by Matson, TC
Chapter 17
Well, I told you Harvey would have my ass when I got back. He’s had me on the brink of death a few times today demonstrating that I shouldn’t have gone against his advice. Normally, I train with an array of moves—strikes and submissions—but this morning it’s been hours on the bag. It’s his way of punishing me. My arms ache, my legs are sore from the constant strikes but the burn feels good as determination surges in my muscles.
I got nowhere with Paige this week physically but I gained some knowledge about her. I learned that she likes fantastic movies, she likes to eat, her moans can make you cum without even a simple touch, and she is willing to try anything. She’d never gone snowboarding before but listened to me intently and by the end of the evening…well she tried. It’s driving me absolutely insane that she won’t let me in and for some ridiculous reason, I care.
Harvey yells, getting my attention, then nods toward the ring. I smile wolfishly using my forearm to wipe the sweat from my forehead. Ready to take my frustrations out on someone instead of a dangling bag, it’s sparring time. First one up—he’s a stocky little guy. Says he was wrestling champ in high school and took kickboxing for three years. Good for him. He takes a sizing-up swing, and I nail him with a right hook. He’s down.
That was easy.
Second up—now he looks like he’s going to be worth it. We save the small talk and he comes right in throwing a kick to my thigh, but I feint right and jab with my left. He stumbles a little and swings, but I block it, countering with a hard right.
Harvey is in my face before I can finish this shithead off. “It’s sparring, not a real fight,” he yells. “Get your head back in the game and your ass back on the bags. Take your frustrations out on it, not these guys. They’re tools for practicing, not to beat the hell out of.”
If he wasn’t like a father figure, I’d beat the shit out of him.
“What’s your problem, dude?” Adam asks holding the heavy bag to the best of his abilities.
“Nothing.” I jab with my left then move in with a right elbow.
“I know something is up, dickwad. What’s up? She still hasn’t given in yet, has she?”
It stops me mid-swing and I glare at him. Why the fuck is it his business? I haul a heel kick into the bag, sending him into the wall behind him.
“What the hell, man?” he pushes off toward me. “Your dick that hard for her?”
You’d think that kick would have been the perfect mute button, but he didn’t take the hint. “Fuck you,” I grumble.
“Levi, snap the hell out of it,” he hisses.
I grit my teeth, clenching my jaw. “I’m ate up by her.”
“I can see,” he says. “What is so special about her?”
I shake my head, pounding my gloves together. “I don’t fucking know,” I grind out between gritted teeth.
“Maybe it’s the fact that for once, once in your life, she isn’t about who you are. She doesn’t care about the Leveler.”
I’m gonna chip a fucking tooth.
“Dude, for once, you’ve met your match,” he says.
Biting my bottom lip, I shake my head at him and storm off to the lockers. I’m done for the day. Screw this shit. I’m done. Fed the fuck up.
Blain and Adam thought it would be a good idea to bring me to Tonic tonight for my farewell party, and guess who’s in my sight. The gorgeous pale green-eyed, brown haired angel behind the bar making drinks, cutting up and laughing. The shit pisses me off. I should be the one making her smile like that. I should be the one to hear that intoxicating laugh that blazes a trail of happiness through my heart.
Fuck, I’ve become a freaking pansy, a little bitch caught up with wanting to be with her. There I said it. I’m admitting there’s something about her and I can’t fucking stand it.
“She’s headstrong,” Blain nudges my shoulder nodding to her.
I chuckle blowing out air. “Yeah, something like that.”
Headstrong is an understatement.
“Don’t take it personally, dude.”
I take a sip of my water and lean back in my seat. “Nah, I’m not. It’s all good,” I lie.
A tap on my shoulder has me twisting around. “Hey,” a smoking hot petite brunette with boobs the size of cantaloupes in a tan, tight ass mini dress says. “Me and my friends here were wondering if you guys would like some company.”
She steps to the side showing me she comes with another brunette and a bombshell of a blonde, all with terrific tits.
