Page 124 of Heal Me, Love Me

“Every little bit of progress means you’re one step closer to training again,” Derek encouraged, squeezing my good arm.

“Yeah,” I acknowledged, although I still wasn’t happy with where I was in my recovery.

“Speaking of training,” Mason added. “I saw that Rowan’s fight is now official.”

“How do you already know that?”

Mason blinked. “Uh … Google Alert.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You have a Google Alert set for Rowan?”

“I have Google Alerts set up for all of you.”

“That’s weird, dude.” Derek chuckled.

“No, it’s not.” Mason looked at me as if he expected me to agree with him.

“It absolutely is.”

He rolled his eyes. “You people have no appreciation for how good a friend I am.”

I looked at Derek, and he looked at me, before I turned back to Mason. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“What if one of you morons goes viral for the wrong reasons? I like knowing when my friends are making questionable life choices.”

Derek burst out laughing. “That’s not how Google Alerts work. You’re just being a stalker but trying to make it sound sweet.”

“I’m not a stalker, fucker. I care, okay?” he argued. “But, anyway, I checked out that Navarro guy Rowan is fighting, and he’s got a seven-and-two record.”

“You already looked him up?” I asked.

He lifted a shoulder. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”

Derek shook his head. “Mason, you need hobbies.”

“I have hobbies.”

I clapped him on the back. “Stalking us doesn’t count.”

“I’m supporting my friends.”

I couldn’t argue because I somehow knew he meant it. For all his sarcasm and complete lack of boundaries, Mason genuinely cared about the people around him. It was probably why he knew more about everyone’s lives than he should.

“You’re right, and we appreciate it,” I said. “So, what’d you learn about Navarro?”

“He’s solid,” Mason began. “Heavy pressure, patient as hell, and he likes to wait guys out until they make mistakes. Should be a damn good match.”

I should’ve been excited for Rowan. Instead, I found myself looking back toward the training area, where guys were drilling combinations and practicing takedown entries. Rowan was getting ready for a fight, and I was getting ready to ride a stationary bike. The comparison annoyed me because it wasn’t his fault I’d gotten hurt, and it wasn’t like I wanted him sitting on the sidelines with me. If anything, I wanted the exact opposite. I wanted everything he’d been working toward in Tampa to pay off. That didn’t stop a small part of me from wishing I was moving forward too.

The guys and I were still chatting about the upcoming fight when Devon popped his head out of his office. “Keaton.”

I glanced over at him. “What’s up?”

He rested a hand against the doorframe. “Got a second to chat?”

I nodded. “Sure.”

Mason immediately perked up. “Ooooh, you’re in trouble.”