Page 55 of A Dark Duet

“What was that about?” Charlie says.

“Nothing, he recognized me. I almost denied it, but what’s the use? I would just look stupid. He did it to calm people down and protect me. It’s not real,” I say, lowering my voice as I shrug my shoulders.

“He said that?” Charlie says angrily. “Yep.”

Brie rolls her eyes, shaking her head and muttering under her breath while we walk toward the store.

“Nate is an excellent fighter, but dumb as rocks when it comes to you.”

“It’s okay, Charlie. I’m no good for anyone, anyway.”

Brie’s steps falter as she looks at me with concern and sadness.

“I’m okay, really. I’ll be fine. I really want to get the girls the outfits. They will be so excited. I think I’m going to buy them one for every day of the week they have lessons,” I say excitedly, changing the subject from me and Nate.

When we are in the store, word spreads like wildfire that I’m here, and suddenly, there are so many people around me. I can hear the questions being thrown at me. Am I excited about the fight? Am I worried? Is Nate ready? Are we serious about being together?

Honestly, I want to laugh really hard at the last one. Serious is not what I would call it, more like fuck buddies getting their rocks off on some twisted shit. I ignore it all, concentrating on picking out the sizes, while Brie gets the ballet slippers and dance shoes.

We are both smiling while Charlie sits and waits on the red velvet sofa in front of the register. I admire how cute all the outfits are, especially little Cindy’s outfit. I feel a looming presence in my peripheral vision, watching me.

I turn as I place the items down at the register. The cashier, a young girl with glasses and pink-dyed hair, smiles at me and looks over with wide eyes. There is a large, muscular man, maybe two inches shorter than Nate, tilting his head in my direction.

“Hello. You must be Giselle. I have heard a lot about you,hermosa,” he says in his slight Brazilian accent.

“That must be Spanish. Am I right? I don’t know what it means exactly, but how do you know my name?”

He smiles with straight, white teeth and has tanned skin. He has light eyes and is very attractive, but definitely not my type.

“I’m Maverick, by the way.” He sticks his hand out and, not to be rude, I place mine in his. He slowly bends and kisses the back of my hand softly. I immediately pull my hand back. I can see Charlie come up with a pissed-off look on his face.

“Leave her alone, Maverick. You know Nate and how this will go down. This is low, even for you.”

“Aww, come now, Charles. I was just introducing myself to the beautiful young lady. You know how Nate is with women. It would be a shame for him to treat her the same way he does with the others.

Just recently, he was in the back making out with the one with the big breasts who wanted his autograph after his last fight.”

My stomach drops at the mention of his last fight and the woman he must have been intimate with. He just gave an autograph, maybe held her waist, but I thought that was it.

My face must have lost all color because Charlie looks at me, worried about what he sees. I realize why they asked the question about us being a serious couple. I must look stupid, but I don’t care.

The guy named Maverick looks over at me and frowns. “I’m sorry to have upset you. Please forgive me, I was out of line. Look”—he turns to the cashier,—“everything she wants in the store is on me.”

A look of shock on my face, I move quickly to stop him from handing the cashier his card. I place my hand on his.

“Please don’t. It’s okay, really. You don’t have to. I don’t know you… I—”

“It’s okay,hermosa, I was wrong and offended you. I apologize and I insist on paying.”

The cashier charges his card and hands me the receipt, placing the items in the bag with a big smirk on her face.

“He’s fighting Nate, Giselle. He’s trying to beat Nate for his title,” Charlie says.

I see Charlie’s murderous glare at Maverick. “Is that right? So, you go up to all the women Nate’s with and introduce yourself?”

Brie nervously takes the bags.

He chuckles. “Oh no, beautiful. Just you,” he says, looking me up and down appreciatively.

---