Page 12 of Love to Stay

I close my eyes and force myself to get some rest. It’s important that I have a good training day tomorrow so that if Pedro finds out I’ve got a girl at my place, I can point to my stellar performance as proof she’s not a distraction.

When I wake up, the moon is still hanging in the sky. It’s time for a run. I slide out from underneath Josie’s body. She murmurs something and tries to keep me next to her. I want to stay, dammit, but I can’t. I pluck her fingers off and press a kiss against the fingertips. “Got to go make a living for us, Josie babe. Stay here. Wait for me.”

The five-mile run gets rid of my hard-on and clears my head some.

Coming here meant leaving Josie behind. I wanted to ask her to come with me, but her dad was in bad health. When I arrived and Pedro hit me with the no babes, no booze rules, and I foundmy apartment was this one-bedroom prison cell, I figured that I should train hard, win some prize money, and then move both Josie and her dad here. Or maybe I could go back to Griff’s gym and train there. Those were my thoughts.

Those were my thoughts when she was thousands of miles away, but now that she’s here, draped over my chest, I don’t think I can let her go. I don’t have the space for her and her dad, but I’ll make space. Her dad can have my room. I’ll buy a murphy bed for Josie, and I can sleep on the floor. Pedro doesn’t have to know who lives with me. Josie isn’t a random girl anyway. She’s my family. Boxers, even ones that are training for championships, are allowed to have a family.

I can even get a job at night to pay for a bigger place. It’ll work out. I head straight for the gym and spar with O.P.

“You’re bringing heat today,” Pedro cheers. “You keep this up and you’ll be ready for the undercard match.”

“Better home situation,” I say. If I start winning, Pedro can’t be mad about Josie.

Pedro’s brows come together. “You moved?”

I snort. “So you know I live in a shoebox.”

“Of course. That’s where all my guys live while they train. It helps you concentrate. With no distractions, not even a television, your mind stays focused on your body.”

My mind is on my body all right. I keep thinking about how, instead of sleeping, I could be buried balls deep in Josie.

“So what’s new with your home situation?” There’s suspicion in his voice. I really need to learn to lie better or maybe not talk at all.

“New sofa. I ordered one. For all the non-TV watching I do.”

“Hmmph. Kids and their phones these days. Can’t keep you off of those.” He waves me off. “Take another day off. I can tell your ribs still hurt. I want you ready for a practice match in two weeks.”

“Yessir.” I give him a salute. I don’t feel a twinge. “I’ll probably head home to see my sister then.”

Pedro considers this, and it’s clear from his expression that he doesn’t like the idea, but I’m a little tired of him dictating my every move. “I bought the tickets. I’ll see you in three days.”

“I said another day off.”

“I’ll see you in three.”

He glares at me, but I don’t move. After a prolonged silence, he huffs and walks away.

“Love you, too, Pedro,” I yell at his back.

He flips me off, but I can tell we’re good.

I hurry home to tell Josie the news. I’m taking her to LA.

Chapter Ten

JOSIE

Ifiddled with my phone, feeling somewhat useless. I got up and cleaned his place, but there wasn't much work to be done. He kept the place pretty clean, so there wasn’t a lot to it. It was still better than my place.

At least here there is a level of comfort with my safety. It’s the most relaxed I’ve felt since Mick moved away. I don’t think I have slept that well in months. I feel refreshed, but now my body is buzzing with a weird sexual need I haven’t felt in a long time. Only Mick could ever get it to happen. Being so close to him in bed last night was the sweetest torture.

I didn’t even feel Mick slip from the bed when he got up, and I’m normally a very light sleeper. With everything going on, even the slightest sound could wake me up. I often wonder if I am even fully going to sleep. That hadn’t been the case last night with Mick next to me. I was out for the count.

Mick might have slipped from the bed extra stealthily not only because he wanted to let me sleep but also it’s likely he didn’t want to face the awkward morning-after of me making him share a bed. I put my face in my hands and groan. I can’t believe I did that. I’m sure he has enough girls at the gym trying to hang all over him, and now I’m doing it in his home.

Not to mention neither one of us had said anything about me seeing him naked with his cock hard. The image is now burned into my brain in a good way. But it had caused a weird vibe between us last night. We ate in silence. I wasn't sure if he was still upset with me over the kiss-and-tell comment or what the heck was going on. I'm tempted to text him, but I resist the urge. He is working toward his dreams, and I’m already encroaching on that enough as it is.

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