His answer stung a bit, but I didn’t show my reaction—or at least, I hoped I didn’t.
Several heartbeats passed as we stood in front of each other, silence sweeping over us like a heavy cloak.
If I pressed him to explain why he didn’t want my company, that would’ve been inappropriate, especially while I stood there in my underwear. We were practically strangers. And he was my boss. Nothing about our current situation would work in my favor if I kept at it, so I turned around and walked back into my apartment, praying he wasn’t staring at my ass in the process.
I might’ve closed the door harder than I intended.
11
Last night, I barely touched my drink before taking off from the bar and driving around for nearly two hours, wondering why my thoughts had suddenly become consumed with the woman living next door to me.
The woman who’d been hired without my permission.
The woman I now saw every day.
Not wanting to be around her conflicted with my desire to be near her in whatever capacity fate decided. There was something about Sophie that made me think we shared a similar internal battle, a pain no one else could understand. Intuition told me I was right even though I’d never ask her something so personal.
“That’s it,” Trevor shouted, hanging on to the ropes as he studied every move I made against Nico. “Remember to use the weight of your right arm, Jax. Not too much, though. You don’t wanna incapacitate him like you did Marcus. No broken ribs today, buddy.”
With a harsh and quick right jab to Nico’s headgear, he stumbled back a step, doing his best to guard against another hit. But he failed. Funneling all my concentration into my next move, I raised my leg and connected my foot with his side beforehe saw it coming, finishing him off with a left hook followed by a jarring right uppercut. He was on his back seconds later, shaking his head in bewilderment. Trevor praised me from the sidelines.
While I’d managed to literally knock my opponent off his feet, I’d gone easy on him the way I should while training. Depending on my mood and how much adrenaline coursed through me, it was hard for me to ride that fine line. During my actual bouts, however, all bets were off. I channeled all my aggression and training and let loose on whoever I’d been matched with, giving the crowd a show as well as proving I deserved to be the champion in the big league. Fighting the world’s best.
Stretching my left arm over my head, I winced when I rotated my shoulder, the same old injury rearing its ugly head. When I was twenty-two, two guys jumped me in an alleyway outside a club. I’d been new to the UFC world but had started to make a name for myself, even acquiring a fan base. The two of them taunted me at the bar, instigating, pushing, but I didn’t give in, which had been a first for me. Lance had constantly reminded me I had more to lose now than ever before and that I could get kicked out of the league before my career even started. It was his voice in my head when I’d clenched my fists, downed my shot, and left through the back door. But they followed me. While they’d thrown the first punch, which was all caught on surveillance footage, I defended myself, but during the altercation, I’d dislocated my shoulder.
“Your shoulder bothering you again?” Trevor asked, incessantly looking at his phone, cursing under his breath as he typed. When I didn’t answer, he glanced at me, an expectant look on his face.
“Same issue,” I finally responded, craning my neck before clamping my sore shoulder, careful not to press into the muscle too firmly.
“You know Sophie can help you with that.” He tucked his device into his back pocket, giving me his full attention this time.
“What are you talking about?” I played dumb, hoping he’d lose interest and change the subject.
“Lance told me he hired her for you.” He waved his hand up and down my body. “To help work on you before and after training and eventually the fights.”
“I have you.”
“I’m not licensed, nor do I have all the latest training. Shit’s always evolving.”
“I don’t need her.”
“I think you do,” he argued, shoving his hands in his pockets. His stance was his way of telling me he was prepared to debate this topic.
“I don’t care what you think. Not about this.” The pain in my shoulder intensified, and it had everything to do with my stress level reaching stellar heights.
“Just something to think about.” He bounced his shoulders before flashing me a cocky grin, his cell ringing and slicing through the building tension between us. “Gotta take this.” Trevor walked off and left me to stew in my irritation, which wasn’t an uncommon occurrence.
My intention was to do a few rounds of push-ups before attacking one of the punching bags, but if I chose that route, my shoulder wouldn’t be right for two days and I’d have to take it easy during ring training. So instead, I headed for the showers, peeking inside to ensure Sophie wasn’t already in there, cleaning. After our encounter on the landing last night, I didn’t want to see her. It was bad enough I could barely sleep when I arrived back to my place, the image of her in those skimpy pajamas making a home in my brain. With the way I felt right now, I’d probably say something ignorant just to get her to leave me alone.
The hot spray of the water cascaded over my shoulder, working to assuage some of the soreness. I was careful not to rotate my arm too much, allowing the heat to work its magic for the duration of my shower.
My mind raced, and not with better fighting techniques. But with a certain redhead. I still couldn’t wrap my head around why Lance offered to let her stay in the apartment next to me. Didn’t he know I’d have an issue with it? I answered the question as soon as it formed. Of course he knew I’d have a problem with a stranger occupying the vacant apartment. And seeing as how I owned this entire building, apartments included, he should’ve asked me first. But why should he start asking my permission now? He did whatever he wanted without concern for what I’d say because he claimed every decision he made was in my best interest, but this time he was wrong.
Nothing good could come of Sophie continuing to work at the gym and live next door to me.
I could demand Lance get rid of her, but something told me he’d push back stronger than he ever had before. I could still insist, however. As I battled with what points to argue for her dismissal, a swirl of something akin to hesitation formed in my gut.
Dropping my head and pressing my hands against the cool tile wall, I released the air in my lungs. Over and over. It was best not to do anything about Sophie right now. Maybe, given enough time, she’d quit on her own, taking the decision away from me.
