Page 56 of Bad Habit
I turn to face Mia. “How do you want me to end it?” Her eyes go wide at my question. I feel like more guys should have girls in their physical corners. There’s something so innate about wanting to do what a woman asks you to do. The need to prove to her that you are good. “Answer quickly or I have to wait another round.”
“He’s trying really hard.” She sputters out. “Maybe don’t hurt him?” I glance to see Eli’s reaction to her request. I can tell he’s on the same page just by the way he slightly raises his eyebrow. Sometimes new guys come in and ask to be paired with someone the crowd loves. If you can beat someone the crowd is behind, it’s the fastest way to gain notoriety here. It’s also the quickest way to get hurt. And since my own injury, I have a new appreciation for not allowing your hunger to fight big to steal your ability to fight at all.
I go back to where he’s waiting and we start again. I know the crowd wants blood, they always do. And I know for sure my second fight will be full of it. But this one won’t be. He comes in strong again, throwing another punch to my face. I pivot to the left and come up strong witha hook to follow up. I catch the side of his temple just right and he falls hard. The crowd cheers loudly but I reach down to pick him up.
He isn’t out for long, maybe a minute. Long enough for me to get him back to his people in his own corner. Tucker meets me back in my corner which causes some alarm and not only because he is smiling creepily at Mia. Tucker never comes down unless it’s to take bets for the next fight and it's always before the next fighters are brought in.
“What the hell are you doing down here, Tuck?” He takes one more look at Mia before finally facing me. “Your next fight got moved up.” He announces and holds out a wad of cash to Eli.
“I thought he would have a few fights between them?” Eli is always the one to keep me organized at The Poolhouse.
“Well that was until he knocked out his second guy’s little brother.”Fuck.Tucker laughs, all of this is like gold for him. He doesn’t care what happens as long as he is making money and no one dies. Death gets too messy. That’s what he told us once. “Who’s this? Didn’t think you were the girlfriend type, West.” He appraises Mia again and I fight the urge to stand between them because I didn’t even like his eyes being on her.
“He’s not.” Mia chirps and all of our eyes are on her now. “I’m not his girlfriend. I work at the gym.” I try not to let it show how her words flayed my flesh open.
“You want to watch his next fight from the best viewpoint?” Tucker points to the balcony where he usually stays, where I wish he would go back to. “Wouldn’t want blood to tarnish this dress.”
“It’s black. It’ll hide the blood.” She smiles sweetly but I know her. She’s annoyed.
He tries a different tactic. “I have drinks and snacks up there.”
“What drink would you make me?” I watch as her question catches him off guard.
Tucker tilts his head, clearly amused, before saying, “I’d have Ty make you whatever you want.”
“That’s not what I asked. If you want me to give you my time up on that balcony and leave my favorite spot to watch him fight, then you would make me a drink yourself. What drink would you make?” I cover my mouth to hide the knowing expression. It’s the game we’ve been playing. But she’s reversed the roles. She bites down on her thumb nail, awaiting his response.
“You definitely like a kick to your drinks. Lemon drop.” Wrong answer, asshole. Tuck doesn’t know that though, he seems proud of his response.
“I’m a tequila girl.” Mia’s lips lift to the side, her eyes finding mine over his shoulder. “Enjoy your balcony.” Tucker wets his bottom lip and softly shakes his head in defeat.
“You’re enticing.” He breathes out.
“And you should stop while you’re behind.” This time when she looks at me I know she is giving me permission to step in.
It takes me less than a step to place myself between them. Tucker looks between myself and Mia, gauging what is actually going on between us. Good fucking luck. I still don’t know what it is and I’m too scared to ask.
“He’s a big guy, Ol. Has only lost maybe two fights in the past five months. And they are from New Jersey. Big family.” Tucker warns me before nodding at Eli and making his way out of the empty pool.
“Do I look like a lemon drop type of girl?” Mia scoffs, clearly offended.
“You look like you need to maybe stand up top with Maxie.” Eli steps closer to us.
“No way. I never moved a muscle.”
“Are you going to be able to stand here if he gets hurt?” Eli argues.
“I’ve seen him get hit before.” She crosses her arms, which makes her breasts push up and I’m more worried about her being around a bunch of strangers than standing in this corner and potentially seeing me getmy ass kicked. She has seen me take a few hard hits, but she hasn’t seen me go down yet.
“Max!” I yell up top to where he is standing with a few of his friends. He pokes his head over some guy's shoulder. I wave him down.
“If she wants to stay. She stays.” The crowd starts getting riled back up and I know the other fighter is making his way towards us. I grip Maxwell’s shoulder and pull him as close to me as possible. “If I start to take too many hits, don’t let her watch.” I whisper hurriedly. I turn to face Eli to get any last minute advice or to try and channel AJ as much as possible. She would be able to help me win this better than anyone else. But she’s not here. The other fighter comes into view and I take a sharp inhale. He is fucking huge. And one thing is always certain about big guys, they hit really fucking hard.
Watch his feet first, absorb the hits, and find an opening.I can hear AJ’s voice in my ears.
Mia steps in front of me, despite my brothers both trying to pull her back because the fight will start in just a minute and I need her safely in that corner behind them. “If I do something stupid, promise to not ask questions?” Her words are rushed out and I nod because there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give this girl. Her arms wrap around my neck and she kisses me feverishly. She coaxes my lips open with a swipe of her tongue. She pulls back before I even realize that she isn’t kissing me any longer. “Don’t lose.” I’m slow to open my eyes just as she is fully shielded behind my brothers.
She just kissed me for everyone here to see and she did it because she is nervous about this fight. And I promised to not ask questions about it.
