Page 125 of Not Fooling Anyone

He removes his mouthguard, glancing at me with ayeah, rightexpression, before taking off his headgear too.

“I mean it. It’s scary to try something new, but you did it.”

“I just lost in front of a whole crowd of people.”

“You got your liver punched. You have a good excuse.”

He gives me a half-smile, his heart not really in it. “I wanted to look cool in front of you,” he admits.

I climb up the ring, staying on the outside of the ropes. “You’re the coolest person I know. And that guy you fought? With a last name like that, he was probably trained by KGB spies. It wasn’t even fair.”

His smile this time is more genuine. “Thanks, Pookie Bear.” He leans in, kissing me softly.

“Anytime, Snookums.”

Someone clears his throat from behind Ethan, and I realize Dad is standing there. How much of that did he hear? Or see?

“They’re ready to call it,” he says, though there’s not much of a decision to make.

I jump down from the ring, Dad joining me as the ref asks the cornermen to clear out.

Ethan joins Sokolov in the center, both of them standing on either side of the ref.

“And your winner is,” the announcer calls over the loudspeaker, “Dominic Sokolov.”

The ref raises Sokolov’s arm, and afterward, Ethan shakes his hand, the two of them clapping each other on the back. My heart fills with pride watching him be such a good sport about it.

“So, you and Ethan?” Dad asks beside me.

“Um, yeah.” I guess he saw, then.

I go to stick my hands in my hoodie pocket, then remember I’m not wearing it today. Damn it.

“If you stay with him tonight, keep an eye on him. I don’t think Sokolov knocked him hard enough in the head for a concussion, but you never know. And that hit on his side will need some attention.”

“I’ll take care of him,” I promise. “But shouldn’t you, I don’t know, not encourage me to spend the night with a guy?”

He gives me a sheepish grin, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. And he’s a good guy. You could do a lot worse than him.”

I watch Ethan, still in the ring posing for pictures the tournament photographer wants. “I love him. And he said he loves me, too.”

Dad whistles low. “Well, shit. I didn’t know it was serious.”

My hackles rise. “You don’t think anyone could be serious about me?”

“Hey, now. There you go getting defensive again.” He crosses his arms over his chest, giving me a stern look. “I didn’t say anything about that. But to be honest, I’m surprised you would get serious about anyone. I love you, but you push everyone away. You push me away.”

There’s hurt in his voice, enough to cause a pang in my chest.

Ugh. There go the feelings again, along with Ethan’s voice in my ear sayingyou should talk to him.

“I’m sorry I push you away,” I mumble, crossing my own arms. “But it’s because you did the same when I was younger.”

“What?” he asks, sounding genuinely confused.

“You wouldn’t let me come live with you.”

“The road’s no place for a kid. I told you that.”

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