Take Me On

  Totally unaffected by my outburst, he continues, “How are you going to train him without sparring? In fact, how are you going to work your job, train in my gym, then find extra time to train someone else? Agree to one fight for me and I’ll take him off your hands.”

  My heart beats manically and a cold clamminess blankets my skin. I can’t spar. I can’t fight. Not even for West. “I’ll train him when I get off work.”

  He throws his hands in the air. “You’ll be here until midnight.”

  Now I’m the one to pound the desk. “That’s my choice!”

  “You’re right. It always has been.”

  We stare at each other and I suck in air to calm the adrenaline shooting through my veins. “I want to start training him tonight.”

  “You can start Friday. I want to see you in my gym every morning by five. Saturdays included. I also own Sunday afternoons.”

  “Friday! That’s—”

  John stop signs me with his palm. “Consider it an act of good faith. I had to cancel fights because you walked away. I want to see commitment on your part.”

  I’m up against the ropes and John knows it. I nod and start to wonder when I’ll ever complete my homework, but like John agreed—this is my choice. “What about my uncle and his obsessive curfew?”

  John resumes writing. “I’ll take care of it.” There’s only one person my uncle fears and that’s my grandfather. None of us know why and nobody asks. Jax and his brothers have trained with John since they were small and my uncle allows it.

  “And the extra time I need to train West?” I ask.

  He assesses me with cold eyes. “What type of name is West?”

  “The extra time? What happens when Jax and Kaden walk in his door and I don’t?”

  “I said I’d take care of it.”

  All righty. I stand to leave and John nails a final blow. “Our deal starts this morning. I want your ass in the changing room now and on my floor in two minutes. Your stuff is still in your old locker.”

  Nerves create a dizziness as I walk out of his office and head to the locker room. Every single fighter watches me. What have I done?

  West

  Damn, this school is crowded and if I didn’t have a pretend girlfriend, I could definitely work this place. Like the blonde, Jessica, who’s been twisting her hair around her finger and staring at me from across the hallway. The girl is contemplating something and I’d bet it’s not calculus.

  If it’d been two weeks ago, she and I would have already found a secluded corner in this dump and gone to town. I got suspended twice at my old school for being caught with a girl and it was worth the time served.

  I rub at the crick in my neck. It’s Friday and I’ve been living in my car for almost a week. I’ve tried sleeping with the seat reclined and by lying across the backseat. Regardless, sleeping in a car is uncomfortable and cold...and lonely.

  Hours drag by. Every decision I’ve made, good and bad, haunts me. For the first time in my life, I look forward to school and now, because I fixed a toilet, I look forward to my job.

  Jessica slithers across the hallway and, feeling twitchy, I once again survey the mass of students for Haley. I like Haley, and truth be told if my hands are going to roam any girl’s curves, I’d prefer they be hers, but I won’t do Haley wrong. I won’t ruin her rep by cheating and I won’t ruin her by luring her down that hallway for a quick, cheap thrill.

  “You held out on me Monday.” Jessica runs a finger along my biceps. “Rumor has it you’re dating Haley.”

  “Who’s spreading that rumor?”

  “Matt Spencer. Actually, he was asking me if it was true. He said that Haley said the two of you were an item, but I told him I thought it was a lie.”

  I pop my head to the right. Damn. Not what Haley and I need.

  Since Tuesday, Haley and I walk to class together and I sit with her at lunch, but the other girls at the table talk to me more than she does. We’re not a couple, so we’re not acting like a couple. No touching. No hugging. In fact, we’ve hardly talked. Every time I press her for more info on training and this upcoming fight with Conner, she says she’s working on it.

  To make matters worse, Matt watches her like a hawk and I don’t like it. “Why would I lie?”

  “Why do you want to keep it secret that you’re a Young?”

  Jessica waits to see if I accept the bait, and, when she figures out I’m not biting, she continues, “Everyone knows you got into a fight with Conner last Friday. Matt thinks Haley is protecting Jax and Kaden and that you two are faking this relationship to throw him off course.”

