One of the Guys (20 page)

Chapter 29

Cole

It’s been two weeks since I asked Sam to be my girlfriend. Two earth shattering weeks. My apartment has been tainted with more female crap than Wendy had in here but I have to be honest, I’m kind of digging the whole wax scent cube thing.
The apartment smells nice, not that it stunk before or anything. I’ve always been a clean guy, ask Wendy. I liked to think of my couch as something manly but now, there was a faux fur blanket folded over the back and matching pillows on each side. The mantle now held several candle holders strategically placed around small picture frames. Trey even about had a heart attack when he came over the first time since she’s moved in. He mentioned something about how my balls got cut off and she took over the apartment but all she had to do was cut him some eyes and he shut up. Never did I think ever in my life that meeting one woman could change my life. That she would accept me for who I am and love me unconditionally. That she would be the medicine I needed to keep going when I didn’t think I could. That she would be my best friend and the only thing I think about. I have it bad for her and I know it, she’s mine and I’d move heaven and earth to get her back if I ever lost her. But I won’t. I. Promise.

Sam fell asleep two hours ago and for two hours I’ve been watching her sleep. I watch as her chest slowly rises and falls with every breath she takes. I watch as she softly snores and I see how peaceful she is. She tosses and turns to roll over and I pull her into my chest. My breathing soon becomes one with hers but I still can’t sleep. All I can think about is her. I don’t want her fighting anymore. She doesn’t need to, she’s away from her Dad and he was the reason she started all this. I can take care of her and make sure she has everything she’s ever wanted. What I can’t figure out is how to bring it up to her without upsetting her. I finally have her where I have always wanted her and I’m scared to lose her. I’m not scared of anything except that. I could lose every fight for the rest of my life and not feel a thing but to lose her, it would completely tear me apart. She’s turned my life around and made me want to be a better person. She’s made me believe that relationships can be worth it. I don’t know what life has in store for us but all I can hope is she’s there for the rest of my life. About thirty minutes later I finally fall asleep.

I wake to find Sam fixing a cup of coffee in the kitchen. She grabs an extra cup handing it to me. This woman is perfect. I kiss her on the forehead as I sit at the table. She stands up on her toes to pull two bowls out of the cabinet and pours some Lucky Charms in. As she slides the bowl to me, I smile. “Thank you baby. This looks delicious.”

She rolls her eyes as she fixes her own bowl. “I’m terrified to cook for you. I honestly have no clue if I even know how to and trust me, it’s probably best I don’t. I don’t want to burn your apartment down.”

I have to laugh, she’s so damn cute but the look on her face is telling me she’s not lying. She can throw a punch but probably couldn’t scramble an egg to save her life. “Can you cook toast? That’s a start at least babe.”

She glared at me and it took everything I had to not continue laughing. “For your information, I have never burnt a piece of toast!”

“For the record Sam, I would eat dirt if that’s what you fixed for dinner.”

“Oh, how’d you know what we were having tonight?” She threw her head back laughing but stopped when he phone rang. She grabs her phone and groans. It slides across the table when she sets it down.

“Something wrong babe?”

“Everything’s fine babe, my stepmom keeps blowing up my phone. I guarantee it has something to do with the truck incident two weeks ago.”

How could either one of us forget that? I have to admit I thought she was a little nuts when she grabbed that bat and swung at the windshield of her truck but at the same time, it was so hot. She’s very lucky the cops didn’t come after her again to arrest her for that little stunt.

“Do you need to call her back?”

“Nah, it can wait until later,” she answered carelessly.

Once I finished my bowl of cereal, I held onto the cup of coffee finding myself nursing it the same way Wendy did that morning she told me she was moving out. It’s now or never, I’m going to ask her to not fight anymore and we’ll see where this goes. I have a fight tonight and I don’t want to be worried about her getting in the ring and getting herself hurt. She belongs ringside now where she’s safe.

“Hey babe, can I ask you something?”

Once she brushed a piece of hair behind her ear, she grabbed my hand. “Of course.”

Now or never Cole, now or never
. “It’s been two weeks. Now that you are out of your Dad’s house are you going to quit fighting? I know it’s probably none of my business and I don’t have a say but I would like you to quit fighting. I’m not asking you to quit coming to the gym but I just, I don’t want to see anything happen to you. I’d die if anything happened to you Sam.”

She jerked her hand away and stared at me in disbelief. “I’m not quitting Cole. I like it ok? I’ve talked to Wendy; I know why you started fighting. Why haven’t you stopped?”

Ouch. That hurt. That’s right; she had to have known about my parents when the baby shower conversation came up. I didn’t even think about that. “Our parents died Sam. They were run off the road by some idiot who had too much to drink. They ran into a tree and were killed instantly leaving their two kids behind. Rocky was what saved our lives, it gave us purpose. I’m a guy, it’s different.”

“What do you mean it’s different? All this time I’ve been treated as if I was one of the guys and all of a sudden you’re in love with me and you want me to change.”

I drew in a deep breath suddenly regretting this whole conversation. “I’m not asking you to change anything Sam; I’m just saying I don’t want you getting hurt. I’d quit in a heartbeat, don’t think I wouldn’t. If you wanted me to, I would. You think I need to be in there doing that? No, but I love doing it.”

“I’m not going to get hurt and if something was to happen; it can’t be anything worse than my Dad has done.” That’s all she could say. She didn’t say anything to my comment about me quitting. She had no idea. I would if she asked. I’d walk away in a damn heartbeat and not look back.

