Page 112 of Can't Fight It

What the hell was Lexie talking about earlier? That I was the one who wanted to be friends with Tessa and she didn’t? Why would Tessa lie about that?

What if she’s not lying, though? Tessa’s always been truthful with me. But that completely negates her texts, then.

I look over my shoulder and raise my hand back. She smiles, her face beaming.

There’s a fluttering in my chest in response and I quickly tamp it down, reminding myself that she crushed my heart just days ago. I shouldn’t get my hopes up.

And for now, I’ve got a match to win for Ethan.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

TESSA

I bounce in my seat,watching the second round of Ethan’s fight with bated breath—not that I have a clue who’s doing better. The two guys seem well matched, trading blows with a precision I’d never be capable of.

But as exciting as the action is, my gaze continually draws back to Austin on the sidelines. He stares eagle-eyed at the ring, yelling something to Ethan, but I can’t make it out over the din of the crowd.

He raises his arms to link his hands behind his head, biceps popping in his sleeveless tank, and I bite my lip, wondering if he looks especially sexy because I’ve been missing him or because he said he loved me.

I mean, he said that, right? I didn’t hallucinate it or anything, did I? It had come out of nowhere and doesn’t match up at all with how he’s been acting, but it has to mean something.

Why would he say I didn’t care, though? Why in the world would he think I’d dismiss him if he ever said that? He made it seem like he’s said it previously, but I definitely would have remembered that. Did I miss something?

There’s a collective gasp from the crowd and I tune back into the ring. Ethan’s opponent clutches at his side and backs away, avoiding Ethan’s advance.

“What happened?”

“Ethan landed a liver shot,” Lexie says, pride in her voice. “That’s what did him in last time.”

“Will the other guy be okay?”

“Hopefully not.”

I frown, then realize where I’m at. Duh.

The guy comes back at Ethan, landing a punch to his jaw, and Lexie groans. “Must not have been too hard of a shot,” she mutters.

I glance at Austin, but his face is impassive. If his fighter doesn’t win, does he get penalized? He just started this job and isn’t even there full-time yet.

Lexie’s hands clench together in front of her, knuckles white as she watches her boyfriend get pummeled, then rain down a series of blows of his own.

“Who’s winning?” I whisper, unsure if it’s insensitive to ask in case Ethan’s losing.

“No clear winner so far,” she says, gaze never leaving the ring. “It’ll probably come down to points.”

“It doesn’t go until one of them gets knocked out?”

“That’s pro boxing. But yeah, if that happens before the end of the third round, they’ll call it.”

“Could Ethan get knocked out?”

She huffs a laugh. “If he does, it’ll be a shitty ride home. He’s riding with us on the way back.”

“How long are you staying after his fight?”

“You mean how long do you have to talk to Austin?”

I give her a sheepish grin. “Yes.”

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