Page 83 of Broken Butterfly
To lighten the mood, I joke, “The guy Jayson is talking to asked me if I wanted to fight.”
“Hell no!” Ryder says as Fallon says, “Fuck, yeah!”
“No, Fallon! She’s not fighting,” Ryder’s grip around my waist tightens.
“I have to agree with Ryder,” Trevor says.
“And when did you all decide it was okay to make decisions for me?” I glower at both of them.
“I actually agree with Fallon,” Meredith adds. “How cool would that be, watching Elizabeth kick some butt? Am I allowed to fight?”
“That’s a fuck no to you too, firecracker. Not on my watch,” Trevor tells her.
“Remind me again why we slept together?”
“Remind me again why you keep bringing it up?” Trevor counters.
I throw my hands up. “You know what? Everybody needs to shut up.”
Jayson finishes speaking with the random guy and jogs over. “What’s up, Trevor? You fighting tonight?”
“Nope. Just consider me part of Elizabeth’s entourage.”
Meredith wraps her small hands around Jayson’s upper arm and squeezes. He looks down at her in question. “What? I just want to sample the big guns. You’re very big. And hard. I’d put down a solid Benjamin on you to win.”
“Is she for real?” Jayson looks to me for help. I un-grip her hands from molesting him further.
“She can be a bit handsy,” Trevor replies, and Meredith snorts, “Didn’t hear you complaining. Either time.”
“Would you please stop bringing that up?” Trevor says in exasperation. Fallon is holding a fist to his mouth to stop his laughter from escaping.
“Behave,” I tell her.
“I can’t help it. It’s testosterone overload out here and it’s making me a bit punch-drunk. And horny,” she whisper-shouts at me.
“Jay! You’re up, man. You’ve been challenged.”
I instantly go on alert and forget about everything else. I want to beg Jayson not to fight. I want to plead with him to stop. I grab his arm. “Please be careful.”
Those silver eyes shine back at me. “Always, princess.” He gives my hand a squeeze and breaks through the circle of people who have created a makeshift ring where the guys will fight.
“He’ll be okay, Elizabeth. He’s been doing this for a year and hasn’t come back home with anything more than a black eye and a split lip,” Ryder tries to assure me, but it doesn’t help.
“If anything happens to him,” I reply, choking off my words. I may not be with Jayson anymore, but I still care for him deeply.
“Come on, kitten. This is something I’ve got to see,” Fallon says, dragging me through the throngs of people already cheering and taunting. Everyone else in our group plows through after us.
Meredith sidles up beside me and Ryder. I see Ray and call out to him.
“You called, pretty lady.”
I shove five twenties into his hand. “A hundred on Jayson.”
“Oh, me too!” Meredith shouts.
Our money disappears into a large roll of cash as he accepts it. A thin man next to Ray jots something down in a ledger. He gives the man Jayson’s name. “Enjoy the show.” He winks.
“I can’t believe you just bet money on a fight, especially an illegal one.” Ryder chuckles, brushing the side of my neck with his nose. “My little criminal.”
