by Niles, Abby
Just because he had a fight in a few days didn’t mean he’d forget all that as soon as he stepped into the cage.
The last three weeks had flown by. Tommy had trained like a madman, and she’d kept herself busy at the clinic. All their spare time was spent together, either in bed, curled together on the couch, or actually attempting to have a date. Publicity for the fight was running at full tilt, so a fan or two always interrupted them. But since she was sitting there with him, she didn’t feel as excluded as before, when she’d stood on the outside looking in.
So she’d relaxed some on that front. Thank God. The last thing she wanted was for her issue to be the reason she and Tommy couldn’t be together.
She walked into the living room. A shirtless Tommy had his elbows propped on the kitchen counter as he ate a bagel with peanut butter and read the sports section of the newspaper.
As she watched the muscles of his back flex every time he brought the bagel to his mouth, she wanted to say screw work, and take him back to bed. She reached out to run her hand up his spine, but paused when she noticed he was reading an article with the headline, A Has-Been’s Return to the Cage.
Julie cringed. Oh, that wasn’t good. What effect would that have on him? Would it mess with his head?
Inhaling, she stepped beside him and asked. “What’s the verdict?”
Without a word, he handed her the paper. She scanned the article and winced. The reporter was not a fan of Tommy’s, pretty much calling the president of the Cage Match Championship desperate for ratings if he allowed a screw-up like Tommy back in the cage when there were plenty of fighters who would give anything to be there. The reporter went on to insinuate that those who purchased the event to watch at home on TV were stupid because it was sure to be another letdown, like the previous fight.
“He didn’t hold anything back, did he?”
Tommy shrugged. “I have a lot to prove. All this reporter had to go on was my last fight, and even I admit I looked like shit. He has every right to doubt me. I’ll get my satisfaction when I wipe that doubt out of his mind and he’s forced to admit he was wrong.”
At his confidence, she smiled in relief. When Tommy leaned over, kissed her, and whispered, “Good morning,” she could’ve easily melted to the floor.
As he straightened and gathered her into his arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted up on her tiptoes, kissing his lips. His body relaxed against hers, and he held her tighter. He pressed his forehead to hers. “I wish we could spend more time together.”
At the sincerity in his voice, her heart squeezed. “I do, too, but you’re four days away from the fight. I do know what that means, you know.”
He kissed her gently. “My time will be limited, but I get to come home to you every night.”
Coming home to me. God, she loved the sound of that.
“I’ll be training most of the day,” he continued. “Then tomorrow the chaos starts for the rest of the week. What do you say about a lunch date? Around one, so we miss the lunch crowd? We haven’t visited our bench in a long time. I hear it calling our names.”
Flutters erupted in her belly. They’d eaten lunch together on that bench for so many years, but this was the first time he had ever referred to it as “theirs.”
She loved the sound of them having someplace that was theirs alone.
…
Julie drew in a deep breath before she opened the door to Mike’s gym, carrying a white paper bag that contained two chicken salad sandwiches and chips. The nerves that hit her as she stepped inside were ridiculous, considering she’d walked into this gym on numerous occasions in the past without a second thought.
But this time it was different. She was here as someone other than Tommy’s friend. Before, she’d known exactly where she stood and had acted accordingly. Now she wasn’t sure what her role was. She was his girlfriend now. But what did that mean? Was she supposed to go up to Tommy and lift her face as if she expected a kiss? Would he be okay with that?
She hated the fish-out-of-water feeling. It would probably be best just to take her lead from Tommy.
As she scanned the gym, she realized her anxiety was unfounded. He wasn’t there.
Maybe he was in the locker room?
She spotted Mike at the back of the gym talking to a younger fighter. He glanced up, and his brows knitted together. He made his way over to her. “Hey, Julie. What’s brought you to this side of town?”
“I’m meeting Tommy for lunch.”
Mike glanced at his watch. “He’s been with that reporter for more than an hour. He should be wrapping it up soon.”
