Page 53 of Hooks In

I swallow and turn back to him, as he gazes at me with that same blank expression that hides whatever he’s really thinking.

“So,” I shrug, “no. It’s not easy. And I’m able to do things that make me happy because I choose to, and I work for it.”

I reach out to take my turn, moving my rook in perfect position to take his knight if he doesn’t notice.

Ty doesn’t say anything, as he, of course, moves his knight.

Fuck.

But eventually I snag it. And since I got into all of my shit, it’s time he does too.

“So, you say you have yourself,” I say a bit cautiously. “Where’s your family?”

He scans the board, looking for his next move. “Brother is in prison, and no idea where my parents are,” he says with surprising ease.

“Uh… ok,” I say slowly. “Maybe a bit more of an expansion on that answer is warranted?”

“One question,” he says, still looking down at the board.

“That is one question.”

“No, it isn’t.”

I blow out a breath of frustration. “Fuck, you’re insufferable.”

He makes his move. “Go.”

As we continue to make a few more moves each, questions are swirling around in my head about him. And I know now that I need to ask them just right, so he actually gives me an answer instead of a three fucking word grunt.

And as I capture another of his pawns, I know what I want to ask.

“Why do you feel like you need to be in control all the time?”

He sighs as he leans back against the couch. Then he looks down at his hands, as he seems to be thinking about how to answer.

I decide to push it a little further. “I showed you mine. You show me yours.”

He turns his head to look at me, and I’m surprised that it’s not the usual, harsh, fuck you stare.

“Because I need control so I don’t fuck up again.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, come on, that’s not a fucking answer. And fuck up what? Another takedown? Seriously?”

“No,” he bites out. “My life, asshole.”

I cock an eyebrow at him. “Do tell.”

He rubs a hand over his face and reaches for his beer to take a long drink.

The fucking anticipation.

“My brother raised me because my mom fucked off,” he says as he places his beer back on the coffee table. “He is quite a bit older than me, so luckily he was able to take me in to prevent me from going to foster care. Except he’s also a fuck up and used and sold drugs. So, I did too. He was stupid and got caught, so when he went to prison, I… went hard.”

As I watch him and think about the Ty I know, I can’t picture this. This Ty before me, the ever in control asshole, doing drugs and being wild? No fucking way.

“I got into some trouble, and it looked like I was quickly headed in the same direction as my brother, so it was a wake-up call. I had been in MMA for a few years at this point, and it was the only thing that brought me any clarity and purpose. And I was good at it. So, I threw myself into it, and my work. If I stay focused on my goal and follow my plan, I won’t have time to fall into the same trap again.”

We’re both silent as I take a moment to process this, and Ty looks uncomfortable as fuck.

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