Page 5 of Champion

“What the hell are you doing here?” Doyle moves to stand in front of Champ, and I know this is not going to end well.

“This is your brother?” Champ looks at Doyle with barely disguised fury.

My heart sinks. This is so not how I wanted Champ to learn who my brother is.

“How do you know my sister? And what the fuck are you doing talking to her?”

Surprise fills Champ's face as he looks between Doyle and me.

“I'm doing the books at Champ's Gym, Doyle.”

“You're what?” Doyle looks at me like I fell, hit my head, and never recovered.

“My friend, Shelly, set me up with a job. I'm getting work experience credit as I study for my degree.”

“Surely you could have found something else.” Doyle grimaces as he looks at me, then turns his head to glare at Champ.

“You should have told me who your brother was, Opal. I'm disappointed in you.” My heart falls. I was so excited when I saw Champ, but of course Doyle had to show up and ruin everything.

I know I should have told Champ about my brother, but I thought if I could wait a little longer, he could overlook it. Everyone in Raytown knows how much Champ and my brother hate each other. I was surprised that Champdidn'tknow who I was.

“You need to step away from my sister,” Doyle warns, getting up in Champ's face. I watch Champ as he fists his hands, his body ready to fight. “You know you can't beat me. I've already beaten you once. I don't need to prove myself again,” my brother taunts.

“Don't start that shit with me, Doyle,” Champ warns, his voice rising. “You cheated in that fight and you know it.”

“I did no such thing. You have an ego the size of this state and can't admit that I beat you fair and square.”

“The fuck you did,” Champs says, anger lacing his voice.

“Hey, now, you two,” I yell, getting them both to look at me before this gets out of hand. “Stop it right now. I don't want to see either of you fighting.”

“Well, look who got to be Miss Bossy,” my brother teases me.

I breathe a small sigh of relief when his rigid body language eases a little. At least I've diffused the situation slightly, though I know this is far from over for them and for me.

“I'm not going to stand for this. Opal, I'll see you at the gym. We need to talk.” Champ’s eyes are filled with so much disappointment and fury that it makes my heart hurt.

I nod as Champ turns and stomps away.

“Why'd you have to go and do that, you idiot? Are you happy now?” I yell at my brother.

“You're the idiot if you're working for Champ. I mean, come on, this town isn't that small. You could have found something else.”

“But that's where I wanted to work. And just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean I can’t make up my own mind about him.”I face off with my brother, standing my ground and ready to defend my choices. I think it must be a universal Brother Code that they always think no man is good enough for their sister.

Doyle narrows his eyes at me.”Is there something going on between you two?”

I open and close my mouth, my cheeks burning.

“He better not be touching you.”

“And you better not be telling me how to live my life. You need to give me some space,” I tell my brother.

“But?”

“No buts about it. I'll talk to you later.”

I say goodbye to Rebecca and search for Champ, so I can explain and convince him not to hate me. But everywhere I look, I can't find him. I run into the dusty parking lot, but his truck is gone. “Dammit,” I say, slapping my hand against my leg.

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