Page 52 of Alex
Guy?“He’s protecting a guy?”
Evglances at me before returning her attention to the puppy, rubbing his belly.“Yeah, guy was getting beat by his boyfriend. Alex has been staying with himwhile the cops look for the abuser.”
Guy.Boyfriend. The dots connect and it feels like a knife in my gut. He’s beenstaying with a gay guy for two weeks. Probably cooking for him like he did forme. Watching T.V. with him at night on the couch like we did. No wonder he didn’ttry to get in touch. It’s a wonder he’s coming back at all.
Evplaces the puppy on the floor, and he pounces on his chew toy. She gets to herfeet and runs a soft hand through my long hair. “Call him, Ian. His fight isthe day after tomorrow. I expect to see you there.”
Forthe longest time after she leaves, I sit there, staring at the wall. Ishouldn’t feel this way. Jealousy is an unfamiliar emotion to me. I’ve neverbeen jealous over anyone, but the ache I feel isn’t just from losing him. I hadalready decided to let him go. No, this overwhelming feeling is directly linkedto the images my brain are cooking up of Alex with another guy.
Themisery I’ve felt the last two weeks is nothing compared to the next twenty-fourhours. All I can think about is Alex with another man. Touching him, blowinghim, bending over for him like I never did. There are stages of grief people gothrough when someone dies. Are there also stages for finding out the man youlove has moved on and given up on you?
I’vebounced back and forth between despair, fear, and anger. A few hours beforeAlex is scheduled to fight, I’ve landed pretty squarely on anger. I know Ifucked up, but that doesn’t mean he can just forget about me. I finally got thenerve to call him this morning, but got his voice mail. There’s nothing I needto say that can be left on a damn machine.
Everlyrings my phone just as I’m getting out of the shower. “You’d better be comingtonight, Ian Turner,” she says, without even a hello.
Ialmost smile at the way she uses my last name like I’m a wayward kid. “I’mgetting ready now. I’ll be there.”
“Well,that was easy. Did you talk to him?”
“No,he wouldn’t take my call.”
“He’sbeen at the gym most of the day. Maybe he missed it.”
“Doesn’tmatter. I’ll see you there.”
“Fine,moody ass. See you later. Love ya.”
“Loveya, pup.”
Inthe hopes that the hyperactive mongrel attacking my sock won’t piss everywherewhile I’m gone, I take him out in the yard before I leave. The weather hasreally warmed up. It’s been such a shitty, confusing winter. I don’t think I’veever been so happy to see spring show her face.
Thetournament is being held at a convention center on the west side of the city.As a charity event, I know tonight won’t be too brutal since they aren’tfighting for money or titles. I don’t want to see Alex get hurt, though I couldhappily kick him in the head about now. The man working the intake table asksmy name and checks the list I know Ev had me added to earlier. A blue spectatorwristband is fastened around my wrist and I head inside.
Afew smaller rings have been made out of padded mats for the underbelts,circling a large ring in the center of the room where the main fights will takeplace. My eyes scan the room searching for a head of blond curls. Fighters andtheir coaches, friends and family members mill around, making it hard to findanyone. A scream behind me makes me jump and I turn to see a boy of maybethirteen practicing a Bo Staff Form. The place is a madhouse.
Finally,Parker approaches me, a wide grin on his face. “Well, I didn’t expect to seeyou here.”
“Cutthe shit, Park. Where is he?”
Alook of innocence cloaks his face. “He? Who is this he you’re searching for?Could it be the pissed off guy punching the bag in the corner?”
Sureenough, Alex is beating the stuffing out of a standing bag in the corner of thegym. Sweat pours from him in rivulets, following the lines of muscle I oncetraced with my tongue. Anger and jealousy still pound within me, but are nowjoined by lust. I want this man. Want every bit of him he’s willing to give me.
Hecatches me staring at him and his glare could blister the paint on the wallbehind me. Without acknowledging me, he angles his body, putting his back to meand continues pummeling the bag. Hell no. Turning his back on me like I’m notworth his time? The fuck he is. I’m going to remind him who he’s dealing with.Remind him he’s mine.
Mine.
ChapterEight
Alex
Whatthe hell is he doing here? Not a damn word for two weeks and he waits until I’mpreparing for a fight to show up? When his name showed up on my phone earlier,I knew I couldn’t answer it. It may only be an exhibition fight, but I stillneed to keep my head straight. I don’t need this right now.
Iturn my back and keep working the bag, my blood pounding faster and fasterthrough my veins. I expect him to shrug it off, go talk to Everly or something.He’s proven he can take or leave me, so why would he care? I’m shocked to feelhands land on my back, shoving me forward. It’s a good thing I have excellentbalance or I’d have slammed into the heavy bag.
Fierceblack eyes burn into mine when I spin around and shove him back. “What thefuck, Ian?”
“Don’tact like you didn’t see me! What’s the matter, the other guy here, huh?” Hisjaw is tight as he glances around. “You bring him home with you?”
