Page 150 of Heal Me, Love Me

“That’s because you’re impossible to please.”

His smile was highlighted by a little gleam in his eye. “Or I just have high standards.”

“Sure. We’ll go with that.” I slipped behind the bar top and got ready to start work.

I’d just finished refilling the ice bin when another regular, Teddy, raised his beer toward me. “Saw the fight the other night.”

“You did?”

He nodded. “The bar’s been talking about it for weeks, and Channel 8 mentioned it during their sports coverage. Figured I’d see what all the fuss was about.”

“Well, I appreciate the support.”

“Honestly, I didn’t know what I was watching half the time.” He took a sip of his drink. “But even I could tell you were kicking that guy’s ass. You didn’t even look nervous.”

I chuckled because that wasn’t true. I’d been plenty nervous. Vega was a tough fighter, and anyone who went up against him with too much arrogance was asking for trouble. “That’s good. Thanks.”

Twenty minutes later, someone else brought up the fight. And again, after that.

A guy I’d never seen before approached me while I was clearing one of the high-top tables. “You’re Keaton Stafford, right?”

I lifted a brow. “Depends who’s asking.”

“I watched your fight.” He beamed. “I told my friend you were going to be the next big thing on the West Coast.”

I stopped. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” He looked me up and down. “You don’t even look like you fought Vega just two days ago.”

I snorted. “The lighting in here helps hide the bruises.”

He laughed. “Whatever it is, it’s working. Seriously though, man. That was a hell of a fight. Can’t wait to tell people I met you before you got famous.”

“I guess we’ll find out if the famous thing comes true, but thanks for watching.” I gave him a nod and continued wiping down the table.

When I got back to the bar, I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that so many people had watched me fight.

“What’s that look for?” Jenna asked.

I set the empty tray down. “It’s just weird.”

“What is?”

I looked around the room. “That people know who I am. And not just the regulars.”

She laughed. “Don’t let it go to your head, big guy.”

I rolled my eyes and got back to work.

The rest of the night went pretty much the same way. A few more people congratulated me, someone asked when I’d be competing again, and one guy proudly told me he’d won fifty bucks betting on me then thanked me for funding his date night.

As the bar began to empty and I started my cleanup, my mind drifted briefly to Rowan before I could stop it. Then,unexpectedly, I thought of my mom too. Neither of them had been there in Vegas to see my fight, nor had either been the first person I talked to after the fight. That realization stung a little. But I also realized I wasn’t completely alone. Mason was always around with something encouraging to say, even if he delivered it in a strange way. Enzo and Derek had watched my fight from home, and I’d had texts from them waiting on my phone when I got backstage. Even Devon had managed to be supportive without making it weird. Or kissing me.

The people in my corner might not have looked the way I’d imagined they would when I was a kid, or even a few months ago, but tonight, it felt pretty damn good.

A week later,I found myself sitting across from Devon’s desk because Marcos had texted me earlier to say he had news to share. Devon tapped a button on his phone, then set it on the desk between us as Marcos’s voice filled the office through the speakerphone.

“Hey, Keaton.”