Page 74 of The Finder

He stepped towards her so they were toe to toe. “I am not fighting you in that ring,” he said.

“So, you’re forfeiting?” Emma asked.

“I’ve never forfeited a fight in my life,” Garrett ground out.

“Then I guess you shouldn’t start now. I’ll see you in the ring.” With that, Emma handed Madison her sweatshirt and slipped into the ring. Emma closed her eyes, wondering if Garrett would leave her up here by herself. He didn’t leave her wondering for long. He stepped in and stood at his end of the ring.

Emma closed her eyes while she waited for Liam to talk through his spiel. In her mind, she saw Barbie and her friend. She heard the words the blond had told her—how that she wasn’t anything special, that Garrett had already slept with her, and how she would care for Garrett tonight. She saw Garret and Liam’s faces when she said she was here to fight; she saw Alec’s face when he told her she would never amount to anything. Rage boiled deep within her. She was tired of being the butte of everyone’s jokes. She was tired of never being enough, never standing on her own two feet. She was done being that weak girl. She was no longer scared, weak Emersyn. She was Emma now, and she was no longer going to let other people run over her.

When the air horn sounded, Emma was ready. She knew the only way she could land any kind of hit on Garrett would be to surprise him. She launched an aggressive attack against him. She saw his eyes widen in surprise right before she landed a blow on him; she knew for a fact he could have blocked it. She could see it in his stance and in his eyes. The place erupted. Emma came at him again with all the rage she had trapped inside of her. He met her blow for blow, but she knew he was holding back. There was no question about it. She didn’t care. She put every ounce of force she had behind each of her hits. She hit harder and faster. Suddenly, her feet were swept out from under her. She landed hard on her back with Garrett over the top of her. He had cushioned her fall with a hand under her head. The wind was knocked out of her, so it took her a moment to gain her bearings. She tried to get out of his hold, but it was no use. She was successfully pinned; yet somehow, he was keeping most of his weight off of her. He was putting most of his weight on his forearms. The airhorn went off, and the place exploded once again.

Emma glared at Garrett, who was inches from her face and still hadn’t gotten off of her. “You can get off me now,” she grunted.

He narrowed his eyes at hers and shocked her when he kissed her. The crowd went absolutely nuts, which only made Emma angrier. She tried to fight him off, but couldn’t. She finally settled for biting his lip, hard. He jerked back in surprise. Emma smiled when she saw the blood on his lip. He finally rolled off of her and jumped to his feet. He put a hand out to help her up; she only took it because of all the eyes watching them. She dropped his hand as soon as she was standing and moved out of the ring to where Kyle and Madison stood. Madison gave her a big hug. “You, okay?” she asked in concern.

“Never better,” Emma replied. “Just mad I didn’t land any more hits on him,” Emma said and began walking. She wasn’t sure where she was going, just away from Garrett.

“Emma,” she heard Garrett’s angry voice behind her, but she just kept walking. She weaved in and out of the crowd going out the front doors. When she finally made it outdoors, she took a deep breath of the cold air. The cold felt good on her hot cheeks.

She was following the crowd when a hand snagged her elbow. She was whirled around to face a very angry Garrett. Without a word, he dragged her with him. Without making a huge scene, Emma had no idea how to escape him, so she let him take her wherever he was going. Everybody around them greeted them and congratulated them on their wins of the night.

Emma tuned it all out. Soon, Garett stopped at a car. Max was already inside. Garrett opened the back door and ushered Emma inside. Then he slid in the front seat, and Max took off immediately. Not a word was said on the way back to Garrett’s house. Once they stopped, Garrett climbed out. Before he could open her door, she slid out the other side. It didn't matter; he was at her side a moment later, his hand on her elbow again.

At the door, he turned to Max. “Nobody comes in.” Max nodded, and Garrett shut the door behind him. Without a sound, he pulled Emma along with him down the hallway and into his room. He shut the door behind them and released her.

Emma turned on him, furious. “I’m not a thing that you can just lug around, Garrett. Next time, try using your words,” she said.

Garrett didn’t say anything. He just studied her for a moment. “You’re mad,” he said.

Emma snorted. “You think? Wow, what gave it away?” Garrett’s eyes narrowed at her. Emma shook her head. “I’m not doing this tonight; I’m going to bed.” She moved towards the door, but Garrett moved into her path, blocking her. “Really? You’re going to keep me from going to my room?”

“We are going to talk about what's going on between us first,” he said in a calm voice.

Emma crossed her arms and snorted. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

“Your presence in the ring tonight begs to differ. You were furious with me; you still are. I want to know why. I told you that I didn’t want to fight you in the ring; you’re my mate...”

Emma put her hand up. “Let me stop you right there, big guy. No more of this mate talk. It’s over. Whatever was between us or whatever it was youthoughtwas between us is over. Not that there was anything to it to begin with.”

Garrett froze. “Emma, what are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about your lies—all of them. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but you won. Congratulations. You managed to hurt me more than anybody else in my miserable life. You know why? Because you told me all the things I’ve wanted to hear my entire life, and you made me feel the things I’ve searched for my entire life. You made me feel beautiful, special, protected, and valued for the first time. You made me care about you, Garrett. You made me think there was something special between us, but there isn’t. Apparently, there never was,” she finished brokenly. Garrett opened his mouth to say something, but Emma put her hand up. “Please, not tonight. I can’t do this anymore. Please just let me go to my room,” she said in a dejected voice.

Garrett didn’t say anything for the longest time. Finally, he responded. “Go get some sleep, Emma; but know that this conversation is far from over.” He moved to the side and Emma hurried past him to her room.

Emma stripped out of her clothes and took a quick shower. Once she was out and dressed and ready for bed, she braided her hair and slipped under the covers. She thought sleep would find her quickly because of the night she had, but it didn’t. She stared at the ceiling replaying the words she’d said to Garrett over and over again in her mind. She heard a soft knock at the door, but she didn’t answer. She hoped whoever was there would go away. She closed her eyes when she heard the door open quietly. She heard footsteps and knew it was Garrett. She almost gave herself away when he ran a finger down her cheek gently. Somehow, she managed to not jump and to keep her breathing still. Probably from years of practicing, growing up in the home she did.

“I’m so sorry, my precious Emma. I don’t know what I did, but I vow to you that I will make it right.” Emma didn’t move. She heard a soft noise and soon realized Liam had joined Garrett.

“What happened tonight?” Liam asked in a low voice.

“I don’t know what I did, but I hurt her really badly,” Garrett said just as quietly. Emma had to strain to hear both their voices. “I have to make it right,” Garret said. His voice sounded so sad; Emma had never heard him like that before.

“You will,” Liam said.

“What if she doesn’t forgive me?” Garrett asked. Emma held her breath, waiting to hear Liam’s answer.

“She will,” Liam said confidently. “She’s a good person, Garrett. She’s been through hell and back and is still standing. She has every reason to be angry and bitter, but she’s not. She's still sweet and kind. She loves other people and takes care of them. That’s not the kind of girl who won’t forgive you.”

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