One of the Guys (21 page)

Wow. I sit there listening to Brenda slowly forgetting I was ever mad to begin with. I promise to make sure I give Sam the message and vow to myself I will help her make things right.

Trey has just won his fight and is talking to Sam minutes before she steps in the ring with Travis. Travis is tough, I’ve fought him before and he definitely gave me a run for my money. Her eyes meet mine but she looks away quickly. I wasn’t even trying to show her I was pissed. I just got her; I won’t fight with her and drive her away. I watch as she steps in and shakes Travis’ hand before the fight begins. I watch as she maneuvers around trying to get the best angle for a shot at him. I watch as she blocks the first hit he throws and my stomach is sitting in my throat right now. I can’t breathe watching this. The first hit she gets in on him has me and Wendy fist pumping in the air like a couple of Jersey Shore rejects. Rocky is in his own little world cheering and hollering tips to her. She’s in there because she feels she has to prove herself. I know it. I know she feels as if she looked like a coward the night we were supposed to fight. She’s proving herself rather well and I hope this is over soon. The minute his fist connects with her jaw, I catch myself wanting to jump in there and defend her but Rocky caught hold of my arm keeping my distance. I almost had to walk away when her little body hit the mat with enough force to have everyone in the crowd gasp. I closed my eyes blinking back a tear but when I opened my eyes I couldn’t believe what I saw. She had Travis on his back and the crowd was going wild. They were eating this shit up and here I was having a damn heart attack. He fought against her trying to get up but after a few seconds he tapped out and Rocky, Wendy and I all jumped up screaming. I could see Trey across the ring looking just as insane as we were. Holy shit she did it.

I jumped into the ring so fast pulling her into me crushing our lips together. “That was fucking crazy Sam; I can’t believe you did that. I wanted to be so mad but I’m just glad you were ok.”

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you Cole. I know you were mad to find out like you did, but I had to do it.”

“I know you did.” I said as I pulled her in again kissing her head.

Blaize pulled her away to congratulate her and the crowd continued to chant her name. Trey ran up in the ring alongside us and suggested drinks to celebrate. Sam looked at me smiling and I knew even if we went, we wouldn’t be there for very long.

Chapter 30

Sam

Cole had every damn right to be mad at me. We’ve been together two weeks and for someone who never dated before, he’s awfully good at it. We’re a team, like Batman and Robin. I know I hurt him, I could read it on his face. His eyes wore an expression that was hard to shake. Seeing him lose his match was unbearable for me.
If it were unbearable for me, I don’t want to think about how it made him feel. I knew it was my entire fault and I should have discussed this with him but at the table this morning he was so adamant about me quitting. I understand he cares and I thank him for that, but I’m a big girl and I don’t need him to monitor every single thing I do.

Travis was what I expected and more. He was quick on his feet, but so was I. I knew Cole was standing ringside, I never laid eyes on him, but I could feel him. And that told me everything was going to be ok. I was going to be ok. Rocky served as my personal cheerleader as well as my coach the entire fight. I tried to make out what he was saying but anytime I tried, my focus left and that’s when I would be taken by surprise. Knowing what I’ve been taught, I knew what I could and could not do and to say I was thrilled is an understatement. When Travis tapped out, I was elated. I was ecstatic. There are no words. The moment got a thousand times better when Cole ran up to me kissing me some kind of fierce.

To hear the crowd chanting my name, there were no words for that either. I was thrown off when Blaize grabbed my arm pulling me away from Cole. With my arm in his hand, he threw my hand in the air, causing the chanting and cheering to escalate. Oh. My. God. I can’t believe I did this. And I won. I threw my other hand in the air, cheering about as loud as everyone else. As exciting as this was, my body was exhausted and I wanted out of this ring. Trey ran up to Cole and mentioned drinks to celebrate. Hell yea, I was game.

Joe’s was packed. Cole bought us a round of shots. “I’d like to give a toast.” I rolled my eyes wondering if he was serious and he was as he continued. “To my stubborn, sexy ass girlfriend. She’s one badass woman and I love her so fucking much.”

“I fucking love her too!” Trey chimed in. What a bunch of gaywads. But I clinked my shot glass against theirs and let the liquid slide down my throat.

“I fucking love you too Trey.”

I instantly smiled pulling Cole in for a kiss. “I love you way more though.”

