Page 11 of The Way We Are

After a few seconds of hushed conversation with the unnamed intruder, Col locks his eyes with mine. “Very well. You will have your fight.”

The shocked hum of the crowd barely drowns out Savannah’s deep sigh, dramatic as the one she gave when I asked her to our school dance. There's just one difference: this sigh was one of disappointment.

While Col and the cigar-smoking man continue with their negotiations, Isaac and Cormack usher me to the side of the ring.

“I hope you weren’t joking when you said you could fight,” Isaac mutters under his breath, shoving me into the first row of bleachers. “Axel is an arrogant prick, but he's well-trained. I haven’t seen him fight the past six months, but I’ve heard stories. You need to watch his left hook.”

After dragging my eyes away from Savannah’s disappointed face, I drop them to Isaac. Although his warning worries me, it doesn’t overtake the adrenaline surging through my veins. I just achievedtheoutcome I desired—I ain’t got time for fear.

Kneeling between my holey sneakers, Isaac digs white electrical tape out of the gym bag and tapes my hands like a real professional. The tape is firm, but loose enough it doesn’t impede the movements of my knuckles.

While securing tape to my left hand, Isaac says, “When you win, Cormack gets a 15% cut of the takings. If you want to fight again, you’ll need to hold over some of your purse for future dates.”

“And if I lose?”

Isaac’s gaze floats from my hands to my face. He stares at me, allowing his eyes to speak on his behalf:losing isn’t an option.

Satisfied I’ve heard his wordless warning, Isaac asks, “You know why Col made his offer, don’t you?”

I nod my head without pause for consideration. “He never thought I’d accept it.”

Isaac smirks, pleased by my response. “You called a member of his family a coward. If I were any other man, I would have called you stupid, then walked away. Alas, I’m anything but ordinary.”

“A dimple in the chin reveals the devil within,” I mumble under my breath.

Although my words were only for me, Isaac’s lips tug higher, revealing he heard my mumbled comment.

After finalizing the tape on my hands, Isaac stands from his crouched position. “You’re good to go.”

“Gloves?” I glance down at his bag of goodies, anticipating seeing a pair of boxing gloves stashed in the corner.

“We don’t use gloves.” Isaac’s eyes fall to mine, his rolled shoulders and straightened spine more impressive than my slumped frame. “Or mouthguards, kneepads, or any other equipment you're accustomed to using. We fight old school. Fists versus fists. Man versus man.”

I swallow harshly. “And the rules?”

Isaac chuckles a breathless laugh. “There's only one rule.” He waits, building the suspense. “There are no rules.”

I nod, pretending I can’t feel my heart racing before returning my eyes to Savannah. She's standing at Axel’s side, but away from the group of men buzzing around him like bees swarming a honey pot.

The unnatural rhythm of my heart gains an extra thump when she cranks her neck in my direction. Although the disappointment in her eyes is as strong as ever, there's a dash of panic as well. From the way it grows the longer she stares at me, anyone would swear she's worried about me.

If she is, she has no reason for concern. I might be a few inches shorter than Axel and a few pounds lighter, but I’ve got something Axel will never have. I have my morals guiding me.

“If you're doing this in the hope of winning her over, I hate to tell you, you are way out in left field.”

I return my eyes to Isaac, who is eyeballing Savannah as intently as me.

“Why?” Immaturity echoes in my tone.

It’s not a ruse for him to explain my strange emotions. I honestly don’t know what he means.

Isaac drops his eyes to me, their unique gray coloring brightened by the fluorescent lighting hanging above our heads. “Because you can’t show someone how ugly another person is by revealing your own ugliness.”

His eyes remain locked on mine as he nudges his head in Savannah’s direction. Although I don’t follow his gaze, I know she’s still watching me. I can feel it in my bones.

“She looks at you that way because everything she sees in you, she wishes she saw in him. Until you unearth her true motives for staying with him, lowering yourself to his level won’t do you any favors. Not in her books anyway.”

“You said coming here would help me win her back,” I snap, my tone thickened with annoyance.

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