More than an hour? That was an awfully long interview. Most lasted twenty minutes tops.
“Okay. Can you let him know that I’m waiting for him when he’s done? I’m going to go ahead down the street to where we said we’d eat.”
“Sure, but you may see him before I do. They went outside to do the interview.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll keep an eye out for him.”
Nodding, Mike turned, then he looked back at her. “It’s good to see you, Julie. Didn’t realize how much you were around until Tommy left. Glad he didn’t somehow fuck things up with you and you’re still friends. Good that we get to see your pretty face again.”
Her smile slipped. Had he not told anyone they were dating? He wasn’t hiding it, or he wouldn’t touch her in public. But it didn’t sit well with her that the people he spent a majority of his day with, people he considered his team, didn’t know about them. Was he trying to keep MMA and her separate?
“Thanks, Mike. It’s nice to be back.”
After she stepped outside, she veered to the left and made her way down the sidewalk. As she got closer to their lunch spot, she noticed a couple had already claimed the bench, and her steps slowed.
No, not a couple, because he was supposed to be hers.
Tommy was exactly where he was supposed to be—sitting with another woman on their bench—and he was smiling that smile she hated. The one that made women throw themselves at him, fight for his attention, and be proud to be the arm-candy of the week. The I’m-a-confirmed-bachelor-and-I’ll-gladly-fuck-you-but-not-marry-you smile.
She fisted her hands, fighting the insane urge to storm over and whack him upside the head and make her presence known.
Julie glared at the woman. Gorgeous. Petite. Long blond hair. Tommy said something and the woman threw her head back on a laugh as she placed her hand on his knee and patted. Tommy didn’t seem to mind the touch. If anything, that smile widened.
When he never took his eyes off the reporter, her jealousy grew. No wonder the interview had lasted as long as it had. That woman was the epitome of every woman Tommy had been with over the years. And he’d brought her to their bench. If the crumbled white bag sitting beside the reporter was any indication, he’d already eaten lunch, too.
Ass. Hole.
Taking a calming breath, she squared her shoulders. She wanted to see him squirm, to have to look at her after he’d ogled the woman sitting beside him.
She strode up to them. When she was just a couple of feet away, Tommy finally dragged his eyes off the reporter and looked at her. And the smile immediately transformed into one full of warmth and happiness. The real one. The one she loved.
Some of the fight went out of her. Until he stood and kissed her on the cheek. The freaking cheek.
“Hey,” he whispered against her skin.
A kiss. To the cheek. What. The. Hell?
The reporter looked at Julie from head to toe. She knew that look. God knew she’d seen it many times in the past when she’d come up to Tommy and a new girl. She was being sized up, seeing what kind of competition she would be. Apparently, the woman saw something to be worried about because she stood, too, her fingers laying against Tommy’s forearm as she breathlessly said, “Thanks for the interview.” She cast a pointed look at the bag of food Julie was carrying. “And lunch.”
“What?” Tommy finall
y looked back at the reporter. “Oh, yeah. You’re welcome.”
She squeezed Tommy’s arm. “I’ll see you around.”
And with that she grabbed her briefcase and walked away. Julie hated the way the woman’s butt swished from side to side, like an invitation for Tommy to pursue her. That if he did, she’d give him anything he wanted. When Julie glanced up at Tommy, all her anger came rushing back and she smacked the bag of food against his chest. “Here’s your lunch.”
Then she stalked off.
He hadn’t even introduced her. Again. No, “This is my girlfriend.” Or, “Sorry but I’m taken.” Just a damn, “Hey.” Hey could mean anything. She could’ve been his freaking sister for all that woman knew. In front of an extremely attractive woman, he’d treated her just as he always had—like a sibling.
After everything she’d allowed that man to do to her body, all she got was a fucking “Hey.” She had the notion to grab a handful of cock right now, and not to give him pleasure.
She’d made it several strides away before Tommy grabbed her arm and spun her around. “What’s the matter with you?”
