Page 143 of Knot Happening Again

Thought I had him.

I'm losing focus.

The crowd roars, a dull buzz in my ears.

Sweat stings my eyes as I dodge another blow.

Barely.

My muscles scream, begging for a break I can't afford.

Ophelia's face flashes in my mind.

Those piercing blue eyes, the curve of her lips.

The way she looked at me this morning, guarded but softer than before. It's been months since I found her again, months of trying to prove I've changed. That I'm not the same coward who left her all those years ago.

But in the face of all those years…

That time and effort feels like nothing.

I know a few extravagant gifts aren't nearly enough to begin to scratch the surface of the ice that's formed on her heart toward me. But I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't passup a single opportunity to show her what she means to me for the rest of my life.

And I intend to keep that promise.

Judging from how much time she's been spending in her new studio, the gifts haven't been a complete miss. But now that I'm in the ring, and I should be focused on my opponent, I find myself racking my brain for what to get her next.

Is a personal private jet too over the top?

One she can use that doesn’t have my scent all over it?

Would she think I'm just trying to buy her forgiveness?

Jace hits me again.

My head snaps back, ears ringing.

His leg sweeps out and I hit the mat hard.

The ref starts the count.

“One.”

“Two.”

Mace is right.

That's what I get for getting lost in my head.

I've never had that problem before.

Then again, fighting has been all that's kept me from completely losing my mind over her absence in my life for all these years.

Now that she's finally with our pack…

I roll, pushing myself up on shaky arms.

“Three.”

---