Page 129 of Always You

“Because one, we agreed to be friends again. Meaning you don’t give me a heart attack every chance you get. And two, because I know you’re dying to tell me, anyway.”

“Am I now?” He laughs.

“Come on, we both know you’re calling me because you fight better if we keep our rituals alive. You said so yourself.”

He stays quiet, the corner of my mouth rising in a wide grin, knowing I’ve got him there. Though he never admitted it, I heard the rumors that were going on while he was still fighting in high school. Phil once told me that he was even better ever since he brought me along, calling me his lucky charm to everyone who wanted to hear it. One day, I couldn’t be there because my mother had a terrible week, and he dragged it for fifteen minutes, putting everyone on edge since everyone expected him to knock the guy out in the first five minutes.

“First round.”

“Oh,” I cheer out. “You’re not even going to pretend?”

“Hell no, that belt is mine, Charls.” His confidence crawls back into his voice.

“Damn right, it is.”

“Are you ready, baby?” There’s a woman’s voice in the background, wiping the grin right off my face.

“Who’s that?” I frown.

“Laurie.” He says her name as if it’s nothing. As if it’s the most normal thing in the world, but to me, it feels like another punchin the gut. I know I predicted it, but maybe deep inside I was hoping I was wrong. But hearing her purring voice coming over the line reminds me once more that we are just friends.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

I swallow hard before I ask him about her, doing my best to keep my voice steady. “You two are back together?”

“Yeah, sorta.” His tone changes, as if he’s suddenly aware of all the ways this conversation can fly off the bend again. “We’re trying. I was gonna tell you, I swear. It’s just, it’s not that serious yet.” The panic is audible in his voice as he quickly blurts out the words. “Don’t be mad.Please.”

“Calm down, Hunt. I’m not mad. I’m happy for you.”Liar, liar, pants on fire.I cock my head as I listen to his steady breathing through the phone. “That is, ifyouare?”

“I’ll be happy when I have that belt around my waist in an hour.”

I don’t miss how he steamrolls over the question, but lucky for him, I don’t even truly want to know the answer. “You will. You promise first round?”

“It will be over before you know it.”

“Good.” I smile. “Good luck, Hunt.”

“Thanks, Charls.”

Thirty minutes later

HUNTER: *PHOTO*

CHARLOTTE: Told you, Champion. ;) Congratulations. Gold looks good on you.

HUNTER: Couldn’t have done it without you.

CHARLOTTE: You can do anything you want, Hunt. When are you going to realize that?

HUNTER: Never. I need you to remind me for the rest of my life.

50

Strolling into chaos willingly, Laurie’s high heels echoing in my ear with each step, her arm linked to mine.

“Oh my god, Emily! Look at that!” She glances at Jensen’s date. After doing a shoot together, Laurie has been adamant about setting her up with either Jason or Jensen, quoting “we can double date.”

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