She snatched her arm out of his grip. “Who was that?”
“A reporter. I was doing an interview.”
“Yeah, that’s what it looked like.”
Confusion clouded his eyes as he drew back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You were checking her out.”
“Holy shit! You’re jealous!” Laughing, Tommy grabbed her and hugged her close to his chest.
Seriously? He was happy about it while she stood there, a steaming pile of fury?
“It’s not funny, Tommy,” she ground out.
“You’re right, it’s not. I’m sorry.” He placed his hands on her upper arms and gently pushed her back until their eyes met. “Yes, she was an attractive woman, Julie. But I wasn’t attracted to her. There is only one woman I’m interested in. I go home to her every night, and I’m very happy to call her my girlfriend.”
She bit her bottom lip, wanting to believe that—with everything in her. But she wasn’t sure she could.
“Except you didn’t call me your girlfriend. You ate lunch with her. You were supposed to eat with me.” God, she was pouting! But she couldn’t help it; seeing him with that other woman, and getting kissed on the cheek, had hurt.
His brows flicked. “I heard her stomach growling. And trying to be a gentleman while selfishly hoping to win some brownie points for a good interview, I bought her a sandwich. I didn’t eat. I was waiting for you.”
Her anger notched down a fraction. “You didn’t eat?”
A small smile played at his lips. “No. I didn’t. I’ve been looking forward to our lunch date all morning.”
“Then why didn’t you introduce me?”
He blinked at her. “I— It didn’t cross my mind.”
Dumbfounded, she stared at him. “It didn’t cross your mind to introduce your girlfriend to a woman who was blatantly coming on to you?”
He tried tugging her forward. “I love it when you say girlfriend. Say it again.”
She broke away, still mad. “Tommy, I’m being serious!”
“All right! I screwed up!” He threw up his hands. “I’m sorry. Jesus, Julie, I’m new to this relationship stuff, okay? I swear it didn’t cross my mind. I was just happy to see you.”
Some of her tension abated, but her uneasiness lingered.
“Please, let’s not fight,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all morning.”
She wasn’t sure if the unease was her heart trying to protect itself or her head seeing red flags she wanted to ignore. Him neglecting to introduce her as his girlfriend was not her imagination. Neither was that sisterly kiss.
When she forced a nod, he entwined their fingers. As he led them to the bench, she stared at their joined hands. He’d said she was the one he wanted. The one he came home to every night.
But she’d just had her second glimpse of the old Tommy.
And everything she’d been so sure of this morning was now one big uncertainty.
…
As Tommy rolled up his wraps and tossed them in the gym bag, he could no longer fight the smile that had kept creeping over him all afternoon.
Julie had been jealous—raging pissed jealous. When she’d slapped their lunch against his chest and stormed off, he’d been shocked, which had been replaced by a small amount of happiness as he watched her eyes spit anger.
Over him.
That had to mean something, right?
She’d never reacted like that before, and he’d had plenty of other women around her in the past. If she felt like she had a claim on him, then her feelings had to be growing.
Maybe she’d needed to feel the jealousy, to get a taste of what he’d felt when she’d been around Brody. God knew, watching her with another man had quickly opened Tommy’s eyes. And maybe this encounter had opened her eyes, too. Maybe she’d be more receptive to hearing how he felt now—and would actually believe it.
It was time to tell her he loved her.
And he would. Right after he reclaimed his belt. When he said the words, he wanted to be 100 percent, to be the best he possibly could be, to feel like he was worthy of her.
In less than a week, he’d have everything he wanted.
Mac walked into the locker room, opened his locker, and grabbed his duffel bag. “You ready?”
Mac didn’t need to elaborate. Tommy glanced at him. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
“At least you don’t have to go out of town for this one.”
This was true. The fight was being held right here in Atlanta at the Philips Arena. A huge bonus, since he really hadn’t liked the idea of leaving Julie for a week to fly off somewhere else.
