AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"And here I thought I was the smug one."
"That you are. I'm your coach. Giving you pointers is my job." He raises his glass in a toast. "Here’s to taking risks and opening yourself up to new possibilities."
I clink my glass against his, determined to follow through with my decision. Tyley has already turned my world upside-down, and maybe, just maybe, she's the one who can make me rethink everything I thought I knew about life.
The crowd roars with anticipation as I step into the octagon, adrenaline coursing through my veins like a raging river. No matter how many times I find myself in the cage, that same old rush takes over me, and man, does it feel good.
I bounce on the balls of my feet, my muscles tense and ready for action. The crowd chants my name, their deafening roar fueling my determination. The cage door slams shut, and I turn my attention to the man across from me. It's not Adam, not yet, but it will be soon. And I'm going to show him who's boss when it happens.
My rival, Donovan, and I circle each other, waiting to see who's going to throw the first punch or kick. He throws the first punch, aiming for my jaw, but I dodge it easily, countering with a swift kick to his ribs. He grunts in pain, and I smirk, taking a step back to enjoy the crowd's reaction.
That's when it all goes to hell. There, sitting in the front row, is Adam. He's grinning smugly, his eyes locked on me, taunting me with his presence alone. I never see the fist coming my way until it's too late, and it connects with my temple, sending me sprawling to the mat. The crowd erupts in gasps and cheers as Donovan takes advantage of my vulnerability, raining down punches and elbows on me while I struggle to defend myself.
It takes me close to a minute to get him off me, but Adam's presence still lingers in the back of my mind, like a mosquito buzzing around my ear.
"Focus, Grayson!" Mike yells my way, and it's easier said than done. “Come on!”
I can't help but glance over at Adam from time to time, catching his smirking face, knowing he's here in an attempt to push me into making a mistake.
"Stealing other men's women is distracting you from your training, man! You suck!" Adam's voice cuts through the rest of the voices yelling around him. It doesn't take him long to come up with another idiotic insult. I should know better than to pay attention, but he keeps managing to irk me. "I heard Tyley's been having some fun with other guys tonight. You must not be satisfying her enough!"
My focus wavers. Donovan takes advantage, landing a solid blow to my jaw, stunning me for a moment. The crowd gasps, but I manage to shake it off.
No, I'm not going to let that bastard get the better of me. Gritting my teeth, I unleash a series of precise strikes and well-timed takedowns. Donovan is no match for me, even when I'm distracted, and it becomes evident as I dominate the fight. The crowd roars with excitement as I take the win, their cheers mingling with my pounding heartbeat.
I make my way out of the octagon, my body covered in sweat and bruises. This should have been easier, much easier.
"What was the matter with you tonight, man?" Mike admonishes me as we enter the locker room.
"That asshole got under my skin, that's all. Did you hear him heckling me from his seat? But I won anyway, didn’t I? No sweat."
"No sweat? You were struggling out there, and everyone could see it. You can't let Adam rattle you. Fuck that guy, focus on what matters."
I nod, taking in Mike's words. He's right. If Adam wants to show up at my fights, I'll show him what's in store for him when he finally comes into the cage with me.
Part of me wishes I could challenge him here and now, give that fucker the beating he deserves. But the sooner that fight happens, the sooner my arrangement with Ty ends. I can’t let that happen before I prove to her that I'm worth a chance. I need to show her that I can be the man she deserves.
fourteen
Tyley
“I still can’t believe Adam could be such a bastard.”
Grayson’s answer comes from the other side of the closed door just as the sound of the shower comes to a halt.
“You can’t? Because it seems that’s all he can act like.”
“I’m sorry you have to deal with him.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Sure, that’s what he says, but it sort of feels like it is. I have to find a way to fix this before it escalates further. Adam wasn’t always this way; maybe I can make him listen to reason somehow.
It might not be a good idea—in fact, I’m certain it’s a terrible idea—but he was once a pretty nice guy—kind of headstrong, but nice. Or am I just rewriting history in an attempt to justify dating him?
I sigh as I watch Grayson step out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his hips, followed by a cloud of steam. It’s an amazing sight, and keeping my eyes off those chiseled abs and the water droplets trailing down his chest is hard. But I force myself to focus on the situation at hand, and the bruises on his face and chest help me do that.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