  Matt’s smarter than he looks. “Why would I get involved in Haley’s world if we weren’t an item?” Because Haley defended me, because Conner hit Haley, because I won’t go through the rest of my senior year with anyone believing I’m weak...because I can’t fail again.

  Her lips compress into a flat line. “That I don’t know.”

  “Haley and I are the real deal. If you talk to Matt again, tell him he can kiss my ass.”

  “I still think you’re lying.” Jessica trails a finger along my arm again and surprising myself, I inch away and wipe my biceps as if to get the dirt off. Wildfires don’t work as fast as this girl.

  “Haley and I are dating and you’re supposed to be her friend.”

  “Haley doesn’t do attachments. She floats. By the way, I saw your Escalade in the parking lot. It looks like a sweet ride.”

  “It is.” Come on, Haley, where the hell are you?

  She leans against me, pushing her breasts against my arm. “I like sweet rides.”

  Meaning she gives sweet rides. “I’m taken.”

  “Please.” She rolls her eyes and pulls the hem of her shirt down so that she exposes more of her cleavage and part of her bra. Damn. She’s selling hard. “You’re not taken. If you were, you would have confessed your undying love for her Monday or Tuesday or any day this week during science, but you never did.”

  True. “I was curious what people said about Haley.” Truer.

  “You kept quiet because you liked what you saw in me.”

  “Let me guess, your favorite position in basketball is forward?”

  Shit, the way she just smiled says she eats anything she fucks for breakfast. “I heard you liked forward.”

  Normally, I do. Guess a lot has changed in a few days. “As I said, I’m taken.”

  “Besides,” she continues as if I hadn’t spoken. “Haley doesn’t do guys.”

  That grabs my attention. “What?”

  Her smile widens and she juts out a hip. “Haley’s a fighter.”

  “So?”

  Her voice indicates the “duh” is implied. “Fighting is a guy thing.”

  And cars are also considered a guy thing, but my sister is in love with the inside of a popped open hood. I can’t stomach people like the chick in front of me. “I’ve gotta go.”

  She slides to block my exit. “Okay fine, she’s interested in guys, but she’s Matt’s property.”

  My muscles tense. “A girl is no one’s property.” And Haley sure as hell doesn’t belong to that asshole.

  “You’re all girl-power. That’s awesome in a weird way. Look, I agree with you, but here’s the thing—Matt doesn’t give a crap about equal rights or that we earned the right to vote a couple hundred years ago. Haley and Matt may have broken up, but he makes it clear that no one sniffs around her. He’ll hit you the moment you touch her.”

  “Let him.” I’ve agreed to this showcase in two months for Haley’s sake, but if Matt and his crew want to go at it now, then I’m game. Maybe it would be better if we did. I wouldn’t have rumors floating around that I’m weak and it would take the burden off Haley.

  “Matt’s bad news,” she sa
ys.

  “So am I,” I snap, pissed everyone thinks this guy is stronger than me. “Why are you even interested?”

  Her eyes light up. “Because you’re West Young.”

  Because she thinks I have money. This is the first time I’ve itched to tell anyone I’ve been disowned. Is she still going to be pushing up on me then?

  With her fingers typing intently into a cell, Abby, the queen of not giving a shit whether or not I want her around, sidles up beside me. “You should listen to her about Matt.” She glances up at me. “I was eavesdropping.”

  “Rude much?” says Jessica.

  “Jessica,” responds Abby.

  She widens her eyes as a “what do you want?”

  “I bite.”

  And the blonde scurries down the hallway like a squirrel darting through traffic. If I didn’t hate Abby, I’d be impressed. “You do go to school here.” Haven’t seen her once.

  “Yep.” She slips her phone into her back pocket. “Do you watch soap operas?”

  What the hell type of question is that? “No.”

  “Curious.” Her eyebrows furrow. “Because I would have thought you reenacted the crap with what you’ve accomplished in a week.”

