Tommy is definitely not doing that. It’s as if he didn’t even think about it twice, and that’s a heady feeling.

Forcing myself to focus as I drive home, I bite my lip.

“So you’d live here,” I reiterate once we’re close to the apartment complex. I’ve been lost in my thoughts despite my efforts, semi spiraling with everything this could mean. “Where would you live?”

“I was thinking of finding an apartment near you,” he says with a secret smile as I nod. “Your club is here, you have people who depend on you, and I have some ideas on what I’ll do for work in Minneapolis.”

“Huh,” I murmur. “I didn’t expect this at all.”

The admission gets me a shrug. The gesture says a lot without a word being spoken. He really isn’t trying to control me, my life, or where I live. Instead, he’s shifting everything around to be near me.

“Jasper too?” I ask.

“We’re kind of a package deal since we work together,” he says. “He and I have been figuring out the logistics, but we’re excited for a new opportunity. We should be thanking you.”

“I don’t know about that,” I murmur. “I’m dying to see your hair in the light.”

Tommy doesn’t even look confused by the change in conversation. Sometimes, I need to focus on something else when I’m faced with a big change. Moving is a huge step for these alphas, and I’m overwhelmed with emotions about everything this means. They’re both very serious about me, and none of this is fake or a game to them.

“I almost like it,” he teases me, pulling his hair tie out of his hair once I park and turning on the light in the truck.

The blue strands look vibrant and beautiful against his skin, and I reach out to gently touch the silken strands. While his arms are covered with tattoos, his neck is left smooth and virginal.

“We match,” I murmur, deeply aware as he leans forward.

“You’ve marked me,” he growls. “This may fade, but one day you’ll accept my marks, no you’ll beg for them, Bluebell.”

“Maybe,” I whisper. I’m still very broken and even more untried when it comes to relationships. I’m not sure if he’ll stick around for all of my bullshit. It may be too much, but the only way I’ll know is with time.

“Bet on it. I’m not going anywhere,” he whispers before his lips touch mine. They’re warm, and he tastes like chocolate. Slowly deepening the kiss, he gives me the chance to back away, but I can’t. I want more, even if it’s for right now.

My scars are all on the inside and well hidden, so I’ll enjoy this for now, before it all implodes.

Chapter Twenty-One

JASPER

When Corbin and Pack Mohan offered to help us find a spot to host our fight nights, I was not expecting a literal underground location.

Walking down a ramp in a warehouse district, I turn on the flashlight on my phone to see. The realtor gave me several addresses when I called, saying she’d be down there to meet me at each location.

There’s a steel folding accordian style sliding gate that comes down at the entrance and locks that were left open for my arrival, and I’m unsure if she wanted me to get the full experience or what, but it’s fucking pitch black down here, despite the sunlight outside.

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