Page 37 of Sky Full of Stars

“Hey.”

I look up into his blue eyes. Oh shit.

“Don’t hit me,” he says, holding up both hands. “I just want to talk.”

I glance back at the others. Some of them are watching, Joey mostly, the rest are getting back to what they were doing but from the buzz in the air it’s clear they know who he is. Again I feel an idiot for not knowing.

“What are you doing here? How did you find me? You need to leave.”

He puts his hands on his hips and keeps staring at me. I’m not walking away, this is my gym, he can go to hell if he thinks I’m going to leave.

“I told you I was coming to New York. I found the gym through a friend and searching the internet. And I don’t want to leave.”

Well then. “I’m busy, do you mind?”

I swing at the bag again, grunting the harder I hit it. I’m a sweaty wreck, I know my face is bright red and I probably look like the most unattractive woman he has ever seen, but I don’t care even though he hasn’t stopped staring at me. I slam my fist against the bag, aiming so that it swings in his direction. He manages to dodge it by side stepping.

“Would it help if you did hit me?”

“Go away, Adam,” I pause and look at him, holding up one hand to stop the bag swinging back and knocking me over. “Or should I say Aidan.”

“Aidan is my stage name. Adam is my real name. Adam Mathews.”

I walk away and head to the weight room, leaving him standing there watching me. Adam is his real name? Seriously? He must think I’m an idiot. I squeeze my eyes tight real quick, I can’t believe he’s here. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, god I really do look hideous and for a second I want to cover my face and run away. Then I see him standing in the doorway, one shoulder leaning against the wall, watching as I go to pick up some weights but I stop and stare at his reflection.

“Can you at least give me five minutes to explain?”

“No.”

“Come on, Slugger. Do you really think I would come all this way, seek you out and be here if it didn’t matter to me?”

“Stop calling me Slugger. And if what matters to you? Some stupid text messages and…”

“An incredible night on the phone?” he says quietly but intensely. “It’s more than that and you know it. You wouldn’t be this upset if it wasn’t.”

“Who said I was upset?”

I’m trying not to think about that phone call and glance at his reflection again, his blue eyes are boring into me, making me remember. For a second I feel myself wanting to relent then Joey comes into the room.

“Everything okay in here, Jenna?”

“Fine, Joey, but I’m gonna need to leave for work soon so can we get in the ring before I hit the shower?”

“Sure,” Joey says, looking at Adam who doesn’t acknowledge or even wither under the gaze of a top-class MMA fighter. His eyes are on me.

I follow Joey out of the weight room, leaving him behind. Joey pulls down the ropes and holds my hand helping me into the ring. I try not to look but I see Adam is going nowhere. In fact, he’s coming closer but stops a few feet back by the wall to watch. His eyes travel down my body and I finally remember I’m wearing tiny black lycra shorts and a hot pink work out bra. Good, get an eye full asshole, see how great I look, despite my sweaty hair and red face and nerves about training with a professional for the first time with him watching.

Joey decides to make the most of getting me in the ring. He’s not sparring with me, he’s standing close behind me, holding up one of my arms to show me how to position myself. I can barely hear what he is saying. I’m too busy casting glances at Adam. I can see his fists are tight and he looks pissed. Good, be jealous. See what he wants but can’t have. Joey’s breath is in my hair as he moves in closer, and puts a hand low down on my hip, his body touching mine, it’s hard and strong, a wall of pure muscle, he could snap me in half without a second thought.

“Joey, back it up,” Sam shouts, snapping me out of my daze. “That ain’t any way to train her and you know it. You two want to cop a feel of each other, do it outside of my gym.”

I’m more than a little mortified at Sam’s remarks I glance quickly at Adam and see him smirking. Joey steps back and holds out his hands to Sam.

“You,” Sam crooks his finger at me. I walk across the ring and crouch down so I’m level with him. “You know better than to rile up the guys. Rules go for women too. Understand?”

“Sorry, Sam. I didn’t do it intentionally.”

Sam’s eyes cut to Adam. “This have anything to do with the pretty boy who showed up this morning looking for you.”

---