Page 11 of Bound by Desire
Inside, I smile. “Know that. Just don’t want any distractions. Pulls me offmygame.”
He chuckles then downs his water. “Your gameisfine.”
“Whatever.”
Charlie is going to do what he wants, so I let it go. There’s no reason to arguewithhim.
“You wanna come over for dinnertonight?”
“Can’t tonight. I’m goin’ out with some of thegirls.”
His brow quirks. “You actually havegirlfriends?”
I bump his shoulder. “Shut it,ol’man.”
“Who’re you callin’ old?” Hechuckles.
Most men would have their pride hit from the barb, but not Charlie. He’s man enough to roll with it, and that’s what I like about him. He’s a calm in the storm I call life. When I needed coping skills, Charlie took me in the ring, in the cage, and move by move, he gave me strength and control at a time when everything was spinning like atornado.
“Skyler, Breelyn, and Avery are meeting me. We need to cut loose for a while. Too much testosteroneeverywhere.”
“You feed off that shit, so don’t givemethat.”
It’s true, so I just chuckle inresponse.
He smiles, his eyes softening. “Good to see yougoin’out.”
He leaves out the “after you caught that dickhead cheating on you,” but he doesn’t need to say the words because I know. Hell, I almost went to jail for sending his balls into his throat and showing the bitch riding him how I solve things. Luckily, Schade has connections in the policedepartment.
It gutted me at the time, thinking there was something wrong with me. That I wasn’t enough for a man. Then I got wiser. He’s not man enough for me if he pulled a pussy move like that. Fuck him and the horse he rodeinon.
Lance should have been smarter, but he wasn’t, so he paid the price. I’d be surprised if he can have children now. I should get a fucking award for that one. No one needs to have himprocreate.
“Yep, I’m good, Charlie. Really. I’m not pining over him or wishing on a star that he comes back to me. Or any of that fairy-tale bullshit. I’m happy he’s gone and took his trash with him. Still, it’s good togoout.”
It’s been weeks since I have gone out. Work and training keep me busy. And the girls have lives of their own, too, so finding a time when we could all get together wasn’t manageable untiltonight.
“Good. Now get out of here,” he orders, pointing to the lockerroomdoor.
I laugh, shaking my head as I rise. I have a night to getreadyfor.
* * *
“Shots!”Skylar shouts over the rumble of music booming out of the speakers in the space. Bimbos’ is a laid-back bar that we enjoy spending time in now and again. There really aren’t a whole lot of choices in Sumner, and we normally don’t want to go outsidethecity.
Men and women shake and shimmy on the dance floor, hands in the air with hoot and hollers. Others sit at their tables, nursing whatever concoction they have in front of them. Us, we’re just gettingstarted.
The waitress comes by, looking at all our faces and plastering a smile on hers. I’m nowhere near as intoxicated as my friends. Drinking isn’t a big thing for me, but being with my friends is. Letting loose for some people is getting inebriated. Me, not so much. I like to keep my attention on everything around me. Some habitsdon’tdie.
“Tequila!” Skyler calls out as Breelyn hits the table several times in quick succession before throwing her hands up in the air with a cheer. Avery rolls her eyes, but she has a large smile onherface.
My girls. The four of us have been friends since I moved to Sumner. Breelyn works the front door of Schade’s place, taking the cover charge fee for all the people who want to watch. Avery and Skyler oversee the fighters, making sure they have what they need. Schade doesn’t fuckaround.
I sip on my beer as the waitressleaves.
“I started dating a guy—Brody. He’s super cute,” Skyler starts with a smile gracing her lips. This doesn’t surprise me one bit. She always has someone she’s dating or has dated at some point. She has serious daddy issues. We leave her be so she can carve out her own path. For themostpart.
Staring into her eyes, I see something is missing. Yes, she’s happy with him, but he’s lacking somewhere or their relationship isn’t what shewants.