I smile wickedly. “Sure. I’m Levi,” I tell her then introduce Blain and Adam.
I’ve known Adam long enough to know the blonde is his. They’re his Achilles heel. He enjoys pussy more than I do. If it—
Stop shaking your head at me. Paige doesn’t want me so there’s no use in wasting this hard-on in the shower any longer. She made her point. I’ve tried so if you want to be shaking your head at anyone, you do it to Paige. It’s her decision.
So where was I? That’s right. Pussy. If it wasn’t for Adam, I wouldn’t have lost my virginity when I was fourteen to Rebecca Track. He set the whole thing up and I ended up banging her against the tree in her grandpa’s backyard. I was young then, but now I have years under my belt. You know that saying, practice makes perfect? Well, plenty of it makes me perfect.
Just as predicted, Adam reaches out and pulls the blonde onto his lap and immediately starts talking shit to her. She squeals on the way down, then purrs when stationary. The other brunette has made her way to Blain’s side and is feeding into his words. And well, Cantaloupe Tits has made my ear an all you can eat buffet. Easy conquest.
I’ve kept my distance by not going to the bar and leaving Paige alone, but now we’re heading out. Knowing I won’t see her for several months, I’d like to tell her goodbye. See…I’m a limp fucking noodle. I don’t know what has compelled me to want to do this, but let’s just get it over with.
“Go on to the hotel room with them. I have something I need to do then I’ll be there,” I tell Cantaloupe Tits who’s been dry humping me for an hour.
She purses her lips out and pouts in one high pitched, squeaky ass annoying voice, “But how are you going to get there?”
The damn dogs in the neighborhood had to hear that whiny shit. “Got NASA on speed dial because thankfully the space shuttle is the only damn ride this late at night.”
She huffs dropping into the car and slamming the door. Dumb bitch. She’ll get over it.
As I round the corner, I hear her—the anger in her voice, a hopeless anger. “Will you please just leave me alone?”
He grabs her by the shoulders smiling like a fucking jackass. “You can’t fool me. You don’t want me gone.”
Sixth sense. Instincts. ESP…call it what you want, but I knew there had to be a reason why I wanted to stay behind.
“Please. I’m just asking to talk to you,” he pleads.
“No. I don’t care to hear whatever it is. Please just let me go.”
But he doesn’t. “Cherry, you can’t tell me no.”
My heart thunders in my ears as I stalk toward her. My vision blurs. An uproar from a prickly sensation dims the sounds around me as I trudge toward them ready to rip his fucking head off.
“So every time you leave, this fuckwad is here bothering you?” I steam, grabbing her by the waist, pulling her out of his hands and into my side.
He narrows his eyes at me. “What the fuck man? Get lost,” he barks.
Strike #1.
“What’s with you? What the hell do you want with my girl?” I say forcing myself to sound calm.
“Cherry and I,” he grits between his teeth, “were just having a conversation. You can leave now.” He dismisses me waving his finger off to the side.
“No we weren’t,” Paige squeaks.
Wesley’s bloodshot eyes flare, inflamed in aggravation then shift to me. He thinks he’s a tough boy, bowing out his chest, balling up his fists, and clenching his jaw. I should be
shaking in my shoes…but it’s not cold out here. What? Do you think this douchebag scares me?
“Cherry, tell your friend to get lost. We have some making up to do. Remember how much fun that was?” he slurs.
Strike #2.
Paige shudders beside me and leans in closer. “No.”
“There’s your answer. Now, if you don’t get your ass out of here, I can assure you I will erase your memory.” I can only handle so much of a drunk, smart-ass douchebag before my annoyance level jumps to red alert.
With fire in his eyes, he scowls. “She doesn’t give a damn about you. Her heart belonged to me the moment I took her cherry—”
I rush him grabbing him up by the collar of his preppy ass polo shirt, lifting him to his tiptoes. “I don’t care to know what kinda shit you stole from her and didn’t have the decency to cherish.” The son of a bitch smirks. Instantly my blood boils and I jam my fist into his stomach letting loose of his shirt allowing him to drop to his knees choking for air.
