Page 21 of Fight for Forever

“Only one thing gets a guy lost like that.”

“Your sister?”

“You fucking asshole,” he snaps.

I laugh and walk away. Malice’s sister is hot, but I’ve never gone there. Never will. She’s younger than us. I only met her when she started at our college when we were Juniors. I made a joke about him hiding her away and he punched me so hard I was winded for hours. That’s when I figured his sister was off limits. Hasn’t stopped me from pissing him off about it over the years.

Especially when I need to divert his attention.

Truth is, my mind is elsewhere. On one thing specifically. Meg hasn’t answered my texts since the other night. I get it, I haven’t been able to work out with her. Today is the first day back at the gym. And I haven’t bothered doing any workouts at home either. Just didn’t feel up to it.

She always replies though. And my disappointment is turning to concern. Did I do something to put her off? Upset her. Was I too forward when I told her she should stay over?

Meg didn’t hang around the next day, getting up and leaving without even accepting the coffee I offered her. Being the anal-retentive ass I am, I went to change the bedsheets and realized straight away she’d taken my t-shirt when she left.

That had made me feel good and start reading into things I probably shouldn’t be. Then she ghosted me for three days. There are only so many times I can reach out before I look like a dick. Although, it’s not like we’re dating and she’s just stopped responding. I should be able to contact her to book in another session. She’s the one who wants me to teach her.

I swipe a hand down my face and wince when I catch my nose.

“Clean the ring.”

I turn to see Sam still working with Devon he isn’t even looking, but he sees everything. I roll my eyes but do as I’m told, grabbing the cleaning gear and heading back to make sure the floor of the ring is spotless.

My concentration is shot and, as of right now, Sam still hasn’t confirmed the fight with Marris, so I’m still technically off the hook training wise. I decide to call it a day and head home. I’m supposed to be meeting with my accountant in a couple of days, so I want to get everything straight for that.

Dixon, the guy who took me in after my parents died, is a retired navy seal. He was part of the reason I got into fighting. But another thing he taught me was to always have your affairs in order. Especially your money.

After a shower and flipping Malice off when he calls me a pussy for leaving after getting hit in the nose, I go out to my car.

I hit the grocery store to get some fresh produce for the next few days, then head home. My phone rings just after I pull into the underground parking lot at my building. It’s still connected tothe car, so the name appears on the screen as I swerve into my spot.

Megan.

Fuck. I hit the brakes a little too hard and jolt forward. Luckily, I didn’t hit the gas and drive into the fucking wall. Jesus.

“Hey,” I answer.

“Hi Joey,” she answers after a few seconds of silence.

“Everything okay?” I set the parking brake and sit back in the chair. I wish I had a profile picture for her contact, so I could see her. I shake that thought away.

“Yeah, I’m sorry I’ve not been in touch. Work got busy. I picked up more shifts because someone was out sick and… You know how it is.”

She sounds nervous. I don’t like that. I don’t want her to be nervous around me. We’ve been doing good for the last few weeks. I mean, she isn’t exactly opening up, but we’re getting on fine. She’s been smiling a lot. And she’s coming along fitness wise.

“How are you feeling?” she asks.

“Yeah, I’m cool. Went back to the gym today. First time I felt normal. I got some more of that soup from the deli you recommended. Awesome place by the way, I’ll definitely be going there more often.”

I didn’t walk past her apartment building a few times while I was over there or nothing. That would be weird. I slap a hand over my face.

“That’s good news. And yeah, the food there is awesome, not just the soup.”

“Good to know.”

Silence. Shit.

“So I was-”

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