Page 18 (1/2)

"So, what’s up?"

I’ a few days off training"

His eyebrows draw together and I brace ly, they relax back to their natural curve "Okay"

"Okay?"

"Sure" He shrugs, crossing his aroing as hard as you did today, it’ll take too long" He paused "Are you and Olivia still fighting?"

I shaketo California tomorrow to see Mom"

Darryl’s eyebrows pull closer to the ood idea so close to a fight? You kno your mother is You’ve barely been anxious since she left"

"I’ to see her to see if she’sI wake up and she’s not in the house, I feel like the biggest asshole in the world Support, that’s all she needs, but I don’t have time to look after her and me, not now that I’ her release "And I want Moether"

"Has yourat theOlivia by another girl’s na as you rest, I don’t see the haras in two days and to with the authorities and the MMAC to discuss suing Don and--"

"I don’t want to sue him"

He inches closer to me "You don’t want to sue hi--for good I don’t want hiain"

Darryl rubs his forehead with the tips of his fingers "They’re not going to go for that, they’ve had their eyes on Don for a while He’s a good fighter, Seth, one that the coe "Don will never fight in the MMAC again and I won’t tolerate anything less"

"And if they don’t give you what you want?"

I shift yive me exactly what I ask for"

Darryl shakes his head "You’ve yet to have your first fight and you’re already threatening your employers"

I smile "What can I say? I’m one of a kind"

"That’s for sure"

My phone buzzes with a text e and I pull it from my pocket to take a look

FROM: JACKSON TIME: 8:00PM

Flights booked You leave day after tomorrow5 am

I slip ?"

"Nine aht, I’ll see you then"

He extends his hand to ers claspan arm around my shoulder

"See you toht tihten ht alone sends dread spiraling throughout over a question I’m sure she’ll say yes to A question…that’s all it is It’s strange how so can have me paralyzed with fear I closeto Darryl didn’t take as long as I expected I can tell he needs a break, he seems tired, and a day or two should be plenty of time to refresh his body and mind I didn’t take it easy on hiht--and I still haven’t apologized for getting pissed off at hiy They et with no heartfelt exchanges That’s just who he is

I conte herOlivia is teet my much needed sleep in a bed with so and every position

I pull out of Darryl’s street, unsure where to go I turn right, in the direction of Olivia’s house Ignoring the ‘don’t text and drive’ sign I pass, I retrieve e

TO: OLIVIA TIME: 8:11 PM

Go home or come to yours?

A few minutes later, she replies And what a reply it is I’d set the ie she just sent me as my wallpaper, but such naked perfection is only meant for me There’s a caption too:

You decide

In the picture, her dark hair is wet and it drapes down her glistening chest, barely settling above her gorgeous, pink nipples I want to see her bottolisten on the other parts of her body The parts I’d lick over and over without hesitation That is ht instead of left toward aze to my phone routinely, I text back

TO: OLIVIA TIME: 8:18 PM

On my way Don’t you dare move

I drop my phone into the center console and press a little harder on the accelerator I don’t think I can get there fast enough

(T-ym with Darryl hot on my heels

"I can’t believe you’re late--even after I told you we had a "

I hear the annoyance in his steps and I zone it out I’ive or take a few He followsroo I haven’t been in