Page 54 of Acid

Mom refused to leave after the three days she was given and was escorted out by police, along with Andrea. She was given twenty-four hours to grab her things and, last I heard, most went to charity. Since then, Mom’s been staying at a so-called male friend’s house. Cass hasn’t contacted her.

As soon as she’d found out about Mom’s affair, she cut her out of her life, but since it’s become known that Cass still lives in the vicinity, Mom has been trying to contact her.

Cass mentioned Mom came to the hospital, demanding her portion of the sale from the house, and security had to escort her out.

Unlocking the door, I walk into the gym, locking the door behind me, learning my lesson from when Mom barged in, and drop my bag on the reception desk with a sigh, my conversation with my sister in my mind.

I miss him, I know that. I miss the boy I used to spar with while Dad laughed on the sidelines. I miss his laughter, something Acid barely does these days, and I miss his hugs….

“I like what you’ve done with the place, Tinker.”

I jump and look up in shock; my body freezes as I lock eyes with Acid, and my mouth parts when my eyes travel over his shirtless figure….

Oh….

He stands tall in the middle of the ring in only a pair of shorts, and I do believe this is the first time I’ve seen him without a shirt on, and…oh my.

My libido tries to take over, something that only happens with this man, which, yes, I know, says a lot, but I ignore it when I notice the name on his chest.

Perrie.

Okay, so Cass is right. He does feel something for me, but that doesn’t mean we can be together, right?

“Dare you to spar with me, Tinker,” he says when I don’t say anything, rooted to the spot near the desk. I shake my head, not willing to go near him and his chiseled chest as my eyes go to his hair running from his navel to underneath his shorts.

Damn….

“I didn’t realize you were a chicken, Tinker,” Acid goads, and I snap my eyes at him with a warning.

Where’s the guy who broke yesterday? The guy who didn’t say a word as he escorted me to my car, followed me home, then left?

He grins and holds his arms out. “Come on, Tinker. How many times have you pictured hitting me?”

Well, when he says it like that….

My jaw ticks, and without giving it too much thought, I remove my coat and remove my uniform, glad I put on my sports shorts and bra underneath it this morning. I storm to the ring as Acid grins, bouncing on the balls of his feet, keeping his eyes on me as I climb into the ring.

Giving me a wink as I pull my hair up in a messy bun, he turns and picks up the boxing bag, throwing it over the ropes, and I freeze at the several large scars lacing his back, a lion tattoo covering the deeper ones that are still noticeable, and my sister’s words float in my head.

“He thinks he’s not good enough for you, and yes, that is the vibe he’s giving.”

My breathing picks up, and my tears fall as I eye each ragged scar before he turns, and our eyes connect.

He softens, seeing my tears, and he takes a fighter’s stance, nodding for me to do the same. “Let’s talk, shall we, Tinker?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and get into a stance before I choke out, “There’s nothing to talk about.”

He hums before swinging his fist. I dodge it, and he says, “Okay, I’ll talk, you listen….”

I narrow my eyes at him and swing my right fist. He blocks it, then my left.

“First off, I hate the fucking makeup caked on your face today, Tinker. It doesn’t suit you.” He grunts as he tries to block my hits.

I growl at the ass and twist to elbow him, but he catches it just before I hit his face.

“Got to hide the bruises somehow,” I spit back as I sweep my leg out. Again, he dodges my advances, and I grunt when his fist connects with my ribs.

Coughing, I step back a little, and he grins, goading me, “I thought you were undefeated?”

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