Page 6 of Fighting Fate
“Fits you.”
Baylor watched Chipper’s mouth lift in one corner. The smile had a hint of sadness to it. “She would’ve loved to hear it. Honey tea coming your way.”
Baylor watched him walk away with a combination of affection and something else he couldn’t place. Hope, maybe? He hadn’t felt that pesky emotion for so long, he couldn’t recall what it felt like. At a moment when he felt the absolute worse, Baylor teetered. He could give up now or he could fight. Baylor wasn’t sure yet which he would choose. He had always thought he knew which way he would go.
While the water heated, Chipper stared at nothing, seeing only the images in his mind. When he had started his chase, Chipper hadn’t truly known what he sought. He had never been like this. While he was the type of guy who liked everyone and made friends everywhere he went, he wasn’t so sure anymore Baylor’s resistance was what spoke to him. Plenty of people hadn’t meshed with him over the years. He had never acted like this. The mystery of it had him looking too hard at Baylor. What he saw terrified him a little. It was like Baylor wanted to die. His obsession with work wasn’t normal. It was a rush toward the grave.
He poured Baylor a cup of tea and headed back to the bedroom. Baylor was out again. He set the cup on the bedside table and made his way to the bathroom. He needed a shower and then he might hold Baylor again for a while. Truthfully, he needed to finish his workout. His next fight could go either way. He had to be in the best shape of his life. The thing about being a world champion meant no one reached challenger stage without being good enough to issue a challenge. He always had to assume there was a chance he would lose.
Chipper stood under the warm water and lost himself in thought. He liked Baylor. It was more than sexual attraction or a need to soothe his pride. The guy had mettle. He fought the urge to call Bandit and ask to hear more. But even though they were friends, Bandit was Baylor’s best friend. He likely wouldn’t tell Chipper anything too personal. A thought hit. He wondered if the two had ever been together. Chipper wouldn’t be surprised. They had gone to high school together. Two gay boys with nothing but raging hormones had at least made out. Chipper didn’t know why he couldn’t stop obsessing.
“Swear I’m not looking.”
The hurried words were followed by the sounds of retching.
Chipper jumped from the shower so fast, he almost fell. He snatched up the nearby towel and wrapped it around his waist before rushing to Baylor’s side like he could throw up for him. Since there really wasn’t anything in Baylor’s stomach, he only dry heaved. It sounded like it hurt.
He fell against the wall next to the toilet when the heaving seemed to pass. “God. If I’m dying, this needs to go on and take me. I’ll go willingly. There’s no reason to torture me any longer.”
The strange part was, Chipper got the feeling Baylor actually meant the speech for God. He sounded like he begged for mercy from the bottom of his soul. Chipper’s throat swelled unexpectedly from the plea. He turned away. With the press of a few buttons, he had the tub filling with water at his usual temperature. He dumped some lavender bath salts in the water and then a bath bomb that would turn the water a milky white. Thankfully, the competing smells weren’t overwhelming. He just wanted to ensure Baylor had his dignity while Chipper tried to help.
Thankfully, the computerized system filled the tub quickly and automatically stopped at the perfect depth. He moved back to Baylor’s side. “Come on. A warm bath will help. I’ll have to undress you, but I promise I’ll be respectful.”
Baylor didn’t make a sound or protest as Chipper stripped him and set him in the tub. His lifelessness had Chipper nervously chatting. “I hope the temperature is okay. If not, I can turn it up or down. Either way, it’ll stay that temp. I ordered this setup after a fight in Japan. Their technology is worlds ahead of ours. After fights, it’s nice to soak forever and let the heat loosen my muscles. I don’t know if it has the same results for illness, but it’s worth a shot.” When he realized he sounded like a panicked idiot, which probably helped nothing, he backed toward the door. “I’ll leave you alone to bathe. I’ll change the sheets and whatnot so you can come back to clean bedding. We’ll beat this one way or another.”
“Please stay.”
The quietly spoken plea had Chipper leaping to sit next to the tub. He stared at Baylor’s defeated expression. “Whatever you need.”
“Tell me what it’s like to be world champion. Your voice is soothing.”
He might have been flattered if Baylor didn’t sound half dead. All Chipper was, was scared. Still, he did what he could. “It’s humbling. Don’t get me wrong, I know I did it. I know how much blood, sweat, and tears went into it, but still. It’s humbling. Do you know how few people make it to where I am? Combine that with how badly I wanted it and there’re no words.” A sad smile pulled at Chipper’s lips. “I know I’ll lose it one day. That’s inevitable. But you have no idea how much I want to hang on to it forever. It’s always been my only dream. Where would I even go from here once it’s gone?” Chipper had never said any of that to anyone. Any time anyone asked him about upcoming matches, he always tried to play it cool. Truthfully, he was terrified of what was on the other side of the top.
“What do other people do after losing the title?”
Chipper shrugged. “He didn’t lose it. He retired, but my friend Maverick trains a few people here and there. Mostly, he just enjoys being with his husband.”
“That sounds nice.” Baylor slid beneath the water, making Chipper’s heart jump into his throat. But he reappeared and slicked back his hair before resting his head on the edge of the tub. “What would you do if you retired?”
This. The thought hit so loud and hard, Chipper stood. He stepped into the closet and found a pair of clean workout shorts. After throwing them on, he returned to Baylor with a few towels and washcloths. He tossed the washcloths in the water and rolled up one towel for Baylor to rest his head.
A sweet smile touched Baylor’s features as Chipper tucked the towel beneath his neck. “Thank you. You’re avoiding my question.”
Chipper shrugged and reclaimed his seat on the floor. “Not really. I just don’t know the answer. Maverick seems happy, but I’m not like him. You see me when I have downtime. I’m all over the country, incapable of sitting still.”
“You do seem like an unending ball of energy.”
Baylor sounded a little better. That kept Chipper talking more than anything. “Nah. I’m actually exhausted, but I don’t have anyone to sit still with me. So I visit my friends.”
“Sounds lonely.”
The observation made Chipper more than a little uncomfortable. “Would you like me to wash your hair?”
Baylor’s gorgeous green eyes searched Chipper’s face, feeling like the deepest of inspections. “Please? I feel really gross, but I’m also too weak to do anything about it.”
Chipper shifted to his knees. “Don’t worry. I’m here for you.”
Baylor flashed a weak-looking smile. “I know I’m in good hands. That’s why I didn’t call the cops when you kidnapped me.”
