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Haley won’t meet my eyes and she shifts

"Do you think they’ll crush me?" A heaviness bears down on ht is the only way I can repay that gift

"I don’t know," she says quietly "This isn’t a uy practices a few times, then takes on the world champ and wins Matt and Conner and Jax and Kadenthey’ve trained for years and they still aren’t good enough to go pro I’h tiiness claws its way into my muscles "If you have no faith in me, then why the fk are we here?"

Her head jerks up "I feel awful you’re standing here in Jax and Kaden’s place Every second of ure out a way to shove me out, you’d be on your own to deal with Matt and Conner When you’re busy taking care of and protecting everyone else, who’s protecting you?"

"I can take care of htens: a pissed-off, sexy warrior Giveit back "Every ti under control you don’t"

"Says Mr Disaster You never think anything through and end up inhappens to you Tap out of this right now, West Walk away"

"Do you always roll over and die? Since I’veyou never do is fight"

"I fought for you!" she shouts "I fought for you and it costforto shoveaway is abandon hard and Haley’s eyes becolassy "IIdon’t abandon I don’t"

Her lower lip trembles and I’ The bag swings and, when it returns, I sain The strike feels clean and it feels powerful and I crave to do it again and again

Haley blows out a shaky strea Our backs are turned toward each other, but I can see her in the mirror It would be easier on me if she cried Tears, for some reason, cause me to tune people out, but Haley doesn’t cry Doesn’t even blink or wipe at her eyes She wears the look of a person who continues to breathe though their soul is dead It’s the same expression hter

My insides ache as if salt is being poured into a million internal paper cuts Haley never asked for any of this "I’m sorry"

It took me years to say that statement to Dad, yet only days to say it to Haley I wish she understood how difficult those words are forabout?" she whispers

"I don’t know" But I don’t think I’e and suddenly I wish it were two e and see an opponent across froe should be pointed

"I don’t want you to get hurt," she says to the floor "I like you and because of that I’ht in two months"

"So I don’t win" I turn to face her, but she keeps her back tothat concerns e"

I flinch as if soht have been less painful if she had Pride screaain, but, in the mirror, her shoulders curve inward Harsh memories surface of all those times Rachel was sick from anxiety and I never paid attention I fked up with Rachel I’ve fked up with ht here Right now I’ve let everyone else I love down Haley needsher protect her family is my one shot at redemption and I’ll be damned if she steals it from me

I advance on Haley and, before she can retreat, I round on her and gently rest ers weave into her hair and her jaw fits perfectly intoit I’et rid of me even if you wanted If you shoved me out that door and locked it, if you never spoke to ht in two ht For once, I need to knoho I’ainst I need to know I can do it I need to knohen I’ve been throay that I’ this with or without your help, but I have a better chance of walking out of that cage with you on a sign I’n I’ll take back the words Haley licks her lips "I can’t convince you to tap out onfreedom, and as much as I’d like to keep her close, I drop o

She circles the rooirl to stop overanalyzing Finally she halts "Okay If this is how it’s going to be, then you need to wrap that other hand, then start ju some rope"