“And she mentioned this?”
“Yes.”
“Damn. Was she mad?”
“No. I’d say hurt. Confused. Leery.”
“Leery? Why would she be leery?”
“I have no idea. Why don’t you ask her yourself, Gage?” Marci’s tone was a little snippy, but she smiled at the same time, trying to lighten the blow.
Gage turned and walked away, somewhat confused and totally nervous.
He texted Kayla three times. She never answered. He decided if she really was sick, she might be sleeping. So he bit his tongue and stayed at the academy the entire afternoon. As soon as it was five o’clock though, he hustled Thor to his Jeep and beelined for her place.
She wasn’t there. Or she didn’t answer. He couldn’t be sure since her car could be in the garage. Either way, he didn’t have a good taste in his mouth. Was she really that pissed at him for being busy last night? Why not just say something?
Gage took a deep breath and did the only thing he could think to do—he headed for the gym. It was always his salvation. And he needed to stop worrying. She’d called in sick. Maybe the woman was sick. Maybe there was no correlation whatsoever between her apparent inquisition about his whereabouts and her absence the next day.
A quick stop by the house to drop off Thor and Gage entered his home away from home in no time.
Gage would have loved to spar with Rider, but the man worked second shift. He would be on patrol. Instead, he took his chances and found Conner in the locker room when he arrived. Conner was the oldest one of the group at thirty-eight. And the craziest bastard Gage knew. He was a conundrum. The guy was so mild-mannered in general, a college literature professor, for heaven’s sake. But when the gloves were on—Conner was unstoppable. They referred to him as “The Gladiator.” No one had yet to beat him. And for all that, he had no desire to go pro. He saw the entire thing as a hobby. A way to stay fit.
“Gage. Perfect,” Conner said. “Zane was supposed to spar with me but something came up. He’s stuck at work.”
Gage smiled. “Lucky then, because I was in need of a partner.”
“Joe’s gonna work with us. Already booked the ring with him.”
“Awesome.” Gage quickly changed and met Conner in the cage within minutes. He set his gloves down and stretched while Joe ambled toward them.
“How’s the girlfriend, Mr. I’ll-never-fall-for-a-woman?” Joe smirked as he stepped into the cage.
“Ha ha.” Gage winced at the mention of Kayla, but didn’t elaborate.
“Taking a night off?” Joe asked.
“Apparently,” Gage mumbled.
“Uh oh. Trouble in paradise.” Conner socked Gage in the bicep playfully, his gloves already in place.
“Nah. She’s just sick.”
“Sick?” Conner asked. “What is that code for these days? When my college students are sick, they’re usually hung over.”
“You guys are so funny.” Gage started bouncing as he loosened up, pulling his gloves on at the same time.
Luckily both men dropped the subject, and Joe fired off a few instructions. “Let’s practice a few jabs first, then move on to some kicks. Gage you’ve been weak on the left hook lately. Get several of those in. Conner…well, I can’t think what you’re weak in, so just do your thing.”
Gage would have been miffed if he didn’t know Joe was dead correct. Conner was weak at nothing. The man was a god. That’s why they dubbed him “The Gladiator.” That’s also why the local Russian underground wanted him to fight for them. He was worth a lot of money, and he had no interest in earning that money, not through legal means by going pro, and certainly not from illegal means by fighting underground.
Two hours later, after the hardest workout Gage had engaged in for a while, he showered, changed, and jumped back in his Jeep. He drove by Kayla’s condo, but all the lights were out, and there was still no sign she was inside.
“Fuck.” He hit the steering wheel as he drove home. Something was off. No doubt about it. He couldn’t grasp that she would shut him out without a word over something as ridiculous as not being invited to dinner with his mom and dad.
He drove home, threw a stick with Thor for half an hour, fixed himself a sandwich for dinner, and then plopped in front of the TV. Nothing good was on, and all he did was scan through the channels over and over until he gave up and flipped it off.
