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“What do you think my chances are? I’ll be honest, I will fight for her, but I’m losing some of the energy to fight.”
“She’s scared but trying to work through it. Don’t give up the fight yet. Please. For me.”
For Gabby, he’d do anything.
He slid his hand inside his jacket and pulled out the ring he had bought. It kept him sane and his heart held together by a thread to carry it with him. He tossed it her way. She caught it with ease.
“What’s this?” Her eyes sparkled with delight.
Then she opened the box. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Damn. If he was getting this kind of reaction from Gabby, he could only imagine what Mia might do.
“This…this is perfect for her. When did you get this?”
His eyes drew downward, the pain as fresh as the day it happened. “Same day she walked out on me.”
“Oh, Jaxson.”
Then he looked up and produced a weak smile.
“I’m waiting for the right moment to give it to her.”
“She’ll love it.”
He hoped so. Because he loved her so much, he didn’t know how much more he could take being away from her.
* * *
Sweat rolleddown the middle of her back.
“Harder. I know you can do it harder.”
Her breathing was heavy and erratic, her energy drained.
“Give it to me. Harder.”
Maniacal laughter wanted to escape at his words. Her mind conjured dirty thoughts. Sweet, dirty thoughts of Jaxson.
He wanted harder; she’d give him harder.
Her arm swung and connected with the bag hanging from the ceiling. The hard glint in his eyes was still there, but so was the approval.
“That’s right. That’s what I want to feel. Let those demons out, Mia.”
And let them out she did.
She emptied her mind of everything, even wonderful images of Jaxson, as she pounded at the bag with one hit after another. Each time she hit the bag, she purged the bad thoughts. One hit at a time. Just like her trainer, Ricardo, taught her.
Her trainer.
She liked the sound of that.
She’d been coming to this gym every day since the first time Gabby brought her. Gabby didn’t come to the gym often, but she said on really stressful days she liked to pop in and have a good round with the bag—and Ricardo, too. Mia had agreed with Gabby that he was easy on the eyes. A woman could drown in his piercing brown eyes, almost with a hint of yellow and orange, reminding her of a beautiful fall day. Although he had eyes she could stare into for days, they also had a devious, hard glint in them. He didn’t hold back. Not once since she’d arrived. He pushed her to her limits, and she loved every minute of it.
She had no idea why she had never done something like this before. Yeah, she enjoyed doing yoga and pilates on occasion. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with, especially when a new production was nearing opening day. Things got so hectic during rehearsals. She hated running. Going on a treadmill was just as terrible. Gabby knew this. Maybe that’s why Gabby had never suggested she punch her way through her turmoil. Because it took a lot of energy and exertion compared to her slower pace of yoga poses she enjoyed doing.
“Okay, that’s enough. You did good today.”
She grabbed a towel sitting on top of her bag on the bench near them and wiped it across her face. Gross. She’d have to take a shower before she headed to the party. If she didn’t hurry up, she’d be late to help Jaxson set up. This was one time she did not want to be late. Not that she was usually late. She was big on punctuality.
