A short sentence. That’s all it takes to unravel me.
I stare at his message, heart pounding. He makes it sound casual, teasing even, but I can feel the edge under it. The challenge. The fact that he knows exactly why I didn’t show up at the Defenders complex today.
Finally, I type.
Eden
I just...can’t today, Magic Man.
The typing bubbles appear immediately.
Nate
You can run today. But you’re not hiding from me forever.
The message sits there, glowing, burning into me. Because if I see him again, if he looks at me the same way he did last night, I won’t be strong enough to leave again.
The mat smellsof sweat and disinfectant, the sharp, clean scent that usually settles me. Not today.
I tie my belt tighter, trying to shake off the tension knotted in my core. The storm in my head hasn’t let up since the bar. Every time I replay that kiss, my stomach twists—fear, want, confusion tangled together.
Lukas grins at me from across the mat. “You ready to make me tap, gorgeous?”
“Always,” I mutter, sliding into stance.
We roll. It’s controlled chaos, but I’m pushing too hard, attacking instead of flowing. My mind isn’t here; it’s back in that bar, under Nate’s hands, burning with the memory of how right it felt to surrender, even for a moment.
I catch Lukas in a choke so tight, he taps faster than usual.
“Damn, girl.” He sits up, rubbing his neck. “Who pissed you off?”
I force a tight smile. “My week fought back.”
He leans on his elbows, watching me with easy charm. “You know, I could help. Whatever’s chewing you up, I’m a good listener. Or a good distraction.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Dinner?”
For a second, I consider it. It’s the closest I’ve ever come to saying yes. Lukas is predictable. Controlled. With him, I’d stay guarded. But safe doesn’t make my pulse race. Safe doesn’t make my body burn the way Nate does just by existing.
“It’s still a no, lover boy,” I tell him.
He shrugs, unaffected. “See you next time, gorgeous.”
In the locker room, I shower quickly, but no amount of hot water can wash away the truth: predictable doesn’t touch the place Nate’s set ablaze.
When I walk in,the apartment is enveloped in the smell of buttered popcorn. Liz is sprawled on the couch, blanket draped over her legs, eyes glued to some rom-com where the couple is kissing in the rain.
“You missed the dramatic declaration,” she says without looking over. “He told her he couldn’t live without her while she was boarding the plane.”
I drop my bag by the door. “Shocking plot twist. Does she stay?”
“Obviously. Get over here. You look like you went twelve rounds with life and life won.”
“I won,” I mutter, collapsing beside her. “Lukas tapped out in under two minutes.”
She snorts. “You choked out lover boy again? Harsh. What’d he do, ask you out again?”
“Of course he did. And I said no as usual.”
“Poor guy.” Liz clutches her heart dramatically. “Fine, then tell me about last night. Did Escort Ken Doll sweep you off your feet with his premium services?”
