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Breathing me in.
Meanwhile, my eyes were staring into the distance, a gentle smile of contentment on my lips, my body curled into his as I clutched at his shirt and held him close.
I’d had no idea this picture existed until it was already framed and displayed on his desk, and when I asked, Bobby said Tink thought he might like it.
I love that girl.
I walked in here the first time as an outsider. I didn’t belong here. I didn’t belong anywhere. But now, I belong anywhere that Bobby is. There’s no doubt in my mind.
I reach the end of the hall with a goofy grin and giddiness running through my veins – eight days until he’s mine legally.
Eight days is nothing in the grand scheme of our whole lives, but eight days feels entirely too far away for me right now.
I step into the room I knew I’d find him in all along; the boxing ring. Stopping in the doorway and folding my arms like I did when watching Iz, I study his impressive form. The top band of his shorts is sweat soaked. His broad back and chest glisten with perspiration. Hair wet and floppy, as he glides around light on his feet and his footwork brings him around so I can see his face instead of his back.
My eyebrows knit at the bruising along his strong jaw. It happens every day, and yet, every day I take him home and kiss it better and ask him to be more careful. Just like he doesn’t want to see me hurt, I feel the same about him.
Though I remain against the wall without making a sound, Bobby stops sparring, thrusts his fist out to tap his opponent’s – Aiden – and turns to me with a chunky mouthguard grin.
My chest still tumbles when he looks at me like that.
“Hey, baby.” He steps to the ropes and tucks his mouthguard into the waist band of his shorts. “Whatcha doing?”
I step forward and stand on my tiptoes until he leans over the ropes and drops a sweaty kiss on my lips. “Hey. I’m here for Iz. How was your day?”
“It was good. We’re done here now.”
“You don’t have to finish up for me. I have plans with the girls, anyway.”
“No, we know, that’s cool. The guys were gonna come over to the house and hang out. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, of course. We’ll be at Tink’s apartment for however long it takes to get the flowers done. We’ll eat there, then I’ll bring Iz home.”
“Okay, that’s cool.” He peels back the Velcro on his grappling gloves and tosses them to the floor. Leaning over the ropes, he picks up a lock of hair from my shoulder and brings it to his nose. He smiles like a goofball, and when I blush like an idiot, he chuckles and drops another kiss on my lips. “Have fun with the girls. I’ll see you when you get home.”
Iz stops close beside me and sends me jumping with fright. “Shit! Jesus, Iz!”
“Sorry.” Laughing, she looks between Bobby and me. “Didn’t mean to interrupt your moment. I was just coming to tell you I was ready.”
Bobby rolls his eyes and pushes her out of our space.
“She’s coming. One minute.” He leans down and captures my lips with his, sending both Iz and Aiden groaning with disgust. “Drive safe, have fun. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Okay. Text me if you want. I’ll be around.”
His eyes dance with emotion, and with a final kiss pressed to my forehead, he spins me and sends me walking. “Love you, baby. See ya, Sissy. Have fun. Be safe.”
She waits for me to reach the door, and with rolling eyes, waves him off. “See ya, Beebee.”
I walk past Jimmy on his way through the doorway, but unlike his normal joking self, he simply grunts his hello and keeps moving. My poor, sweet, jokester. Jimmy should be happy that Iz and Ben broke up. He should be doing cartwheels and shouting for joy, but he’s not. If anything, he seems worse than usual.
Izzy remains silent as we walk to the car. I unlock the doors and walk around the hood. “Hop in, Izzy girl. Let’s go eat bad food. I’m starving.” We climb in and start the air conditioner immediately. It’s hot as balls out, and about a hundred degrees hotter in the closed up car. I pull out into the street and drive for no more than two minutes in the repressive silence before I break. “Alright Iz, talk.” I turn to her with a lifted brow. “Trust me, Tink will be a million times worse, so if you have something to get off your chest, do it now.”
She studies her nails and shrugs. “I have nothing on my chest.”
“Nothing?” I turn back to the road and shake my head. “Absolutely nothing? So our group was always this grumpy and tense? You and Jim were always this weird around each other? I swear, you’ve gone years without letting on, but even the blind brothers will figure it out soon. The tension is thicker than peanut butter.”
Her chest lifts and falls with silent grief. “I… I don’t know, Kit. No, we were never this tense. Everything changed, and I don’t know why.”
