“Don’t give me that bullshit, Syd. You’re training that man outside of the gym, too. Don’t play with me.”
I sagged my shoulders and shook my head. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. It kind of came out of nowhere. And now, I think this thing between us has gotten in the way of his training.”
Tanisha lifted an eyebrow. “How so?”
“He doesn’t listen. That exhibition fight last week proved it. I still don’t think he trusts me when it comes to his training. He refused to follow my direction in that cage when he had the perfect opportunity to perform a move we’ve practiced repeatedly.”
My chest tightened at the disappointment and guilt that twisted in my gut. Maybe Luke’s lack of trust in me as his trainer was due to the fact that I’d let our relationship turn personal so early on.
I sighed again and frowned at the thought.
“And I’m assuming Luke doesn’t know about your connection to Banks? Or that his old trainer is partially responsible for why you decided to go into MMA training?”
The tension in my gut tightened at Tanisha’s words. There was also that issue. I clutched the silver pendant around my neck.
“No, he doesn’t know. Not yet.”
“Because your scary ass hasn’t told him.”
“I will,” I retorted, releasing the pendant and pointing the pen in my other hand at her.
“When?”
I huffed. “Soon. We’re at a pivotal time in his training and I don’t want him any more distracted than he already is.”
She eyed me, suspiciously.
“I’ve never met Luke, but from what you’ve told me about him, he isn’t someone who likes secrets. He won’t appreciate being lied to.”
“I haven’t lied to anyone. You make it sound so duplicitous.”
“It kind of is, Syd. A lie of omission is still a lie.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling like shit. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. I’d had no intention of ever getting personally involved with Luke SkullCrusher McConnell. I’d wanted to tell him the truth from the beginning, but he was so skittish around new people. Luke didn’t trust very many and I didn’t want to take any chance he’d turn me down as his trainer.
“I’m going to tell him at the right time. The training he’ll have in San Diego will take his grappling to another level. He’ll be more ready for the Rodriguez fight and by then, I’ll feel more comfortable disclosing the truth. We need to put aside personal matters for now.”
“Oh, this secret is too personal and will distract him, but the distraction of your pussy is okay?”
“’Nisha,” I yelled, throwing a pen from my desk at her.
She laughed as she caught the pen just before it hit her in the forehead. “Just sayin’. My advice would be to tell him as soon as possible. But I’m going to drop it for now because your hardheaded ass loves learning the hard way.”
“Since when?”
She frowned, giving me abitch pleaselook. “Since I’ve known you. Do I need to list off the number of jerks you’ve dated in your time? You do remember Stephen, right?”
I groaned and waved her off. “Anyone you dated before the age of twenty-one doesn’t count.”
“Girl, you were twenty-three when y’all started dating. That man had an ego the size the state of Texas and loved telling anyone who would listen the size of his bank account.”
“Stephen was proud of his career, that’s all.”
“Don’t play with me, Syd. He was obnoxious as fuck. Then there was Gerard. That French actor you dated last year.”
“Okay, Nisha. You don’t have to list off all my past romances. Besides how did we even get on this conversation?”
“Easy. I’m pointing out your long, storied history of dating assholes. You pick men who take pride in not giving a shit about anyone else.”
