“Okay, then. You had me at sisters before misters. No need to bring my dick into it.” Shaw crossed his arms over his chest.
“Nor did you need to call me a ho,” I grumped, searching the space for Jett.
“Addy was coming whether she came with me or not. I wasn’t about to let her come alone. So, let’s do this.”
We followed Shaw up near the front with a good view of the cage. Jax looked at each of us and raised a brow at Shaw. “He’s going to kill you. You know that, right?”
“Unless you want a lengthy explanation about sisters and chicks and dicks and hos, I suggest you drop it. She wants to talk to him.” Shaw motioned for me to slip in first and take the seat next to Jax. Coco sat beside me, and Shaw took the end seat.
“Hey, Jax,” I said, looking behind me to see if I could find Jett. “Shaw didn’t invite me here. I came on my own. Don’t be mad at him.”
“I’m not mad, Addy. I’m actually glad you’re here. He’s in a mood tonight and I’m guessing it has a lot to do with what’s going on between you two. But he’s definitely going to be pissed you came. That’s just Jett. He’ll get over it.”
“I don’t really know what’s going on between us because he won’t tell me. He’s ghosted me since dinner last night. But apparently my mother tried to run him off. I’m just surprised he didn’t tell me.”
“Maybe he didn’t tell you because he doesn’t want to hurt you,” Jax said with a shrug.
“Well, ignoring me hurts a lot more than telling me the truth about my mom.”
The crowd moved to their feet as Jett and the other fighter were announced. They made their way out to the cage and my stomach turned as the first round started. Jett was quick on his feet as his opponent went for a leg sweep and missed. They both got in a few hits and kicks, but Jett was definitely dominating the fight. He hadn’t looked our way yet, and I was grateful. I didn’t want to distract him, but I was damn well going to talk to him after. He made some sort of move with his leg and dropped the other guy to the mat. I screamed louder than I meant to, and his head turned in slow motion and he found me. All the air left my lungs when his dark brown gaze locked with mine.
His opponent used the moment of weakness to his favor and flipped Jett on his back, taking control. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Jett took a hit to the face and scrambled to get back to his feet.
“Shit,” Shaw whispered under his breath and I bit down on my bottom lip. “That was close.”
Jett didn’t look back over again, as they went into the third round. He came out with a force, dropping the other guy to the mat and using a choke hold. Just beneath his right eye had started to swell and sweat dripped from his forehead. And he looked sexy as hell. I made a mental note that if he ever let me touch him again, I would definitely be inquiring about that tattoo on his left arm.
Jett’s opponent tapped out and the fight came to an end, as the crowd went absolutely crazy. Jett was making a name for himself in the underground fighting world, and people came out to see him fight now. I didn’t like when he fought, but I found it admirable that he did it to help his mom.
“Holy shit, Addy. He lost his focus when he saw you,” Coco said, coming up beside me as we made our way down the long hallway to meet him.
“I know. I feel bad. He took a hard hit.”
“Maybe it’ll knock some sense into him,” Shaw grumbled. “Don’t back down when he pushes you away. He’ll try, trust me. Be persistent. It’s the only way you’ll get through to him.” Shaw wrapped an arm around my best friend, and I nodded.
“He’s really just a soft pussy under that badass exterior,” Jax said, and I appreciated Jett’s friends trying to help me with the situation.
They could have judged me for how my mother had behaved, but they didn’t.
But apparently, Jett did.
“Okay,” I said.
Jett stormed out of the locker room and pointed his finger at his two best friends. “You fucking brought her here?”
“Her? You can’t speak to me now?” I said, moving in front of them to get in his face.
“You shouldn’t be here.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“They didn’t bring me here. I came on my own because you’re being a stubborn ass and you won’t take my calls,” I hissed, assessing the damage beneath his eye as I spoke.
“Did you ever think that I didn’t take your calls because I don’t want to talk to you?” he asked, squaring his shoulders and showing no emotion.
Shaw, Jax, and Coco turned on their feet and pushed through the doors to the parking lot, giving us a minute alone. The cool air whooshed in, and I poked him hard in the chest with my finger.
“No. I didn’t think that. Because typically you don’t tell someone that you love them, and then ghost them right after. I know my mom said something to you, and instead of talking to me, you shut me out. You don’t like being judged by everyone in this town, yet that’s exactly what you’re doing to me. I’m not my mother. You’re a coward, Jett Stone. You walked away the first time things got tough.” I stormed out of the warehouse a few steps behind our friends.
He didn’t say anything.
He was going to let me go.
When I got to Coco’s car, I turned around to see him standing at his bike, running a hand down his face.
“Ace,” he called out.
“What?” I shouted, anger still coursing my veins.
“Take a ride with me?”
“Atta girl. You made your point. Give him a chance now,” Jax said under his breath, as he stood beside me, his back to Jett.
“Go. Text me no matter how late to let me know you’re home,” Coco said, shoving at my shoulder.
“I think we found Jett’s weakness.” Shaw’s words were barely audible, but I heard him. I nodded at Coco before walking toward his motorcycle.
“Where?” I asked, standing with my hands crossed over my chest.
“Get on.”
I rolled my eyes, but I took the helmet from his hands and placed it on my head, before jumping on the back of his bike.
We took off, and I had no idea where we were going, and I didn’t care. I just wanted to be with him. I slipped my hands beneath his hoody and leather coat, feeling his warm skin against mine, and I tucked my head behind him as the wind whipped around us. I was thankful that I’d chosen a heavy sweater tonight.
We drove for what felt like hours, but in reality was probably only thirty minutes as we made our way around the opposite side of the lake from where we usually hung out. He pulled over down by the water, less than a block from my house. His motorcycle wasn’t quiet, so I was grateful that he’d thought of that. The last thing I wanted to do was wake my parents before we got to speak. He got off his bike and undid my helmet and reached for my hand.