Page 92 of Always You

“Well, she’ll be soon forgotten once you’ve got a taste of these Californian girls who will be begging you to take them home.” She gives me a wink, getting the contracts out of her briefcase, and placing them on the glass coffee table, then she shoves one of them in front of Jason.

“I’m here to fight,” I counter with a scowl. “Not to get pussy.”

Gina looks up with surprise, her gaze moving back and forth between Jason and me, as she offers me a sweet smile and hands me a pen.

“Of course.”

Leaning forward, I rip it out of her hand, rolling my eyes as I slowly shake my head, before I go over the contract in front of me, ready to sign up for my new life.

A few minutes later, all signatures are where they belong, and Gina flicks her gaze between Jason and me.

“So, how do you like the house?” Dark eyes scan us expectantly, and Jason and I share a look.

“It’s great. A little big for just the two of us, but I’m not complaining.” Jason shrugs as we nod in union.

“It is a little big,” she drawls, cocking her neck a little, “but that’s because you’ll be sharing it.”

Fuck no.“What? With who? You better not be throwing in some chick for publicity.”

“Relax, geez.” Palm up, Gina’s eyes grow wide. “I see that whoever she is, she’s still got your panties in a twist. Don’t worry,fighter boy. It’s a guy.”

I release my pent-up breath, avoiding Jason’s glare pinning me down. He’s been asking what the deal is with Charlotte and I, now that I’m on the other side of the country, but I’ve been avoiding the conversation as much as I can because I don’t fucking know.

We’re not together.

We’re friends.

But she’s still running through my mind like we’re more than that, and right now I’m not ready to let that go.Not yet.

“Who is he?” I try to keep my tone flat.

“The LA Knights latest purchase; Jared James Jensen.”

31

It all feels wrong.

I look into the mirror, biting my lip while I stare at my flushed face, not completely recognizing myself. They hooked me up with new gear, the factory smell lingering in my nose and even my hands are wrapped into better bands than I’ve ever fought with before.

I expected a rush of adrenaline from hearing the crowd outside the door, getting amped up because of the fight before me. But really, I’m numb.

This isn’t how I envisioned it. When I got the call that the AFA wanted me, I always pictured Charlotte with me. Cheering me on for my first fight. Hugging me and calling me a showoff when I win. But instead, the empty dressing room feels more daunting than the cage I’m about to step into.

With a deep sigh, I lock gazes with my reflection.

Focus on the goal, Hunt.

Make it big, then do whatever you want.

A year ago, that sentence would end there: make it big.

Now, I want to make it big to have choices. To buy myself time, even though I have no clue how much time I need.

I take my phone from the table, needing to hear her voice.

“How are you feeling?” I smile when Charlotte answers after the first ring, making me think back on all the fights she’s been to withme at the warehouse. Those days seem like forever ago, when really, it’s only been a couple of weeks.

“Pumped.”It’s a lie. But I know that my survival mode kicks in as soon as I’m gated with nothing more than my opponent to go up against.

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