He checked his phone for the hundredth time. Nothing. No response to any of the three texts he sent her earlier in the day. And there was no way he was going to keep sending her messages. If she wanted to ignore him, he wasn’t about to beg.
At least not anymore today.
He dragged himself to bed earlier than usual and flopped onto his back.
When his phone rang less than ten minutes later, he bolted upright and grabbed the cell from his bedside table, completely expecting it to be Kayla, chock full of reasons for not speaking to him for twenty-four hours.
His shoulders fell immediately when he saw the caller ID. He answered the call quickly, damping down his disappointment. “Hey, Mom. How’s it going?” It wasn’t unusual for his mom to call a few times a week, and often in the evening after his dad was asleep, with a rundown of the day’s improvements, which were few and slow.
“Gage?” Her voice was off. And there was noise in the background. “He had another stroke.” She sniffled into the phone and then let out a sob.
Gage jumped to his feet, grabbing his jeans and hopping on one leg to get them on while he held the phone at his shoulder. “Mom? Where are you?”
“The hospital. I called an ambulance. And then I had to follow it. I didn’t have a chance to call you until I got here.” Her voice cracked as she spoke. “I’m scared, Gage.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, Mom. Hang tight.”
“’K, but drive carefully, Gage. It won’t change anything. Be safe.”
“Of course, Mom.” He ended the call and tossed the cell on his bed to grab the shirt he wore earlier. He tugged it over his head while he toed on his shoes and stomped into them without untying them.
In less than a minute, he was in the Jeep, pulling out of the driveway, and praying he made it to the hospital in time.
When he arrived, he pulled into the first spot he saw and jogged to the emergency room entrance. His mom was pacing by the window, eyes red and puffy, a tissue clutched in her hand.
“Mom.” He went straight to her and pulled her into his embrace.
•●•
On Friday, Kayla pulled into work shaking. She hadn’t answered any of Gage’s texts the day before, and in retrospect, she thought perhaps she was overreacting. Or at least behaving childishly. She needed to face him and tell him straight up what she thought about his nebulous absences. It didn’t really matter if she was oversensitive. That was her personality. He could take it or leave it. If he had a legitimate explanation for his mysterious jaunts, fine. Or at least sort of fine. If he didn’t…hell, if he was lying to her…she needed to know that sooner rather than later. One thing she was sure about—never again would she fall victim to another con man.
She didn’t see Gage all morning, and unlike the previous several days in a row, he hadn’t left her an iced latte. He had a right to be put off by her not taking his calls, though, and she didn’t really want to exchange words with him at work, so she waited until lunch to seek him out.
He wasn’t there.
She headed to Marci’s office next, but ran into Chief Edwards in the hall. “Oh, hey. Do you know where Gage is?”
The older man furrowed his brow and frowned. He looked kind of shocked. “He took some time off. He didn’t call you?”
“He what?” She nearly shouted the question, shaking her head. “No.” But she’d hardly given him the opportunity.
“A week probably. Called me last night.” Chief Edwards still frowned, concern etched in his face. “You two okay?”
She stood there stunned, processing. She nodd
ed, and then she reconsidered and shook her head. “No. I guess not. I think we had a misunderstanding.”
“Kayla, I’m sorry. Text him. I’m sure you’ll work it out.”
Kayla lifted her gaze to his. “That’s all you know?”
He took a breath. “No. But I’m not at liberty to tell you any more than that. I would extend you the same courtesy.”
“Right. Of course.” She turned and walked numbly back down the hall.
After work, Kayla drove straight to Gage’s house. No sign of him. Then again, she pulled the same shit on him yesterday. She’d listened to him knocking and ignored him entirely.
But she was determined to face him. There was no way in hell she could go home and do nothing. She’d never be able to sleep. So instead, she plopped down on the glider on his front porch and sent him a text.
I’m on your front porch. Not leaving until you either let me in if you’re home or come home if you’re out.