I kneel down in front of him willing myself for control. “If I ever so much hear that you are back around her, I’ll make sure you’re un-fucking-recognizable. Do I make myself clear?”
He doesn’t answer. He can’t catch his breath and I’m ok with that. Really, I am.
He stands pulling his shoulders back and glances between Paige and me before stumbling away and disappearing around the corner.
Paige is wide-eyed and blanched. “You ok?” I ask.
She swallows hard and nods.
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” she answers in a faint whisper.
I chuckle at her weak attempt. “Come on. I’ll take you home.” I gently grab her by her elbow and lead her to the passenger side of her car.
“Have you been drinking?” she asks studying me.
“No,” I shake my head. “Don’t like the stuff.”
There’s a delay in her gaze before she slides into the seat. I was actually bracing for an argument, but there wasn’t one. I walk around the front of the car scanning for Wesley out of the corner of my eye, then get in and start off.
She hasn’t spoken to me the whole ride, keeping her focus out the window. It’s rather unnerving. I’m unsure what to say to her. If she’s mad at me for what I did to Wesley, she’ll have to get over it. I won’t apologize for what I did. Dickwad needed to heed the warning.
No words are exchanged as we enter her house. My chest is tugging at me. I feel out of my element. Nervous. Anxious, but for what?
“What are you staring at?” she asks putting her things down on the island.
“You.” Vague, but the truth. How do you tell her you’re soaking in all that you can because it will be awhile before you will see her again?
“I see that, dipshit,” she giggles. “But why?”
Sassy—I fucking love it.
I know I promised it would be her, but I can’t do this any longer. I reach out and pull her into me, capturing her lips. She freezes, her body turns as stiff as a board, but it only lasts for a second, and no shit she just melted. Her body limbers, leaning into me, and she spreads her lips allowing me to take to her.
Like I’ve grabbed an electric fence, sparks shoot through me. My knees feel weak and my heart is jackhammering in my chest. It’s fucking overwhelming. I pull her closer by the nape and inhale her breath as our tongues stroke across one another. Long and soft, heated and enticing, the chemistry submerges me. Passion ricochets between us. It’s the most devastating blow I’ve ever felt.
Her hand slides from my arm to my chest, then she pushes me away. “You need to leave,” she says breathless.
I blink. Did she not just feel that? “Paige…” I whisper.
She takes a step back and out of my grip. “Levi, I can’t do this with you.”
She might as well just have slammed a freaking baseball bat upside my head because I sure as fuck didn’t see that coming. “Sure you can,” I tell her.
She looks up under her lashes, her eyes wet from tears. “No, Levi, I can’t.”
I’m in a frenzy to keep my outrage below the surface. “Explain why you can’t?”
She drops her view to her feet. “I’m not willing to mess up our friendship just to be another notch in your bedpost.”
I flash my dimples and pull her by the waist into my chest. “Lucky for you, I don’t have bedposts.”
She’s hesitant, but ends up pushing away again with pain donning her expression. “I mean it. I love what we have, but I know once that line is crossed, I’ll lose you and I don’t want to.”
I stare at her. I just got backstage passes to the fucking friend zone. Somewhere in the equation as I was trying to get into her mind like she has done mine, I bought front row seats to the Paige’s Willpower show. I gape at her unsure what the hell to say. I know she felt that, but I’m done trying. I’m done chasing something that doesn’t want me. A small defeated laugh escapes me. I shake my head and stalk out the door, shutting it behind me with a little extra force of vexation.
Chapter 18
I haven’t talked to Levi in three weeks. After he walked out, he never looked back. He hasn’t texted me and I can’t bring myself to call him to patch things up. Even though I know he left town, I’ve looked for him, looking up every time someone came into the restaurant, scanning the crowd at Tonic, and never letting my phone get outside arm’s reach. But it was all wishful thinking. He never showed up and my phone has been crushingly silent.
