Page 16 of Fighting Fate

In a house this huge, Baylor couldn’t imagine running into Maverick’s husband. If so, he didn’t want to hijack Chipper’s practice. “Maybe.”

Chipper kissed his hand. “Thanks for coming with me.”

“Of course.” Baylor didn’t even hesitate. “This is important to you. That makes it important to me.”

Chipper cast a loving look Baylor’s way that swelled his throat. He was everything Baylor’s heart couldn’t withstand. Or he wouldn’t be exactly the healing balm Baylor hadn’t wanted. It remained to be seen if there was any hope of fixing Baylor.

Humongous guards, in suits that cost as much as a car, opened their doors. They looked oddly friendly. Each smiled as they headed inside. Chipper held his hand the entire way. Even as accustomed to wealth as he was, Baylor couldn’t stop looking in every direction. The place was gorgeous, but also so much more like a real home than it appeared to be from the outside. He swore he felt the way love lived there.

There was no one around as they came through the door. Chipper made his way through the house like he lived there. Finally, they reached an area that looked exactly like a professional ring. There were mats and even a cage. Workout equipment could be seen through a doorway. A glass case lined one wall. Awards gleamed on the other side. A huge guy greeted them.

He was all smiles as he pulled Chipper into a hug. “There he is. You’re behind on shit. It’s almost like you don’t have an upcoming match.” Despite the lecture, the man’s honey-colored eyes looked much like a loving father’s would. He cared about Chipper.

Baylor spoke up, hoping to take the heat in Chipper’s stead. “That’s my fault. I’ve been sick. He’s been making sure I don’t die.”

Those gorgeous eyes turned his way. Maverick’s smile didn’t waver. “I heard.” He held his hand out to Baylor. “Maverick.”

Baylor accepted the handshake. “Baylor. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Same.” Maverick focused on Chipper. “Get your ass in the ring and warm up. There’re only so many hours in the day.”

Chipper kissed Baylor’s cheek, set his bag aside, and did as told.

Maverick made a sweeping gesture. “There’s a chair over there, if you’d like to watch. If you get bored, feel free to explore.” He chuckled. “If you get lost, you’ll eventually run into someone.”

Baylor’s smile never dimmed. “Thanks, and thank you for understanding. Now, make sure he wins.”

Maverick’s smile grew. “Yes, sir.”

Baylor liked his southern accent. He could listen to it all day, but he wanted Chipper to keep that title even more. He moved to a chair so they could get started. For the first few minutes, Baylor waffled between horrified by the powerful violence and impressed by Chipper’s speed. He had seen Chipper work a bag, but this was different. Maverick was just as fast at blocking, but wow. He would not want to be on the receiving end of it. After the first ten minutes of repeated moves for training purposes, Baylor got a little bored. He had sat still more in the last few weeks than he ever had in his life. Baylor wasn’t used to being still.

Despite Maverick saying he could explore, he hated to be too nosey. He moved to the nearby trophy case. He walked the line, inspecting various awards and belts. A new move caught Baylor’s eye, pulling his gaze back to the cage. Almost too fast for the eye to see, Chipper landed a kick to the head, followed by a back kick on the opposite side. If Maverick hadn’t been one of the best, the move definitely would have taken his head off.

“It’s the trick move they’ve been perfecting for this upcoming fight. If Chipper can land it, he’ll have the match in the bag.”

Baylor turned his head and tried to hide the way the man’s sudden appearance had startled him. He had been too engrossed to hear his approach. “I imagine so. That was impressive, yet terrifying.”

A stoic nod met his words. “This is a brutal sport, but most people don’t realize how much speed, power, and pure talent these men need. Like my husband, Chipper has all those things.” He held his hand out. “I’m Zander.”

Lord. He was beautiful. He was a zaddy. Goddamn. It was obvious Zander was much older than Baylor—likely in his fifties, but wow. Baylor accepted his handshake. “Baylor.”

Zander dipped his chin. His light blue eyes were mesmerizing. His long blond hair tinged with gray caught the light and reflected it. He was expensive and polished. Yet he was also at home. He possessed a relaxed confidence Baylor wished he could achieve.

Baylor forced his gaze away and focused on the trophy case. He needed to find something else for his eyes to do. Thankfully, he spotted a gold medal. “Holy shit. Is that an Olympic medal?” He moved closer.

Zander moved with him. “Yes. Chipper has one too. I’m surprised you haven’t seen it.”

Baylor cocked his head and took a mental tour of Chipper’s home. “You know, I don’t think he has a single thing on display. I honestly don’t know why I haven’t noticed that before.”

“Walk with me.” Zander’s hand landed on the small of Baylor’s back. He allowed Zander to steer him from the room. As they left the workout equipment behind, exiting from a different door than where they entered, Baylor found himself surrounded by a jungle retreat. A waterfall gushed down a rock formation surrounded by lush greenery. It took Baylor a moment to spot the handholds and footholds. It was an obstacle course.

Before he embarrassed himself by exclaiming his shock, Zander snagged his whole attention. “I doubt Chipper’s lack of displays has anything to do with him being humble. He simply has no one to see them.”

Baylor looked his way. He fought the urge to point out that Chipper had him. Baylor understood Zander tried to lend his insight. “He knows absolutely everyone. It’s a little crazy, actually. I’ve never seen anyone be friends with so many people around the country.”

Zander flashed a sad smile. “Knowing people isn’t the same as having people. He meets so many people because he never stops moving. If he stops, then he’ll be forced to face an empty home. That’s a feeling I understand. Silence can be…”

“Soul crushing,” Baylor finished for him. “I know.”

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