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Apart from the nights when I have fights, I generally go over to her apartment, despite her arguing that she’d rather come to mine. She flat-out refuses to allow me to come pick her up, some bullshit about not being a burden, but she doesn’t understand just how quickly I’ll drop anything in the world to be there for her. She’s a new and improved version of herself, someone who now doesn’t need to rely on anyone. Just as I told her, she’s a strong and beautiful woman. I just didn’t realize how fucking stubborn she was too.
However, she did agree to let me get her a phone. That argument didn’t go down so well, but I used her own safety against her, and her argument died abruptly. The very next morning, I showed up at her place with a new iPhone in hand. She’s never had a phone before, and she grabbed it out of my hand like it was Christmas morning, then played with it until she had completely worked it out. Although, despite being one of the smartest girls I know, she somehow couldn’t wrap her head around the app store.
It’s Friday night, and I’ve just gotten off the ice after winning another game, one my parents just happened to show up to. They left without so much as a hello, so I guess it’s sort of a win in my book.
We’re well into the season and are still the reigning champions, and man does it feel good. The game was great, and I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that Jaxon has sorted out his shit with his girl. The two of them are tied at the hip, basically living in each other’s pockets, but he seems happier, and that’s rubbed off on the guys. Which makes game nights all that much better.
The only thing that would make it better would be if Charli didn’t have to work so much and actually got to come watch a game, but I know she will eventually. After all, she can’t shut up about it. Micky has been insisting she work more lately as he finally sacked Lex, leaving him down on staff. And it doesn’t help that he has a guilty conscience about needing to call his daughter in all the time. Not to mention, Charli doesn’t know how to say no to the big guy. She sees him as her saving grace, which honestly, is exactly what he is. I will forever be grateful that he was there that night because she is quickly becoming the love of my life.
I get showered and dressed in the locker room and wait patiently for the guys to decide where we’re partying tonight. Apparently, they’re still avoiding Micky’s out of respect for Jaxon’s girlfriend, which honestly, I get it. But after meeting Micky and spending some time with the guy, it doesn’t sit right with me anymore. Micky deserves the kind of money our presence brings to his bar, but I’m just one man in a team full of guys who want to party, so tonight it looks like we’re heading off to some bullshit house party.
Sounds fucking awful to me. But I guess it really doesn’t matter. I’ll show my face for an hour, then head off to see Charli before leaving for my fight.
It’s a big one tonight, so I’m fucking pumped for it. The last few weeks I’ve won all of my fights, and I can’t describe the feeling when the referee comes in and raises my fist to the ceiling, declaring me the winner. It gives me a rush and leaves me wanting more, like a fucking junkie desperate for his next hit.
I’ve made a reputation for myself within the fighting circle, a bit like I have with hockey. I’m the black sheep. The dangerous, unpredictable one. For hockey, a reputation like that works against me, but with fighting, it couldn’t be better. My opponent never knows what I’m going to do. They can’t read me, so they enter my ring unprepared, and that’s the way I like it.
A few hours later after spending way too long at that stupid house party and then chilling with Charli, I lean across the bar and press a kiss to her lip. She wishes me luck, though we both know I don’t need it. I’m just that good.
After hopping in my truck, I double-check the message from Cole with tonight’s location and type it into my GPS before hitting the road. I drive just outside the city and come to an old building that looks like it used to be some kind of club.
There’s a huge parking lot and cars fill nearly every space. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that the further we get in the competition, the more spectators come to watch. That’s why the location has had to get bigger. I love the energy of a large crowd. No matter if they’re cheering for me or not, their energy is my motivation. Not to mention, the more people that come through the doors, the more money that rolls in with them.