“I hope so or we’re going to have issues.” He stood there trying his best to keep a smile from showing, he failed miserably.

Trey gagged as he began scoping the crowd for any girl in a short skirt that would look his way and well right now that was a good bit of the women in here. His eyes were dancing around trying to decide which conquest he should go on next. Was it the pixie blonde in the corner or the busty brunette by the bar? His body pointed towards the brunette and that was the last we saw of him.

“Cole, I know how mad you must have been.”

He looked at me that same pain I could see earlier came back haunting me completely. I hoped he would understand I had my reasons and I’m sure he did but he had a hard way of showing it. This wasn’t the place to have this conversation but it weighed heavy on my heart. I was a coward to go behind his back and not be honest but I felt I had no choice. All I wanted to know was he still loved me, that he forgives me for my selfishness.

“I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

“We need to eventually. I know I did wrong.”
Please forgive me.

“Babe, I was upset. It’s not worth fighting over though. Just promise me you won’t do that again.”

I leaned in until I could feel his rugged breath on my lips. “I promise.” To show my sincerity, I crossed my heart. It was out of my system. I was good to go. Although proving myself wasn’t worth possibly losing Cole, I did it and I was hella proud. I also had a good chunk of change in my pocket to show for it.

I called the bartender over ordering a beer for Cole and a panty dropper for me. Before I could savor the first sip, my phone began vibrating in my pocket. Brenda. Shit, it’s been two weeks since she first tried to call and I haven’t called her back yet. Cole looked over. “You going to get that babe?”

“I’ll call her back later.” I responded quickly before sliding the phone back into my front pocket.

“Sam, I know this is none of my business but she called earlier before your fight and I answered the phone.”

“You did what?! That’s my privacy Cole. What the hell?!” The drink stayed untouched as I pulled myself away from him. He’s just telling me this now? The opportunity presented itself on the ride here for him to tell me and he waits until now. This seemed a little too familiar to me as I found myself standing outside Joe’s leaning against the wall. And it became even more familiar as he stood in front of me.

“Sam, hold on a damn minute. Why haven’t you called her back? She just wants to talk to you about your dad.”

My eyes practically bugged out of my head as my mind wrapped itself around what he just said. “I don’t want to talk about him. I’m done with that. Done.”

“He wants to get help Sam.” He stated quietly. I didn’t want to have this conversation right now. The whole topic put a whole damper on my whole night and brought up things I wished more than anything to be able to forget. I was moving on with my life away from all of that and Dad needed to do the same thing. Nothing he had to say could change anything. Nothing could change the way he treated me, the way he talked to me, and the way he started a fight with me just to have me arrested. If he wants help that’s fine but my heart is heavy and exhausted. Can I forgive and forget? Forgive…maybe? Forget….I’m not so sure.

I clenched my chest trying to catch my breath. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this tonight ok. Can we just go home?”

“I’m sorry Sam.” I hate the way he sounds right now but I’m mad. I can’t help but be. I don’t need superman to come in and save me.

The ride home is so quiet, it’s awkward. Cole reached over to try to and hold my hand; I pulled away just wanting nothing more than to lay my head against this window as he drives. It’s not his fault; I mean it is because he answered it and didn’t tell me until a few minutes ago. Can I hold that against him? I shouldn’t but I seem to be. Fighting wasn’t what I wanted to do tonight, I’ve done my fighting for the night and it was in the ring. I draw in a deep breath before I reach over and lace our fingers together. His body loosens up as he tells me he loves me. I want to be mad, just like he wanted to be mad at me for not telling him about my fight earlier but I can’t help it.

We lay in bed in absolute silence for the first time in two weeks. I held true to my words inside Joe’s. I didn’t want to discuss this. I didn’t want to fight. What hurt more other than us not talking was neither of us bothered to even try to touch the other. Did I think about it? Yes I did. I wanted him to hold me but like his toast earlier, I am stubborn. It took long enough but I finally fell asleep and when I woke the next morning, I was on his chest where I belonged.

