Page 11 of I Am Lioness

“Fuck yes, I'm friends with the Lioness! What about you, bro? Youfriendsyet?” He waggled his eyebrows.

I wanted to punch him dead center in his smug face. If the glare I was burning into him didn't give him a hint, I wasn't so sure I could pass up beating the crap out of him the next time something stupid came out of his mouth.

I turned my attention back to Hazel. “As I was saying before we were so rudely interrupted…”

“Ey, you said five minutes dickhead. I'm just keeping your ass in check.”

“Shhh.” I shoved a finger into his face. “Figure out a way for me to prove myself and we’ll revisit this conversation another day.”

“You'll be waiting many a days for that conversation then, Mr. Carr.” She said.

My brow quipped. “And why is that?”

“Because I leave for Vegas tomorrow. Unless you have some sort of magical teleportation powers, I don't see how you're going to prove yourself anytime soon between the mileage.”

The thought of her leaving made me uncomfortable in a way I couldn't explain. In the back of my mind, I knew she'd be gone by morning, Reyna along with her. Constant travel was part of being on the League. It was one of the things I’d watched Luis struggle with most. His sister was gone for months out of the year and when she returned, he always felt like he'd missed a huge chunk of her life.

Being they were all each other had—aside from me—it was always difficult for him when she left, even if he did fly out to see her whenever he could. And here I was, so wrapped up in our heated exchange that my brain completely shut out the fact she’d be only but a memory for the next several months. I wasn't about to let her get away though.

Reaching into my pocket, I fished out my wallet. “I'll tell you what. You take all the time you need thinking of a way for me to showcase my abilities, and once you do, call me”—I held out a business card between two fingers—“We’ll discuss all the fine details and I’ll prove you right when you return.” I added with a grin.

Taking me by complete surprise, Hazel snatched the small piece of cardstock and lifted onto her toes, laying her hand flat on my chest. “Let's see what I can come up with…” She smiled. “Though I may consider letting you slide and just taking you up on your offer. It might be good to give my old man a break.” I wasn’t expecting to feel her soft, warm lips press against my cheek. It froze me in place. It also took every goddamn thing in me not to curl a hand around her pretty little throat and turn my head to fuse our mouths together.

“Catch you later, stud.” She said with a wink.

Hazel and Luis quickly exchanged goodbyes and then I watched her disappear to the back of the gym.

“Well, that was… Interesting.” Luis piped up.

“Shut up, man, seriously.” I pushed past him to the locker rooms.

“You have got itbad,bro. Do you realize that?” He said, keeping up with my strides.

“I’m well aware. Thanks.”

“Dude, calm the fuck down. She’s just a chick. Why are you going nuts?”

I jerked to a stop and whipped my head in his direction. “She isnotjust some chick. Trust me. There’s something about her...and I want it. I wanther.”

Luis sighed and shook his head. “Are you deaf, Carr? She’s leaving with Rey in the morning.”

“I heard her loud and clear. Won’t deter me any less. I want her and if that means I have to wait, then I’ll be here when she returns.”

“You’re going to wait around half a year for a woman you’ve known all of what, five seconds?” He asked incredulously.

I nodded. “Pretty much.”

“You’re insane.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“No, really, you've lost your damn mind.”

I shrugged. “Maybe so, but I have a feeling it'll all be well worth it.”

If I thought I had it bad for Hazel from the moment I met her, I was highly mistaken. It was so much worse now, so much fucking worse. Our little run in at the gym last weekend assured that. A handful of days had passed since she left for Vegas and I was going out of my right mind. She consumed my thoughts from the moment I woke up, to the moment I fell asleep, and even then, the woman starred in my dreams.

With that wild blonde hair, those chocolate brown eyes, and that exquisitely sculpted body, Hazel Perry was one fierce goddess and I was merely a beggar on my knees praying at her altar for one spec of her undivided attention. This infatuation was quickly morphing into a rabid obsession and I didn't know what the hell to do about it.

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