Page 29 of I Am Lioness

“It’s okay, I just worry. It’s the father in me.”

“And I love you for that.” I squeezed him back, meaning every word.

It was silent for a beat and then he asked, “Is he good to you, kid? Does he make you happy?”

I nodded against his chest. “So far? Yes.”

“He has my vote then. However,” he said with a bite in his tone. “If he hurts you, he won’t be much of man when I’m done with him.”

I let out a sigh of relief, chuckling silently. “I’ll let him know you said so, Pops.”

The next week and a half consisted of the usual routine—wake up, train, refuel, repeat. The only difference was the addition of chatting on the phone with Knox almost every night before going to bed.

It was nice to unwind after a long day and have someone to talk to that wasn’t my usual trio. Though, really, it was more of a duo now because Jason and I hadn’t spoken much since the Vegas incident. He apologized shortly after arriving in Phoenix but the tension between us was still utterly palpable and it didn’t help that, for the most part, he kept to himself which made traveling anywhere awkward.

Especially since I always got stuck riding with him in the backseat. Bernie said he was probably embarrassed hence the new loner attitude, but I wasn’t buying that, not a word of it. Something was definitely up and either I was going to figure it out, or in due time, it would all come out. The truth always did.

On the other hand,just friendswas working out surprisingly well for Knox and I. It may have been juvenile but our nightly conversations were the highlight of my day.

Going into this, I expected it to be difficult given the underlying feelings we had bubbling beneath the surface, yet somehow the conversation was always so light and easy. Knox seemed genuinely interested in whatever tidbits of information I divulged. He asked questions and made me laugh often. Of course there were moments flooded with the surge of our attraction where I found myself teasing him or vice versa, but I couldn't say I didn't enjoy that.

All in all, we really were just getting to know each other and with every day that passed, I grew not only more attached, but also hopeful of what this meant for the future. While that gnawing sense of fear was always there, lingering in the back of my mind, I did my best to shove it down and live in the moment.

The night before the fight in Phoenix was no different than those prior. I was neck deep in conversation with Knox about reckless decisions we’d made back in the day. Mine were suitable for children’s bedtime stories compared to some of the shit he’d done.

He had me giggling—yes, giggling—until my stomach hurt and tears streamed down my face. I was coming down from another fit, clutching my stomach as my breathing began to even out when he said, “So this is definitely off-topic but there's something I've been meaning to ask you since Vegas and I keep forgetting.”

I tensed slightly. Not knowing exactly what he wanted to ask made me anxious, especially when there were many a things he didn't know about me yet, some of which I wasn’t ready to share.

“Um, okay. Shoot.” I said, hoping I didn't sound as antsy as I felt.

“How did you meet Bernie?” He asked.

Oh. No.

It was an innocent question, one a typical person could have answered without difficulty, but the circumstances that led me to meeting Bernie wasn’t something I enjoyed rehashing.

Not just with Knox, with anyone. Going back to that time in my life was painful. He was curious though and I couldn’t blame him, not when we’d already discussed how Bernie’s role in my life exceeded being just my coach.

“Knox, I-I… Can we maybe talk about this another day? It's a long story and I…” I faltered, unable to finish my sentence, feeling my stomach churn in distress.

“C’mon, sweets. Please?”

Silence.

Just thinking about the day I met Bernie sent an icy, cold shiver running down my spine. My skin was suddenly littered with goosebumps and my heart was pounding frantically.

Taking a deep breath, I sat up on the bed and crossed my legs, clutching the comforter in my fist to brace myself.

“Fine.” I conceded, because I was going to have to tell him eventually. “Just remember I was at a very dark place in my life when I met him.”

Knox chuckled. “Nothing you say is going to scare me away or make me look at you differently. Just tell me.”

I gulped and blew a mouthful of air between my lips, my cheeks puffing up with the motion. Then with very great detail, I began telling Knox the story.

I wasn’t lying when I said my life was shrouded by darkness back then. After just barely graduating from high school with essentially no one by my side and nothing left to my name, I met Zeke Dumont. Tall, dark, and handsome, he had me at hello.

Little did I know what a hellish mistake it was going to be to allow him in my life. We moved in together almost immediately, spent quite a bit of time together in between work, and for sometime he hid his leisure’s well.

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