“I love you Sam. I’m sorry I brought this up. I’ll get over it ok? I’m getting ready to head to the gym. Want to ride with me?”

She huffed and puffed for a second obviously still pissed about what I asked of her. She was so damn cute when she was mad.  Leaning forward, she planted a kiss on my cheek lingering her lips there for a minute. “Yeah babe, let me get changed.”

Rocky pulled her into the office the minute we walked in. No good morning Cole or anything like that. What the hell? Wendy came running up throwing her arms around me. “I know I’m late with this because of everything that’s happened but I love the baby’s room, thank you so much!”

An instant smile spread across my face. “You’re welcome. Hey what are they in the office for?”

She glanced towards the door that was open and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure. So, how are things going?”

I ran my hands through my hair searching for the right words to say so I wouldn’t set off hormonal Wendy. She was getting worse throughout this pregnancy and thank God she lived with Rocky. “It’s great but I upset her this morning because I asked her to quit fighting.”

Her eyes grew wild like I just told her I committed murder and hid the body in the woods somewhere. “You did what? What did she say?”

“She said no. I just worry about her Wendy. The same way I used to worry about you.”

“Cole, that’s her decision and I know she will make the right one ok? Don’t think too hard on it.”

“I know.” I grumbled as Sam came walking out the office. She briefly smiled at me before making her way to Trey who just walked in. I should have guessed that would happen. I guess old habits die hard. Really, it was probably for the best since we were sleeping together now. Rocky joined me on the mat helping me get ready for tonight. I was ready to get back in the ring, it’s been a while and there’s been way too much going on. I missed it. It was second nature to me and for Sam to turn everything around on me and ask why I hadn’t quit? Well, she didn’t understand.

*********************

The crowd was as I expected tonight. Blaize and Rocky stood in the corner getting the list together for what was sure to be a good night. Trey was supposed to be fighting tonight too and he and Sam were too busy goofing off when he needed to be preparing himself mentally for this. I love her to death but they both act like a bunch of kids. I know his mom still isn’t doing very well. At least his dad got the job he interviewed for at the lumber yard. It wasn’t what he really wanted but it helps pay the bills and that’s all that matters right now to them.

“Hey babe.” I said as I kissed Sam on the head. “Make sure you stay by Wendy or Trey once I’m in the ring tonight.”

“Got it babe, you’re going to be awesome.” I knew I loved this girl for a reason. She believed in me.

Blaize interrupted every thought we had as he came over the speakers. “Hey hey party animals. Do we have a lineup for you! Tonight we have Trey Miller against Harley Trent, Cole Johnson against Blaine Smith and our main event is one we can promise no one is backing out of this time.” The last part caught my attention as I tried to find Sam. She must be by Wendy because I don’t see her anywhere. “Get ready for our main event tonight y’all…the one and only Sam Montgomery and Travis Pierce!”

Not even the crowd roaring could keep my thoughts from screaming in my head. What the hell? And she didn’t even talk to me about it. We’ve fought about this before when we were supposed to be up against each other and this time she went behind my back. Before I could go find her, Rocky pulled me towards the back to prep me since I was up first tonight.

“What the hell Rock? No one was going to tell me?”

“It was her decision Cole. She didn’t tell you? She came to me this morning and said she wanted to do it.”

Motherfucker. He finished wrapping my hands and helped put the gloves on. I better not lose tonight because I’m already far from focused. She wouldn’t show her face and that aggravated me a little more.

In the ring, I was more than thrown off. Blaine got more hits in than he should have. Rocky kept screaming at me to put my head back in the ring but I couldn’t get it there no matter how hard I tried. I swung at Blaine missing him completely. The crowd reacted wondering what the hell was wrong with me. I tried to focus as I maneuvered the ring but the other time I tried to move, Blaine took me down and for the first time in many fights, I lost. I couldn’t even tell him good fight because he got lucky beating me. Trey tried to talk to me before his fight but I wasn’t having it. I walked into the room I got prepped in and punched a hole in the wall. Sheetrock crumbled and crashed to the floor. I’d be in trouble later over this but right now, I don’t care. Betrayal is a bitch, a mean ugly bitch and she betrayed me. After I poured my feelings out to her and told her I loved her, she still betrayed me.

I notice her phone is sitting on top of her clothes and a call is coming through. Brenda is calling her and I wonder if she’s ever called her back like she said she would. It’s been two weeks and by the way our conversation went earlier, I doubt she has called her back. Knowing I’ll face ten kinds of hell if she finds out, I decide to answer. Not that it matters, she’s already putting me through it.

“Hello?”

“I’m sorry; I must have dialed the wrong number. I’m trying to reach Samantha.” Samantha huh? I knew it even though she never would admit that was her real name.

“This is her phone. I’m her boyfriend Cole. I happened to see her phone ringing.”

“Oh, ok. Can you give her a message for me please? I’ve been trying to reach her.”

“Yes ma’am I sure can.”

“Please tell her that her father has been talking to me and he wants to sit down and talk to her before he puts himself in rehab for his anger. He wants to meet in a public place so it’s not awkward. You are more than welcome to join for support if you’d like, just please let her know that’s why I’m calling. He really loves her more than anything Cole and I worry about the two of them. All that matters is he’s trying to be better. He knows he’s made some very poor mistakes.”