“Well, she doesn’t. She married Logan the same night she met him.” Jed laughs, and when I don’t, he’s quick to walk toward the free weights. “I’ll be over there if you need me.”
I walk around the gym, Craig following. “What are you thinking?”
“Honestly, the guy’s got more space than he needs. I say we offer to rent out a section. Put up a ring. We can get you weights back at the house, but if you want to get your own here, we could do that too.”
I nod as Craig maps out what he’s thinking. Though I’ve given some thought to retiring from fighting, if I did choose to, I’d be disappointing everyone on my team. I’m amazed every day by how dedicated they are to my success. I know that’s rare in this business. I’ll have to make sure they all land in a good place whenever I do call it quits.
“Okay, let’s do it,” I say. It’s not ideal, but I’m confident we can figure out a way to make it work.
I didn’t really need to see this place. I trust Craig to make the decision on his own, but I like that I’ll be working out close to where Nikki works.
“All right, I’ll go work my magic.” Craig goes back to speak with Trent.
I pull out my phone.
Me: When are you off?
Nikki: In about ten minutes. Just in a meeting.
Me: Wait for me. I’m coming to get you.
Nikki: No need. I’m good.
Me: Did I put a question mark in my last text?
Nikki: Do you really think that bossy tone is going to work on me?
Me: :P No, just testing the waters.
Nikki: So??
Me: So what?
Nikki: I’m waiting for a please
Me: PLEASE let me come and pick you up.
Nikki: Fine. We should make an appearance together anyway.
Me: Be there in fifteen.
Nikki: I don’t like to wait.
I click the screen off on my phone and pocket it.
Craig comes over and slaps me on the back. “Sold. We have to move their gym equipment over to the other area, but it’s ours. I texted the guys and they’re coming here today.”
“Perfect. And the ring?”
“Should be here in three days and we can start assembling it.”
“Man, a smart person hired you.” I smack him on the back, and we head out of the place. “See you, Jed.”
“One piece of advice,” Jed calls. “I heard Ethel and Dori were looking for you. Something about you teaching a self-defense class at their retirement place.”
“Who’s that?” Craig asks.
“Nikki’s grandma and her friend,” I say.
“And I’m telling you this because you’re new here,” Jed says. “That place isn’t like any retirement home you’ve ever been to, so I’d dodge it if you’re able.”
“Thanks. I’ll remember that.”
We leave Pump It Up and I say goodbye to Craig to go over and meet Nikki. She’s waiting outside, sitting on a bench and looking at her phone.
I slyly sit down next to her. “How is my wife today?”
She glances at me and laughs. “She’s tired and needs a foot rub.”
“Well then, let’s get you home so I can handle my husbandly duties.”
She stands and puts her bag over her shoulder. I take it from her. “I was just kidding about the foot rub.”
“Hey, this might not be real, but this is how’d I be if I were your real husband.” I swing her bag over my shoulder and entwine our hands to walk down the street.
“You’d be a nice husband then.” She tips her head toward the street that will take us to the Linville house.
“By the way, the team is here, and Iris wants to know what you want her to stock.”
“Stock? And who is Iris?”
“She’s our cook, and she wants to know what your staples are. What you like to eat.”
Nikki shakes her head. “Man, marrying you comes with perks girls only dream about.”
Isn’t that every woman’s first impression? But I want Nikki to want to stay married to me for me, not the perks that come with me.
Chapter Thirteen
“You can’t get drunk-married in Vegas and expect people not to make fun of it.”
Nikki
Sunday at three sharp, we walk into my mom and Hank’s house. I already know Cade and Adam are here from the trucks parked in the driveway. I shouldn’t have been so naive to think she wouldn’t invite more people. It’s classic Mom.
“Mom!” I yell as we slip off our shoes and our coats. Logan, ever the gentleman I’m discovering, helps me with mine. We hang them on the coat rack and walk farther into the house.
Glancing into the living room, I see chairs situated in groups of two and I groan.
“What?” Logan asks.
“Let’s just hope my assumptions are wrong.”
“Okay.” He laughs, but he doesn’t know. He’s not used to this family. I know my mom has some sort of game planned.
As I expected, Mom is busy in the kitchen. Cade and Adam are watching a baseball game, and Presley and Lucy are snacking on the appetizers. Hank is outside by the grill.
“Hello,” I say.
Presley and Lucy come over and hug me, then shake Logan’s hand.
My mom wipes her hands on a dishtowel and rounds the counter to hug Logan and me. “So happy you both could make it.”
“Can you explain the living room to me?” I whisper in her ear.
“Later, sweetie.” She pats my hand and goes back to preparing a ginormous salad. “So, Logan, I had no idea what to serve you, so I did a little research.”
I sigh and Logan laughs, running his hand down my lower back. We’ll just ignore the fact I stepped into him because I find myself cherishing the times when we act like a real couple.
“I’m flexible,” he says. “Whatever I eat tonight, I just have to be that much harder on myself tomorrow.”
“Well, I’m sure my daughter didn’t tell you, but I make salad dressings. I did a little digging on you and found out you’re a ranch lover but can’t take the calories.”
“Where did you read that?” I ask. I haven’t had the guts to Google Logan because I’m afraid of what I’ll find out. Even if we’re not a real couple, I have to pretend we are for the next several months.
Mom beams. “I have my sources.”
Hank comes inside with a platter of grilled chicken. “Hey, you two.” He puts the plate down and shakes Logan’s hand, then kisses me on the cheek. “I was just watching this segment on you fighting Rinaldo.”
Logan nods. “He’s favored right now.”
I put my arm through his arm. “You’ll win. I know it.”