That kiss was entirely the most sensual and heart stimulating kiss I’ve ever experienced, and honestly, it scared the hell out of me. For that robust compassion to come from Levi was surprising. I felt emotion behind it as if he was kissing love into me. I know better than that though. An hour prior he had had a woman nipping at him and running her fingers through his hair. What I felt was phantom desire.
“Earth to Paige!” Holly pokes my shoulder.
Startled, I yelp turning toward her and almost spilling my drink on her black skull shirt. “Holy shit, Holly!”
“Standing in the living room, but on another planet. Teach me how you do this.”
Blain rushes past us with a bowl of dip and stumbles into the coffee table nearly spilling it all over the chicken wings. He decided to throw a “little” party to watch Levi’s fight. Justin Lyndon—I remember hearing he was a brute on the mat, so Levi has to keep him standing, something I personally love to watch. Toe to toe, blow for blow, it’s all about give and take, who can take the hit and who can give it.
Jason of course, being the player he is, brought a little redheaded flavor of the week who seems to fit more on the Vegas strip than in this little college town. Six-inch stilettos, a gold mini-skirt that, I swear, should have come with batteries because it sparkles so freaking much, and a sheer piece of fabric that covers just enough to hold her boobs back.
Jason and Blain think too much alike. They both have the same taste in women. Pull as much as we want, they say when having their “bro” talk, but what I don’t understand is how Blain can do it knowing damn well he wants Lacy, Jason’s sister. She’s a spectacular woman—beautiful, smart, and super nice—and just like me she’s not gonna let a dog into her life, no offense to Blain.
“Have you heard from him?” Holly whispers leaning her shoulder against the wall.
I shake my head.
“I think you’re crazy to not have done anything. I would—”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know what you would have done.” I roll my eyes teasing her. But honestly, I have to endure hearing about him all the time and I’m getting kind of tired of it.
She gives me a tight smile. “As much as I think he’s all for me, I think you should text him. I mean, you’re the one who sent him out the door, therefore you should be the one to give in.” She bounces her finger then walks into the living room keeping her next biggest crush, Blain, in her sights.
I sigh inwardly letting my thoughts wander back to Levi. He’s protective, smart, gentle yet rou
gh, funny…The aching defeat in his eyes has haunted me since that day. Baffled and frustrated, he walked away. I tried to tell him how I felt, but my fearful obstinateness stopped the words from spilling. There was something in the kiss and in his eyes. I just wish what I was seeing was real.
I pull my phone from my pocket. She’s right. Someone has to give in. I miss hearing from him and I hate the hurt it brings when I don’t. Might as well do it now knowing he won’t get it until the fight is over. I’ll be asleep when he texts me back…I hope.
Me: Good luck tonight. Not that you need it. ;)
That was easier than I thought, but harder than I wanted.
Levi: Are you watching?
My heart slams against my ribs. Shit.
Me: What are you doing on your phone? Go do some push-ups or something!
Levi: It’s Adam. I’ll let him know you wished him luck. He’ll be happy.
“Ooohhh! Did she have a change of heart?” Holly nudges me trying to take a glimpse at my phone.
I don’t respond shrugging my shoulders.
“Now, I just need to get you to admit you’re so far into him that you can’t see your own ass,” she says proudly then takes a sip of her drink.
I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”
Jason jumps off the couch blessing the room with his loud roar of a laugh. “Dude, he was so pissed that night!”
I quit listening, tuning them out and staring at the scratches on my phone case. I’ve heard this story so many times it’s annoying, and honestly it hurts my feelings. The night Levi kissed me and I sent him out the door, he turned into the Hulk, madder than hell and ready to fight. He took a cab back to the hotel and kicked everyone out including the woman who had been nipping at him all night. But Holly hasn’t heard this story and listens intently, simpering like an ass.
She slides her eyes to me. “Hmmm…isn’t that the night he saved you from Wesley, kissed you, and you kicked him out?”
