“How are classes going?” I ask, genuinely wanting to know.
“Imagine choreographing a dance recital while studying for finals and not having an outlet.” She flashes a snarky grin at me because I know exactly what she’s referring to.
“Sounds like you have some pent-up frustration.” I chuckle.
Maddie scowls. “It’s been hell and exhausting. I can’t wait until Friday when all this shit is over, and I can just lounge around in my undies until January.” She pops an eyebrow, and I smirk.
“So, only a few more days until I lose my mind and have to start sleeping on the couch.”
She giggles, then moves to sit next to me in the booth. “I mean, I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“You actually are the devil, aren’t you? Temptation and all.” I wrap my arm around her, and she looks up at me with pleading eyes. I plant a soft kiss on her lips, and she moans into my mouth. I’m pretty sure after the fight, we’re going to lock ourselves in her room for a month.
“I might be.” She waggles her brows, and before I can say anything, our spaghetti and meatballs are being placed in front of us. Maddie stays next to me, and I place my palm on her leg, needing to touch her. I’ve been eating healthy all week, and after the fight this morning, I knew I needed to replenish my body. The two of us eat like we’ve haven’t had a bite in a week, and there’s not a morsel left on either of our plates by the time we’re done.
Maddie leans back and places a hand on her stomach. “I don’t know how I’m going to walk with this spaghetti baby.”
Her words cause me to nearly spit out my water. That’s one thing about her; she always keeps me laughing.
After I pay the bill and drive her toward campus, we chat about the weather and Christmas and everything in between.
“Hallmark movie marathon this weekend,” she demands. “You kinda owe me.”
Scrunching up my nose, I try to get out of it, but I know it’s a losing battle. “Fine. But you’re baking those amazing cookies you made last year.”
“If we’re giving demands…” She waggles her brows and bites her lip.
I park in front of the dance hall and lean over, then take her cheeks in my palms. She leans forward, our lips brushing together, and I don’t want her to go. I want to be stingy and take her home. Before I leave for Vegas, I’ve been trying to spend as much time with her as I can. The clock’s ticking. We both know the fight is coming, but for the most part, we don’t talk about the what-ifs. There are too many.
What if I lose? What if I die? What if I’m badly hurt? What if JJ doesn’t keep his word?
It’s made things tense and awkward, so we try not to bring it up, and we’ve been overly careful in public, watching our backs at all times. I know she’s worried, and I am too, but we’re making the best out of it.
“I love you so fucking much,” I tell her as we break apart, my heart racing as I want more of her.
“I love you, too.” She throws me a wink before climbing out. “Thanks for lunch, Hulk. It was delicious.” Before shutting the door, she adds, “The food wasn’t bad either.”
Shaking my head, I laugh. “Anytime, baby. See you in a few hours.” I watch Maddie until she’s completely out of sight. It almost feels like we’re back to that point in time when she was a virgin, and I was denying her at every corner, but now I’m fully denying myself too.
When I walk inside the house, Tyler is laid out on the couch watching TV. He sits up and grins as if he knows how much pain I’m in. I plop down on the opposite end and see he’s watching some movie with mobsters, and I nearly groan. The ones I’ve met really do act like these idiots.
“How are you feeling about this morning?” he finally asks, sitting up.
“Good, actually. My body is sore, but I think it’s been in a perpetual state of that for the past week. It was different actually fighting someone I didn’t know. There was a point where I was uber focused and had so much adrenaline rushing through me that I was worried I’d lose control on him.”
“That’s great. Just think about where you’ll be in two weeks. I think you have a really good chance, Liam. If you didn’t, I’d tell you so we could find an alternative.”
Too bad there isn’t an alternative. Not when JJ’s put my girlfriend as his personal target if I don’t cooperate.
“Did you ever find out anything about who I was fighting?” I ask.
“I’ve heard a few things but haven’t gotten a name yet to research him. The guy is known for breaking necks, and has gone undefeated the last three fights he’s been in. Killed two guys and one was put in the hospital. Lived but barely. He fights dirty, but apparently his goal is to get you on the ground. As long as you can stay standing and try to knock him out, you’ll be okay.”
I stare at Tyler. Blinking, I clear my throat, wondering how he can talk so casually about this. “He’s killed two people?”
He nods, and I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. The reality of all of this suddenly hits me hard. Whoever this guy is has tons of experience, and I’m coming in as a rookie. What the fuck am I gonna do?
“Listen.” Tyler speaks up when I’m unable to say anything. “I’ve heard you’re the same size as this guy. You have the same strength, and you’re levelheaded other than the anger you harbor. You’ll be more than ready, and you know what to avoid, giving you the upper hand. They know nothing about you, or the way you fight, or anything. This is a good thing.”
Unless that means he’ll just be prepared for anything…
“You’re right,” I tell him, yawning, though I’m not sure I believe my own words. “Think I’m gonna take a nap till Maddie gets home.”
“Good idea because tomorrow morning is going to be intense,” he says with a chuckle. “Even more than today.”
“Of course it is,” I deadpan, shaking my head.
Once I’m in Maddie’s bed, I seem to instantly fall asleep. Hours later, I’m being woken to the sound of Maddie laughing in the living room. I get up and walk in to hear her giving Tyler shit.
“Speaking of the devil,” she teases. “Sleep well?”
I stretch and suck in a deep breath. “Yep, but would’ve slept better with you beside me.”
Tyler stands, goes to the kitchen, then returns with a beer before settling down on the couch.
“I’m gonna make some tea. Want some?” she asks me, dropping her backpack on the ground.
“Nah,” I tell her and take a seat in the recliner. “But I’ll take a water, please.”
“What time do you fly out again?” Tyler asks.
“Sunday at ten a.m. Dice wants me to meet him as soon as I land. So that’s gonna be fun,” I say dryly. “Hey, when I’m gone, you’re gonna stay here and keep an eye on Maddie, right? I don’t trust JJ not to pull some shit before the fight.”
As if she was summoned, she returns with my bottle of water. “I didn’t need a bodyguard before, and I won’t need one again.” She crosses her arms.
“But you have to admit, Mads, I’m pretty damn good at it.” Tyler smirks, gloating.