That was all she said. And then she waited. For two hours. It was late and growing dark before a car pulled into the driveway, and it wasn’t Gage’s Jeep. Not even close. It was a white F150.
She held her breath as she watched a man Gage’s size step down from the cab, not exhaling until Zane stepped into the ray of light coming from the street.
“Kayla.” He looked sorrowful as he stepped onto the porch.
“What are you doing here?”
“Gage sent me.”
“Oh.” And then, “Oh. For me?”
“Yes.” He sat next to her and gave the glider a slow shove, making it rock back and forth. Finally, he met her gaze. “I told him he was going to fuck this up if he didn’t let you in.”
She pursed her lips, having no idea what he was talking about.
“His dad had a stroke last night.”
“Oh God.” She straightened her spine and grabbed Zane’s arm. “Oh God,” she repeated. “Is he okay?”
“He didn’t die if that’s what you mean. But he’s far from okay. He was far from okay before the stroke, because it wasn’t his first.”
“Oh.” She sucked in a breath. “I didn’t know.”
“Yeah. That’s why I told him he was gonna fuck this up.” Zane smiled now. “He had some macho idea that if he took you to his parents’, you wouldn’t see him the same way.”
“What way is that?”
“Strong. Firm. A Dom. What he thinks you need.”
She breathed harder and gripped the arm rest tight. “Are you telling me he didn’t want me to see him…human?”
“Yes.” Zane smiled again. “Exactly. Thought it would confuse you, he said. Although I think deep down he just doesn’t want anyone to know he’s vulnerable. He’s very close to his dad. This thing is killing him. He hates it. He goes to visit twice a week and spends several hours sitting with the man, talking, watching sports, stuff like that. But inside, Gage is torn up because his dad isn’t the same anymore, and his mortality is choking Gage.”
“Oh God. I was such a bitch yesterday.” And the entire week….
“Not your fault.” Zane shook his head. “Hell, even I saw that coming. Man doesn’t hook up with a girlfriend and make her the center of his universe, and then repeatedly leave her at home while he goes to his parents’. It isn’t right.”
“That’s what I thought. I’ve been a little bitchy about it, I’m afraid.”
“Understandable. I warned him.”
Kayla twisted around. “Where’s Thor?”
“My place.”
“Ah.”
“I’m sure he’d be happier with you, though.” He lifted one side of his mouth in a small smile.
Kayla grinned back.
“Listen. Go home. Sleep tonight. You look like shit.”
“Thanks.” She punched his arm, though she knew he was right. “I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“They’re moving him to a regular room tomorrow.” Zane reached into his front pocket and pulled out a card, which he handed to Kayla.
Her fingers shook as she glanced down at it. “Think he would mind?”
“Well, probably, but I told him I was personally going to put an end to this madness. So, if he’s mad, it will mostly be at me. And if he’s any kind of friend, he’ll forgive me for barging into his life and talking to his woman behind his back. A conversation he should have had himself. I’m gonna cut him some slack for being in a confused state of grief. So he’d better cut me some slack for being right.”
Kayla chuckled at that. “Good point. I’ll go tomorrow.”
“I think that’s the best plan.”
“Thanks, Zane. You’re a great friend.” She leaned toward him and wrapped her arm around him in a sideways hug.
He did the same in return. “Nothing I wouldn’t do for any of The Fight Club. We’re like brothers.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kayla walked into the hospital and headed for the front desk. “Hi. I’m looking for Jed Holland.”
The woman scanned her computer and glanced back up. “I can’t give you his room number. It’s listed as confidential. Are you a family friend?”
“Yes.”
The woman smiled warmly. “His wife and son are in the family waiting area. I saw them a few minutes ago.” She pointed to the hall to the right of her. “Go down this hall and take the first left. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you so much.”
Kayla tried to relax as she made her way toward the waiting area. She hoped his dad hadn’t taken a turn for the worse. In either case, she needed to be there for Gage. And he was going to have to get over himself and let her.