“If Moon has any sense, he’ll realize this won’t be like the last time you guys met in the cage,” Mac said.
“Moon has sense. He knows if Ethan actually gave me a chance to win my title back, that I’m back and gunning for him.”
Tommy had spent the last three weeks studying Moon’s fight tapes from every angle. The more he watched the man, the more certain he was he didn’t want to go to the ground with him. But Moon was superior at the takedown. Mike and Tommy had worked really hard on his ground game, even bringing Dante in to help. Dante was a stand-up fighter like Tommy, but he’d beat by submission the guy who used to be the best ground fighter in the industry. The man’s knowledge was priceless.
Dante’s advice and coaching had made Tommy as ready as ever to face Moon again.
Now to just do it.
Tate strode into the locker room. “Hey, Tommy. A few of the guys and I are headed over to the Boot Scoot for a little R and R. You game?”
He liked that idea. Liked the idea of holding Julie close even more, taking their relationship public. It was time to do that. Past time.
“Yeah, count me in.”
“Cool. Mac, you game?”
“Nope.”
Tommy had to suppress a smile at the blunt answer. Tate had only asked out of politeness. Mac rarely said yes.
“Okay. Tommy, we’re going to shower and head on over there.”
“I’ll go over with you guys then.”
“I’m out,” Mac said. “See you tomorrow.”
When his friend walked away, Tommy dug into his pocket for his cell phone.
“Hey!” Julie’s soft voice flowed through the phone. Oh yes, he’d love to dance with her tonight. Have her body pressed against his.
“Hey, beautiful. Some of the boys are going over to the Boot Scoot. Would you like to meet me down there?”
A lengthy silence followed his question before she parroted back, “The Boot Scoot?”
“Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been down there. The next few days are going to be rough, so it’d be nice to relax some.”
“Tommy, it’s after eight. I’m in my pajamas.”
“Come on, Julie. Throw on some clothes and
meet me down there. Let’s live it up a little tonight.”
“Live it up. Right.” She gave a long sigh. “All right, give me an hour.”
He smiled. “Awesome. Can’t wait to see you.”
After a quick shower and changing into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he walked with the other guys the few blocks to the bar. Being a Tuesday night, the place wasn’t as packed as on a weekend, but the atmosphere was just the same. Loud country music pulsed through the large speakers. The saloon-style setting embraced him. And he felt all the tension about his upcoming fight leave him in one quick whoosh.
The bar scene had always done this to him—filled him with a sense of belonging.
He and the guys found an empty spot at the end of the bar. Tommy leaned an elbow against the polished wood, nodding his head to the beat of the music. His upcoming fight became a topic of conversation, and one by one, as the other patrons noticed them, they gathered around, bombarding him with questions.
“Hey, Sparks, you ready for Saturday?”
“What’s your game plan?”
“What’s it feel like to be going back into the cage?”
As he answered each question, he gave that fan his undivided attention, making sure he or she knew he had heard the question and appreciated the support. He loved his fans, had always gone out of his way to interact with them. And the extra initiative had paid off. No one seemed to remember he’d been away from the MMA scene for months. Instead, it was as though he’d never been gone. He joked around, kissed cheeks, shook hands, and signed autographs. The bar melted into the background. All he focused on were his fans and their excitement.
The grin on his face started to hurt.
Tommy “Lightning” Sparks was truly back.
No longer eschewed by the fans, but embraced. Bodies pressed against him as the group surged closer. He thrived on the attention, loving how they hung onto every word. And when a shot was pressed into his hand, and Tate held up his glass in salute—“To victory on Saturday”—Tommy downed the amber liquid without a second thought.
God, it felt great to be back.
…
Julie leaned against the wall and tried not to burst into tears. For more than an hour, she’d watched Tommy schmooze everyone except her. How could she be jealous over everyone? But she was. Other than another quick kiss to the cheek when she’d walked in the door, he’d been whooping it up by himself—and his bevvy of followers.
