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It’s the afternoon of the final at the Underground and the fact that I’m still here is driving me insane. Xander sits in the chair opposite my hospital bed, fast asleep. I tried to get him to sleep in the bed with me, but he flat-out refused. Though I don’t know what good that’s going to do for tonight’s fight. He promised me that with everything that’s happened, he will have no problem taking the guy out again. After all, the last fight was won in seconds while Pitbull wielded a knife.
Xander tried to explain that Pitbull has only been trained in boxing, and doesn’t stand a chance against his extensive MMA training, and apparently that means a slam dunk in Xander’s eyes. He just has to use what he knows against him. But he also said that Pitbull had been drinking when they fought, so who knows what could happen.
When a knock sounds on the other side of the door, my eyes fly up to see the doctor hurrying into the room, bumping into a tray before stumbling the rest of the way in with my discharge papers in hand. Xander’s eyes snap open at the sound of the commotion, and he’s on his feet in seconds, prepared to beat the crap out of whoever just barged into my room.
In his sleepy state, it takes Xander a moment to realize it’s just the doctor and not someone coming to snatch me out of my bed, and the poor guy narrowly avoids a nasty uppercut.
After receiving instructions on caring for my cast and confirming I know what I’m doing with my vast array of pain meds, I finally get to sign the discharge papers.
We quickly get our asses out of there and walk down to the parking lot, finding Cole’s truck right by the door. Xander helps me up into it despite my objections. I’m more than capable of managing on my own. But, I’m not going to lie, if it means having his hands on my body, then I’m going to allow him to do it. “I can’t believe Cole hasn’t demanded his truck back yet,” I say when Xander hops in the driver’s seat.
“I know,” he grunts. “I don’t like putting him out like this. I’ll go and buy one this weekend.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“Mmhmm,” he murmurs as he pulls out of the parking lot and onto the main road. “I’ll get you one, too.”
“What?” I practically choke, my eyes wide. Are we sure it was me who took a hit to the head and not Xander?
“I’m thinking something big to keep you safe,” he goes on as if I’m not having a mini heart attack right next to him.
I gape at him. “Hold it right there,” I demand, putting my hand up. “Has it ever occurred to you that I don’t drive?”
“Well, yeah. You don’t have a car,” he states flatly.
“No, you moron,” I grin. “I don’t drive because I don’t know how. You really think the evil stepmonster would have taken the time out of her busy drinking schedule to teach me? I mean, I could get from point A to point B if I had to, but it won’t be pretty.”
He considers this for a moment, sparing me a quick glance, those dark eyes of his sailing across my face as though he still can’t believe I’m right here. “All the more reason to buy you one,” he tells me. “I’ll teach you.”
Let’s face it, the idea of having driving lessons from Xander is beyond ridiculous and will only end up in an argument. Maybe Micky will teach me. “You want to buy me a car just so I can destroy it while I learn.”
“Yup,” he announces proudly.
I know a losing battle when I see one.
Letting out a huff, I fold my arms over my chest, being careful not to bump my wrist, but it should be fine now. It’s in a cast, a black one that reminds me of my black sheep boyfriend and my new guard dog.
We make it the rest of the way home, and the second I step through the threshold, that feeling of safety I’ve been longing for finally washes through me. I absolutely love that my home can offer me this because I’ve never felt safe at home before. Well, Micky’s was kind of a safe haven, but there were always drunken losers hanging around downstairs. And despite the lock on the door, a woman’s mind can’t help but take her to some dark places.
After being in the warehouse, followed by the hospital for two days, the need to scrub myself silly is all I can think about. I make my way toward the bathroom, stripping as I go and adding a little strut to my walk, knowing Xander’s eyes are resting firmly on my ass. By the time I get to the door, I’m standing in nothing but a pair of panties.