As soon as she stepped into the room, she swallowed.
Gage sat in a plastic chair, horrifically uncomfortable looking considering its location in a waiting room, his head dipped to the floor, elbows on his knees.
A woman sat next to him, undoubtedly his mom. The woman glanced in Kayla’s direction. She smiled, and the smile grew as though she knew exactly who Kayla was. In fact, without removing her gaze, she grabbed Gage’s arm and tugged.
Gage turned his face toward her and then followed her line of sight. For a split second, he stared in confusion, and then he righted himself and stood, rubbing his hands on his jeans. “Kayla.”
She came into the room farther, hesitantly. She didn’t want to upset anyone, especially his mother.
If she was truly unwanted, she would leave.
But suddenly Gage came toward her, picking up speed as he moved. And then his arms were around her, and he pulled her into his embrace, burying his face in her neck and clutching her a bit too hard. “You came,” he mumbled into her hair.
“Of course I came. And I would have been here sooner if you hadn’t been so pigheaded.” She tried to sound teasing.
Thankfully, he didn’t take offense. He pulled her away from his chest and looked her in the eye. “I’m sorry, baby. It was stupid.” He led her from the room, holding on to her arm on one side. They retraced the steps she’d taken to get to him, all the way out the front door.
“Do you want me to leave?”
He looked at her quizzically. “No.” And then he glanced around. “Oh. I just thought we could talk in private for a minute.”
She nodded, relief making her slump her shoulders. “Zane came to me.”
“Yeah. I figured he would. I mean I asked him to go handle things when I saw your text. I’m sure he told you more than he should have.”
“Don’t be mad at him. He means well.” She grasped his hand as she spoke.
“I’m not.” He let out a long breath. “And I’m sorry I tried to keep this part of me separate from you.”
She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his middle. “We all have vulnerabilities, Gage. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m choked up that you love your parents this much. It doesn’t make you less of a Dom. It makes me think even more highly of you.”
He wrapped his arms tight around her also and kissed the top of he
r head. “I should have given you more credit.”
“Yes. You should have trusted me. I’m not a total bitch. You don’t have to keep things from me or coddle me. I can handle a little stress and a man with a soft spot for his dad.” She grinned, but he wasn’t smiling back.
“Like you trust me with your secrets?”
She stopped breathing.
Fuck.
Seconds passed.
She blinked, but his words dug deep, and she had trouble processing or deciding how to respond.
Finally, Gage glanced away on a sigh. “Uncalled for. I’m an ass.”
She shook her head. “No. You’re right. Totally. I deserved that.”
Silence stretched. When he looked back at her, he changed the subject. “The timing sucks, and my mom is a wreck, but do you want to meet her?”
“Sure, unless you’d rather wait until some other time. I don’t want to intrude, and I don’t want either of you to be uncomfortable.”
Gage rolled his eyes. “Baby, if I don’t bring you back inside to meet my mom, she will personally kill me right here, and that will be awfully messy inside the hospital.”
Kayla nodded. “Did you tell her about me?”
“I did. We’ve had a lot of hours to kill in the last two days.”
Kayla smiled. He’d told his mother about her. Her heart beat hard, her chest swelling. “I’d love to meet your mom.”
•●•
Sunday morning Gage walked into his dad’s room and froze two steps from the doorway. He held a cup of coffee in one hand and an iced latte in the other. It wasn’t exactly what Kayla normally ordered, but it was the best he could do from the cafeteria.
Kayla didn’t notice him yet. She was holding his father’s good hand and talking to him in hushed tones. His dad was unresponsive. He hadn’t regained consciousness since the stroke. It was too early for the doctors to know how severe the damage from this second stroke might be.
Gage almost dropped the drinks. How could he have been so stupid as to keep this from Kayla? She was strong. Clearly stronger than himself. As he inched closer, he saw that Kayla caressed the back of his dad’s hand with her fingers.
Tears gathered in Gage’s eyes, and he fought to keep them from falling.
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