Page 188 of Always You

“I know, babe. But I did win?” I joke, trying to lighten her mood.

“Thank God, you did.” There’s discomfort in her voice, but being the supportive girlfriend that she is, she will never tell me to stop fighting. She never has, even though she’s been hating it since I dragged her to that warehouse when we were still kids.

“You know…” I start, “I’ve been thinking.”

“Yeah?” She lifts her head to look at me, and my hand reaches up to cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb over her soft skin. She’s looking at me with anticipation, and I’m the luckiest man alive, having her here in my arms. When I finally pulled my head out of my ass and won her back, it only took me a week before I sent Jason back to LA to get my stuff and moved in with Charlotte. I expected it to feel strange to start living in her parental home with her mama’s memories all over the place, but it felt morelike home than ever before. Giving me the place where I want to start a family.

One day.

“I think I’m gonna quit.”

“Quit what?” She tilts her head in confusion.

“Fighting.”

Her eyes widen, filling with excitement, even though she’s doing her best to keep a straight face, looking like a teapot ready to boil over.

“Really?” she says, as casually as possible.

“Really.” I chuckle.

“Why?”

“Why not? All I ever wanted was this.You.I chose to fight as an escape from my reality, but I don’t need to escape anymore. I don’twantto escape anymore.” I press a trail of kisses against her jaw. “I don’t want to train four hours a day. I don’t want to go back to LA. I don’t want to be part of that jet-set life. I don’t see any reason to keep going. Hell, I don’t have to do it for the money either. I have more money than I can spend in a lifetime. We’re set for life. It was fun, but no more. I want to spend my mornings waking up with you on the porch, drinking coffee.”

The corner of her mouth curls.

“What are you going to do all day? You’re not the type of guy who sits on his ass. You need something to do.”

“I was thinking about taking a job at the ice rink. See if they can use a trainer or a coach in the minor leagues. But I could also work at the Bowling Alley. I do own it after all.”

She shakes her head, the sunlight dancing in her eyes. “You’re crazy.”

Her gorgeous eyes light up before her lips crash against mine in a bruising kiss. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for months now, asking myself what it is I really want to do, and every single time, my dad flashes in front of my eyes. The visionof him training and coaching Logan and I, harsh and strict, but a big-ass smile on his face whenever he saw our improvements.

That’s what I want.

“You think it’s a good idea?”

“That sounds perfect, Hunt. I think that’s the best idea,” she murmurs against my lips.

“Yeah?”

“Definitely. So, when is your last fight?”

“Yesterday.”

“Are you shitting me?”

“Nope.” I smirk, shooting her a wink.

“Really?”

“Yesterday was the last fight before my contract needed to be extended. I told Gina after the fight, I wasn’t going to renew it.”

“EEEK!” Her arms wrap tightly around me, and I bury my nose in her neck, breathing her in.

The moment I left LA and moved back to North Carolina, I knew the life I had for the last couple of years was over. And I couldn’t be happier about it. When I left North Carolina, it felt like I gained my freedom, giving me the opportunity to make something out of myself. Opening doors that weren’t going to open back in Braedon. But when I finally got my girl … moving back home was the last thing I needed to feel complete.

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