Page 85 of Obsessed with my Temptation

And I would do it, not for anyone else, but for myself.

Most of all, I wanted to fight, because I didn’t want to lose Scott.

Scott, who I loved like I’d never loved anyone before. Selflessly, with my whole body and heart. Every day was better, brighter, just because I knew I would get to see him at some point. He’d made me feel alive and happy, like I was capable of living for something that wasn’t boxing, like I could do something other than just survive.

Scott had wanted so desperately to be seen, and without knowing it, I had, too. He’d seen me for who I was and not who everyone thought me to be.

And maybe, just maybe, he might have loved me.

The thought that I’d let all of that go was crushing.

I wanted to be good enough for that. Good enough to honor him and everything that he meant to me.

I wanted him to be mine again. I wanted to be his, and this time for real, without lies or pretenses. Putting my heart on the table.

Coach probably saw the new determination on my face, because he nodded. “Good. Now, what do you want right now, son?”

“I want to win.”

“Who for?”

“For myself. Because I deserve it and I’ve fought for it. Because I’mdamn good. And if I can give the finger to my father—well, I won’t be mad about that.”

Coach chuckled and with his meaty arms pulled me into a hug tight enough to burst organs.

Coach had been my father when mine had given up on me. He’d been myparentwhen I’d felt alone and misunderstood and unloved.

He’d stuck with me through thick and thin, and he’d been the one, once again, to pull me out of the darkness.

“Good. Now go.”

So I went.

I made my way to the ring, to win, and after, I was going to go find Scott. I would tell him I loved him and I was an idiot, and if he might just consider having me by his side, I would do my best to be worthy of that.

By loving him earnestly and without restraint.

I found Andy on the way, and by the look on his face, he’d been looking for me. He jogged to my side. “You ready, asshole? I don’t want you getting knocked out because you’re distracted.”

“I’m not distracted anymore.”

Andy stared at me, trying to read my expression.

With a grin, he said, “Did Coach finally get through that thick skull of yours?”

I chuckled.Fuck. I hadn’t thought today I would be laughing at all. “He did.Youalso did.” I put my arm around his shoulders and added, “First, we win our fights, and after, you’ll have to show me what you have planned for your gym, because unless I want to get a damn desk job, I’ll have to figure something out.”

A shocked laugh came out of him in response. “I don’t know, man. I think you’d look pretty cute in a suit.”

I tried to push him, but he didn’t let me, instead hugging me and lifting me up from the ground.

“Let’s win this shit.”

I would fight Benny, and after, I would find Scott.

We might have to deal with Mark and all the shit people might say about us, but no matter what happened, I didn’t want to let spite run my life or dictate what I did ever again.

For the first time ever, I felt free.

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