Chapter 31

Cole

Maybe I should have stayed quiet. Her phone rang and she passed the call off yet again. This wasn’t the way I wanted to spend the night, but to wake up with her lying on my chest, well that made it a little better. I don’t want to push the issue of her Dad but as I recall the conversation with her step mom, all I could hear was the pleading in her voice that I tell Sam to call her back. I can’t hold the phone up to her ear and make her talk but I can try like hell to get her to at least communicate with her somehow. She doesn’t realize how lucky she is to have her Dad still alive. Even if he did make some really shitty decisions. If there’s a chance to mend their fences I’m all for it, you never know when it’s your last day. Boy oh boy, what I would do to go back in time and not get that
phone call telling me both my parents were killed. What I would do to not have to find Wendy and tell her. What I would do to not be holding her in the cab of the truck as we both cried wondering why this was happening to us. It was the worst feeling ever to sit in that funeral home and stare at both caskets; I never want to know anything like that ever again in my life.

Sam stirs in her sleep and as she moves her head, I feel the slight dampness of drool on my shirt. I can’t help but lightly chuckle as I run my fingers through her hair. She stirs a little more and those gorgeous blue eyes of hers open to meet mine. “Good morning baby.”

She returns the smile and stifles a yawn as she replies, “Good morning.”

“Did you sleep well?”

“No.” She pouts. “I can’t sleep well at all when I’m not in your arms.” Her hair threatens to fall onto her face but she pulls it behind her ear and before I can blink, she’s straddling me. Aroused is a complete understatement. I moan as she arranges her perfect little frame against my body and no doubt she can feel how much I want her right now.

“I’m sorry baby.” That’s the only words I can get out before she leans down, her hair falling around my face, as she crushes her lips to mine letting out a soft moan as our tongues begin to tangle. She’s wearing more clothes than I would like her too and it doesn’t take much before her tank top is off and one of her breasts are in my mouth where they belong. Her back arches as she moans in delight begging me for more. I stop for a brief second so she can slide her shorts off. She slides herself on top of me, her mouth forming the perfect ‘o’ as she gets comfortable. I cup her perfect ass as she begins to move up and down, and oh damn, this feels too amazing. There’s no words that can come close to possibly describing how amazing this feels. I’m shook to my core as I feel myself come and when she loses control, her perfect body falls against mine . We’re both trying to gain control of our breathing again that was so hot.

She steps into the bathroom to clean up and I keep thinking maybe I can convince her to talk to her Dad. No way in hell do I want to ruin this amazing morning we’ve had though. My phone rings and its Wendy. “Hello?”

“Hey Cole, it’s Rocky.”

“Is something wrong? What’s going on?” A sudden feeling of panic settles in my stomach and I can’t shake it for anything. I don’t like this.

“Everything’s fine now. Wendy was hurting and I brought her to the emergency room. Something about some fake contractions…er, Braxton Hicks or something. But she’s fine and we’re heading home. I just wanted to let you know.”

Thank you God. I was fully prepared to yank Sam out of the bathroom and drive to the hospital. “Shit, you had me worried Rock. Is that normal?”

“According to the doctor it is. I won’t lie, I was scared shitless.”

“Damn. I’m glad she’s ok.”

“We’re going home and she’s on strict orders to rest for the rest of the day.”

“Yeah, good luck with that one.”

He laughed knowing just as well as I did that Wendy was stubborn as shit. Trying to get her to sit still and relax would be like pulling teeth. “Yeah man I know.”

Sam came walking out the bathroom in nothing but a towel and my heart stopped for a brief second. Damn the things this girl does to me. However, she didn’t stick around too long. The door to the bedroom shut and another minute later she emerged wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.

“Everything ok? You look a little worried.”

“Rocky called and said Wendy was in the hospital for some Braxton Hick’s contractions but she’s fine. She has to stay in bed the rest of the day.”

Sam laughed, “Well, Rocky will have fun with that.”

See, we all knew how Wendy was. Sam’s phone rang and she glared, rolled her eyes, and then stepped into the room to answer the phone. The door wasn’t shut but I didn’t dare try to invade her space and listen. Yeah ok, whatever. I casually walked over to the room standing to where she couldn’t see me. Of course, everything was being said in such a hush hush tone, I ended up walking away and grabbing an apple off the table. Before I can take a bite of the shiny red apple, her arms slide around my waist and her head rests against my back. She says nothing for a brief moment and neither do I, until she sighs and asks, “Will you come with me?”

She doesn’t see my smile as I tell her yes. She has no idea how relieved I am to hear her ask and how even more relieved I am that she’s giving this a chance.