  Not caring for anything else Abby has to say, I head to my first period class. Maybe I missed Haley and she’s already there.

  “You’re a soap opera writer’s wet dream.” Abby keeps step beside me. “The funny part is, I’ve never seen one, but, holy shit, has this been fascinating. In a span of seven days you’ve managed to piss off Isaiah, Jax and Kaden Williams, and Matt and Conner Spencer.

  “You’re dating Haley Williams, plus you’ve got slut of the month Jessica...well...slutting up on you. Throw in a switched at birth storyline and bam, I’m thinking daytime Emmy for sure.”

  Abby pivots, walks backward and snags the shirt of some kid with bloodshot eyes. She drags him with her, forcing him to her level. “Unlike the rest of corporate America, I’m not into competition. Last time I’m telling you, keep it off my block.”

  She releases him with a shove, then resumes walking forward. “Sorry, business negotiations. As I was saying, it’s amazing no one’s plugged a bullet into your head.”

  Abby’s probably right. I pause outside the doorway to my class and she, not surprisingly, joins me. “Why are you telling me this? We hate each other.”

  Her phone vibrates and she pulls it out, texting back instantaneously. “True. But I kinda like this fairy godmother, guardian angel bullshit, plus oddly enough I believe in karma. One last tidbit for the day before I return to mild-mannered drug dealer.”

  I hold out my arms. “Lay it on me.”

  Pushing Send, she refocuses on me. “Watch Matt. He’ll be gunning for you, but he’ll wait to see what your weaknesses are before he does. Jax and Kaden have always been protective of Haley and I don’t see that ending anytime soon, even if they are mad at her. Stay out of Isaiah’s way. He’s giving you a reprieve because your family kicked you out, but don’t test his patience. With Rachel in pain, he’s looking for an excuse to snap.”

  Abby turns to leave, but I stop her. “How did you know Dad kicked me out?”

  “When it comes to my neighborhood there isn’t much I don’t know. I heard that an Escalade has been at the park every night, all night. Then I saw you in the bar.” Abby shrugs. “I know kicked out and hungry when I see it.”

  “Does Rachel know?” I stop myself from asking if my parents appear upset.

  “Your parents are holding their cards close to their chest. Isaiah’s monitoring the situation because he doesn’t want anyone to tell Rachel. It’ll upset her.”

  The asshole has gained some of my respect. “Thanks. Can you keep it to yourself that I’m a Young?”

  Abby rolls her neck. “Does Jessica know?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then it doesn’t matter if I keep my mouth shut. Jessica doesn’t shut hers and, yes, I mean that in every way possible.”

  “I’ll take care of Jessica. Will you keep it to yourself?”

  “What, you’re so much better than this school that you can’t tell the truth?”

  This from the self-proclaimed liar. “Being a Young here will create problems. Don’t Haley and I have enough of those?”

  “And the boy has a point. I’ll keep your dirty secret...for Haley.” Abby releases a smile that causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. “But now you’ll owe me a debt. Toodles.”

  I just made a deal with the devil.

  Haley

  My legs are Jell-O. Actually, Jell-O is sturdier than I am. This is my fourth morning training at the gym and tonight I have to start training West.

  This morning, I ran and ran and ran. Then I began on the sit-ups and push-ups. I crave a nap, a hot bath, then another nap. I fold my arms on my desk and rest my head on the makeshift pillow. A tension stretches across my shoulder blades. I worked out on the bags this morning. Tomorrow, the muscles in my back are going to be begging for death.

  “Haley.” It’s a low whisper that has to be one of those strange illusions during that semiawake, semidreaming state.

  “Haley!”

  My seat jerks beneath me when my head pops up. It’s not that the voice was loud this time, but it’s a shock when Marissa says anything louder than a whisper. Next to the two-seater science desk we share for Biology II, Marissa holds her books tight to her chest. “We need to talk.”

