Page 37 of Fight for Forever

“I don’t know why I did that. Oh God, I’m sorry, I’ve messed things up for you.”

“No you haven’t. It was kind of hot, how you slapped him down.”

“Don’t say that. Joey, I made him so mad.”

“Nothing you say will do anything to make Marris worse than he already is,” he whispers.

He brushes some of the loose tendrils of hair away from my shoulder. I’m so lost in my state of panic that it doesn’t even register how his hand lingers there, brushing over the skin where my neck meets my shoulder.

“But you handled that so well, I was the ass.”

“You can never be an ass, Meg. Trust me, I’m not concerned.”

It feels like he is lying. That guy was really pissed off.

“Don’t worry, Megan.”

Joey turns to the promoter, who still has a wide grin on his face.

“It’ll make for a better fight, right Slayer? A beautiful woman getting between you.”

The heads of the other people at the table are bouncing back and forth between Joey and the promoter. I want to sink into the floor again. What is it with me being out with Joey that has me feeling like this? Only this is worse. I literally just angered the man Joey is gearing up to fight.

“It won’t ever be like that,” Joey says through gritted teeth. “We’re professionals. Our personal lives never come into this. And if I hear anything to the contrary, I’ll know where it came from, because I can guarantee Marris will not want the world to know what just happened here.”

The promoter swallows, looking nervous, then laughs it off, as if he had no intention of spilling what just went on at the table.

“Forget about it,” Joey says, turning back to me. “Trust me, okay? I’m not worried.”

I want to, but I can’t help looking over to where Marris has moved a few rows back to another table. He’s watching me and it makes spiders crawl down my spine, and I shudder.

Joey touches my chin and turns my face back to him.

“I got you, Meg. Just breathe.”

My heart is pounding. The fight-or-flight reaction is taking over me. Darkness blurs the edges of my vision as memories take over. I’ve seen that expression so many times before, usually before I’m hurt.

“Megan, look at me. I’m here. I’ll do whatever you want to do. Do you need to leave?” Joey asks.

Joey would get up and walk out of here with me if that was what I needed.

All I can think about is Marris feeling smug about us leaving. Believing he got to Joey rattled him. I won’t be responsible for that.

Drawing in a breath, I focus on Joey’s eyes. He’s worried, but he’s reassuring, and his finger is stroking the side of my neck. I calm and close my eyes, savoring his touch.

“I’m okay.”

“You sure?”

“I want to stay,” I tell him, opening my eyes, surer in my voice now.

He gives me a soft smile, his hand moves so he can squeeze my shoulder. “Anytime that changes, don’t be afraid to tell me.”

He studies me, looking for something to confirm he’s right and I want to leave. Steeling my shoulders, I take a few calming breaths. I’ve never been brought back from a panic attack so quickly, so easily, and gently. I nod at him and Joey smiles, then he settles back in his seat.

He doesn’t seem to be concerned, but I’m pretty certain I just opened a whole new can of worms for him.

Chapter Fifteen

---