Part 3 (2/2)

I held up my gla.s.s and nodded. There was about a third of my long island ice tea left.

He gestured to the table and I followed, sitting beside him on the long sofa. He handed me his drink and took mine from my hands. ”Try that instead.”

I sipped at the beer. ”Not bad,” I admitted, putting the gla.s.s back on the table. It wasnt, especially compared to my drink that had nothing but liquor left.

”You can have it.” He brought my gla.s.s to his lips.

My stomach ached watching him finish the alcohol in one gulp. I took one last sip of his beer and handed it back to him. ”Thats okay. I think Im going to get a regular ice tea this time.”

He paused, both of our hands still on the gla.s.s, and then reluctantly pulled it away.

”Ill get you a different drink then. Its still early, youre twenty one now, why not drink?”

It was hard to tell if he was angry or if the noise of the club was making him raise his voice.

”Ive got a fight-”

”Not for another three weeks.” He leaned forward, forearms on his knees, head twisted to look at me. ”And you dominated your last three fights, taking each girl out in the first round. Youre not fighting at your level, it doesnt matter. You can drink.”

”It does matter,” I was quick to defend. ”Im fighting what my club sets up. Each fight is building our rank.” The fact that I had to defend anything was p.i.s.sing me off. I leaned forward, making sure he was looking directly at me. ”Besides, thats not the point. Im not a big drinker. You know this, so why are you pus.h.i.+ng?”

”Forget I said anything.” He fell back on the seat and tossed his hand up, dismissing the conversation. ”I just wanted you to have fun for once.”

My mouth dropped, his words. .h.i.tting me. He didnt think I was fun? I could imagine him at his club, drinking with those girls. They were probably plenty of fun.

”Find someone else to drink with. Im done.” The words were out before I could stop myself, my promise to keep my anger in, gone.

”I didnt mean it like that.” He grabbed my hands before I could push him away. ”Stop.” His grip tightened around my wrists, and I gave up the struggle to pull away, stilling myself to face him. ”I meant I didnt mean to start a fight. I wanted you to have fun tonight, but you dont have to drink for that. I dont want to fight with you.” He let go of my wrists and one arm slid across my shoulders, pulling me close to him. ”Im sorry. Ill get you tea. Just sit with me.”

My anger drained some but still tensed my muscles enough to keep me from relaxing in his arms. I looked at the strangers chatting in small cl.u.s.ters around us and reminded myself that this was supposed to be our weekend, our chance to reconnect. Letting out the rest of my anger in an exhale, I nudged him with my shoulder. ”All right, Ill sit with you, but only because I dont know who any of these people are.” I smiled at him, letting him see that I was joking, kind of. My anxiety was rising, heart beat increasing as I even thought about walking away from him into a sea of strangers.

He dipped his head towards my ear, warm breath fanning over me as he laughed. ”I dont know anyone either. Dexter said he was inviting a few friends, I should have expected this. But where is he? I havent seen him in a while.”

Gage raised his hand to stop the server as she pa.s.sed by. She leaned over, giving us a view of her cleavage as she took our order.

When she walked away, I answered, ”He went with Leona and Aliya to the dance floor.”

He pulled the beer from his mouth, nodding at no one in particular in the room. ”He should take his friends with him.”

”Its not like theyre bothering us.” I tugged at the collar of his s.h.i.+rt, unable to take my eyes off his stern face. His blue eyes almost glowed under his thick brows and his soft lips were surrounded by rough stubble along his strong jaw.

”They arent, are they?” The corner of his lip tugged up. He pulled on my legs, lifting them to drape over his thighs. The tips of his fingers dragged across the length of my bare skin, tickling me. ”Maybe I dont mind then.”

The server returned with our drinks and Gage removed his hands from me to take them, but I didnt move my legs back down. The intimate gesture wasnt nearly as intimate as the way some were dancing in our lounge area.

Gage gulped his drink then grabbed mine and set them both down on the table in front of us. He focused on me and slipped his hand into my hair, smoothing it out on the couch cus.h.i.+on. He moved slowly towards me, tension building as I waited for his lips to reach mine. But his path was interrupted when three men slid onto the seats beside us. Gage sat back some, looking towards them with a raised brow, a silent 'what the f.u.c.k expression they should be able to read easily enough.

”Gage 'Lightning Lawson,” the older man closest to us spoke up, pus.h.i.+ng back his already gelled stiff hair. ”I didnt mean to interrupt, but I had a great opportunity to talk to you about.”

”Not tonight,” Gage groaned and captured my legs before I could move them back to the ground. He turned back to me, ignoring the still present man and his entourage, two thick men who could be hired as bouncers in an instant.

”Dave Leola wants to invite you to fight in the UFC.” The man extended a card towards us.

I did pull my legs away as Gage tore the card up in front of them.

The man closest to us was turning red. It started at his neck and moved up to his face like a thermometer measuring his anger.

The pieces fluttered to the floor as Gage ripped it to bits. Then he lifted his empty hands, dismissing them.

The man put his own hand up, signaling his thugs to stay seated.

I dont know what they thought they were going to do, but they had been about to move. That threatening gesture was enough to tense all my muscles, and I was ready to react to whatever happened next.

”How much money did you make on your t.i.tle fight?” The now red man sat forward, straining to cover his frustration. ”I can promise youll make more fighting in the cage, especially since itll be against Brody Kane.”

Gage leaned over me, blocking my view of them. ”Ive already heard this offer over the phone. I said no then, and now you interrupt my night with this? This is a private party. You shouldnt have been let in. Leave.”

”Dexter invited us up. Seems your brother has more sense than you,” the man threw out as he rose to his feet.

Gage stood, rolling his shoulders back as the men pa.s.sed by. The last man in the line was taller than Gage and he looked him up and down with a sneer as he pa.s.sed. I held my breath until they were out of our area.

”What the f.u.c.k is Dexter doing now?” Gage turned back to me, plopping down on the seat. ”Where the h.e.l.l is he?” He pulled out his phone, fingers bouncing over the screen.

”You texting him?” I asked.

”Yeah.” He watched the screen. ”Hes coming up now.” Sliding the phone in his pocket, he leaned forward to guzzle down his drink and signaled to our server for another one.

Leaning back on the seat with a sigh, he slid his arm around me. ”Just one f.u.c.king night. I thought Id get one f.u.c.king night without some bulls.h.i.+t.”

I leaned into him, fiddling with the b.u.t.tons on his s.h.i.+rt, wanting to calm him. ”Theyre gone now. Its over. Dont let them ruin the night.”

He snorted. ”Oh they wont ruin my night. Ill make sure of it.”

He sat up as the server came back to drop off his next drink. ”Did you see the men that were just with us?” At her nod he continued, ”Tell your security that they are not allowed back in here. The main one is Phil Magnally.”

She nodded with a promise to do so and walked away.

”Is Phil that tall one?” I questioned.

”No, Phil was the one running his mouth. The guys with him are some of his fighters, but not anybody worth mentioning.” He paused to sip his drink. ”Phils one of the top managers in the UFC, but he doesnt have a t.i.tle holder on his team-Dexter,” Gage waved his brother over.

Dexter had walked in with Leona and immediately got pulled into conversation with a group of friends. His smile dropped as he saw his brothers disapproval. He walked over, his typical swagger subdued.

”Whats up?” He asked, taking the seat next to me.

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