  “Okay.” I rub my eyes and wait for her to sit, but she doesn’t. She remains standing, edging her books closer to her chin as if she’s contemplating hiding her face.

  “What’s up?” I ask.

  She glances to the left, to the right, then to the left again, like she’s preparing to cross the street, then leans toward me. “Jessica came on to West in the hall this morning. She touched him...and everything and well...he didn’t leave.”

  The unsaid “everything” would include breasts pushed out against any available male body part. Jessica likes to play with the male species. Sort of like how black widow spiders snack on their mates.

  “Well, crap!” Half of the room turns and stares at me. The surge of anger is a shock and I’m not sure why I’m mad. It’s not like West is my boyfriend, but he’s supposed to be acting like my boyfriend and she’s supposed to be my friend and...and...

  West enters the room. The moment our eyes meet, I look away. Jessica hit on him, which means he probably hit on her back. She’s pretty and forward and guys fall all over themselves so they can be near her and I’m...me.

  I slouch in my seat, a hurricane combination of ticked off and hurt and confused.

  If he’s smart, he’ll stay away.

  If he’s smart, he’ll come over here and apologize for fake cheating on me.

  Either way, I want to punch him and Jessica in the jaw.

  Maybe I should rethink my stance on sparring.

  “I’ve been looking for you.” I shut my eyes at the sound of West’s deep voice. Butterflies have a field day in my stomach. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s a friend—a complication—and he’s probably kissed Jessica. Butterflies are not allowed.

  “Marissa, do you mind if I sit here today?” he asks.

  “No!” I open my eyes and Marissa is MIA. For real? Are all my friends abandoning me? First Jessica makes a move on West; then Marissa flees at one request.

  The chair beside me scrapes against the floor and the heat of his body caresses my left side as he takes a seat. If I inched my arm over a tad, I bet we’d be touching.

  Jessica walks into the room and frowns. Warm, heavy fingers lace with mine on top of the desk and the heart that had picked up speed moments before is now supersonic.

  I study our joined hands on the table and I have to admit I like the im
age. My fingers are dwarfed compared to his. At school, I’ve always been the fighter—the girl who’s not really feminine—but against West’s masculine hands, my fingers appear slim, graceful even.

  And if I’m going to daydream for a sec, I might as well concede that I like the tingle in my blood. The skin of his fingers is rough but not sandpaper. Strong but not weighted. And warm. Very, very warm. If our entwined hands create such bliss, I wonder if his lips against mine would cause fireworks.

  “Your friend Jessica is a piece of work,” he mutters and I pull out of my daydream.

  Cautiously, I peek at him from the corner of my eye. I’ve seen Jessica work guys over before. Did West fall for it? “Rumor has it she’s been extremely friendly with you and not a friend to me.”

  “Damn, word here spreads fast. Do you guys have a text gossip notification system? If so, I need to warn the other guys she’s willing to molest anything with two legs and a dick. There’s something wrong with her. She doesn’t understand no.”

  I giggle and let my fingers relax in his though I don’t understand why he’s touching me. We’ve been pulling off “together” without PDA.

  “Maybe she’s testing you. You know, to see if you’re really into me.” Maybe, but probably not. The way Jessica stares death daggers over her shoulder tells me she’s not happy. Over what, I’m not sure. I’m assuming it’s because I’ve pretend scored a guy she wants.

  He surveys the room. “Anyone else I should be aware of?”

  “Probably everyone.” I’m not much competition when it comes to keeping a guy as gorgeous as West. Even though we would never work. Even though I shouldn’t want us to work.

  The warning bell rings and Marissa chooses a seat in the back next to a hot guy. My lips curve up. Go, Marissa. Though the guy would probably notice her more if her face wasn’t glued to the inside of a book.

  I rock our knotted hands on the table. “What’s with the hand-holding?”

  A smile erupts on West’s face that transforms me into gooey brownies fresh out of the oven. “Besides the fact if I don’t your fingers will fall off from frostbite?”