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My hands covered my mouth to hide my mortified expression. “Oh my God.”
“After that, I was placed into foster home after foster home. Nobody wanted to deal with an angry, disturbed teenager. I got into a lot of trouble. I was mad at the world.”
“How did you end up where you are now?”
“The last home I went to was the home of an old boxer. He straightened me out, and taught me everything I know. I had to learn how to work through my anger, and stop running from it. I learned that my childhood would always be a part of who I am, but it didn’t have to be the only thing that defined who I would become.”
I looked down at my lap, feeling foolish for being so upset about my problems when T.J. had been through an even worse hell. I could not even imagine what that must have been like for him. He had been through tough times – he had once been weak. If he could survive everything he endured, and come out stronger on the other side, then I should be able to do the same.
He lifted my chin with his finger. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I don’t. Not anymore.”
Looking into his blue eyes, my frustration with him melted away. He was not being hard on me to be an asshole. He knew exactly what I was going through, and he knew he was capable of getting me through it. All he needed was for me to believe that he could – to trust him.
“Thank you for sharing that story with me.”
“I hope that you want to keep training.”
“I do. I just don’t know how to do this.”
He smiled. “That’s why you have me.”
Chapter Twelve
The Way You Need to Be Loved
“Do you have to train today?” Shelly whined. “It’s Friday night. Can’t you just say you’re not feeling well, or something?”
“No, Shell. It’s important and you know it.”
“I know. Can we go get dinner when you’re done? I’m starving.”
“Sure. No Brody tonight?”
“Nope. He’s doing poker night with the guys.”
“Okay, I’m just pulling up now. Think about where you want to eat. I’ll call you when I’m done.” I quickly jogged from my car to the gym doors.
“You’re late, Curly Sue.”
“I know, I know. It was crazy at work today.” I tore off my sweatshirt, and kicked off my sneakers as quickly as I could.
“Excuses, excuses.” T.J. wagged his finger at me from inside the ring.
“I texted you that I got held up at work.”
“Drop and give me ten.” He stood with his hands on his hips, a smug expression on his face.
I rolled my eyes, and saluted him. “Sir, yes sir.” Dropping to the floor, I began my set of push-ups.
“You can give me five extra for rolling your eyes at me.”
“My eye roll is totally involuntary. I have no control over what they do.”
“You have control over everything you do. The sooner you realize that, the better off you’ll be.”
I stopped in the middle of my push-up and stood.
“You’re not done. What are you doing?”
