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“Never said that. I am happy with you. When I’m not miserable.” His grin softened his words. “There’s more to us than just this, you know?”
I didn’t, not exactly. But I figured I should nod. Any more cluelessness and I’d probably get kicked out of class.
“I’d like to see who we are after life quiets down. When everything’s just routine.”
His other thoughts went unsaid but I heard them just the same.
Will I turn into my father if I don’t have that outlet for my aggression? Will there be anything left to us once the crazy intense passion subsides into—gasp—the reality of real life?
I shrugged. “I never really consider anything but today.” Hard to have a future when you still haven’t managed to come to terms with the past.
“All I do is think about tomorrow and a year from now. Where I’ll be. Where we’ll be.”
Together. I wanted to say the word, to show him that no matter what, we’d get through it. Every relationship went through changes and lulls. My therapist had drummed that into my head. I loved him, so I had to prove that we could weather those variations together.
We weren’t just the fighter chick and her brawler boyfriend. We could have sex without chipping plaster and nearly cracking desk legs. We could become a happy couple who more often than not made sweet, regular love.
I tried not to shudder. Honestly, we could.
I hoped.
“I gotta get back to Evie.” He kissed the top of my head. “Thank you for listening.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
He gave me one of those steady, patient looks that always centered me. “Yes, you did.”
“Okay.” I shrugged, feeling idiotic. “Then, uh, good. I’m glad.”
“If you want, I’ll notify security and Timmins about the bag. The staff should keep a lookout for some punk ass kids causing trouble.” Worry had already filtered back into his voice.
“I’ll handle it. Thank you for offering.” I leaned up and cupped his chin, holding his gaze as our mouths met. “Go sweat with Evie. And think of me sucking your cock. And you know, maybe actually getting to finish.”
He laughed and gave me a light push. “Later.”
Even after he’d gone, the room echoed with his laughter. I wrapped myself in that sound, in the scent of his sweat and his aftershave clinging to my skin.
Then I dug out my phone and tapped out a reply to the message I’d received yesterday. I wasn’t sure the step I was about to take was the right one, but I was sick and tired of stasis.
Tray was right. It was time to see what would happen next.
I see you too.
6
Tray
A quick shower later, I found Evie on the weight bench, doing repetitions with methodical precision. She didn’t sit up when I sprawled on the floor at her side. Didn’t so much as look my way until she’d finished ten more steady reps.
“Nice,” I said when she finally let the bar clatter down.
“Not good enough.” She huffed out a breath and readjusted her ponytail, throwing her leg over the bench to face me. “I used to do three times that without stopping.”
I narrowed my eyes at the faded wound curving along the side of her face. Curiosity was riding me hard. I had some experience with scars myself. “That must’ve been some injury.”
Instead of trying to hide it, she lifted her chin. “It could’ve been worse.”
Instant empathy flowed through me, as well as an abiding respect. Jaw fractures or breaks were pretty fucking bad. “I have one too.” I tapped the faint surgical lines next to my right eye. “Eye socket fracture. Hurt like a mother. Still better than what you had.”
