“He offered to show me a few moves, that’s it.”
“I’m sure he did.” She laughed, ducking when I tossed my napkin at her. “I’m sure he’s got lots ofmoves.”
“You’re impossible.” As much as I wanted to discourage her, I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from lifting.
“I’m trying to live vicariously through you.”
Several weeks ago, she ended her seven-month relationship with a guy she’d met while working at her job at the café. She complained he’d become too clingy, calling her constantly and wanting to spend every free moment with her. My sister was only twenty-three and didn’t want to be tied down just yet. Not that I could blame her. I should’ve dated more and not married the first guy I fell in love with. To be fair, though, hindsight never served its purpose until it was too late.
After enjoying dessert and some lighthearted conversation, steering clear of anything having to do with Mitch, I said my goodbyes and headed back home. As I climbed the stairs to my apartment, I glanced at Jackson’s door, wondering if he was inside. It wasn’t late, so there was a possibility he’d gone out after I’d left. Shaking my head to rid myself of any thoughts of him only seemed to make me dizzy, much like Jackson managed to do with his confusing and unexpected behavior toward me.
When I crawled into bed later that evening, I reminded myself that thinking about him beyond my boss and possible future client would only cause issues for me. What I needed right now was to be alone to try and find myself again.
13
When I offered to show Sophie a few self-defense moves, my brain failed to register that I’d have to touch her, and as Trevor unbandaged my hands, I considered canceling on her. But when I saw her talking to Lance about God knew what and the way she laughed at something he said, a wave of jealousy rippled through me. This woman stirred up something inside me I hadn’t expected. Confused by my feelings toward her, I shoved aside my suspicion, which was ill placed to begin with, and forged ahead with my initial plan. Her safety outranked everything else at this point.
“Thanks for going easy on me, Jax.” Nico slapped my shoulder before hopping out of the ring. Even though I’d endured a rigorous workout and pain barely ever registered for me, I winced when he smacked me.
“Still bothering you?” Trevor asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t overdo it. We don’t need anything hampering your upcoming fight. It’s too important.”
“I’m aware,” I responded, my teeth gnashing together. I didn’t need to be reminded what was riding on my future boutwith that fucker. If I lost, my ranking would take a hit, as would my income. And while I had financial security, anything could happen at any time, and what I had in the bank wasn’t enough to live lavishly on for the rest of my life. Not while still affording to pay my team.
My trainer shook his head before walking away, mumbling something under his breath I couldn’t quite make out. Which was for the best, as I didn’t need to be put into a foul mood, especially not when I had to interact with Sophie in a few minutes.
An eruption of amusement echoed from across the room. It was her laughter. Again. What the fuck did he say to her to make her face light up like that, and what did I need to do to get the same reaction from her?
Whoa! Where did that thought come from?
Other than tolerating her forced presence, thanks to Lance, and offering to show her how to defend herself with a few simple but effective moves, I had no interest in getting to know the woman. And I most certainly didn’t have a need or desire to become comfortable enough with her to make her laugh.
Shaking my head, as if the action would rid my mind of unwanted thoughts, I headed toward her and Lance, the grin on her face disappearing when she looked my way. The muscles of her throat constricted as she swallowed, the square of her shoulders making me think perhaps she didn’t want to take me up on my offer.
“Did you need me?” Lance asked, staring at me as I focused all my attention on the redhead standing next to him.
“No.” I still hadn’t looked at him, my eyes pinned to Sophie’s. “You ready?”
Her lips parted and closed several times before she uttered, “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want.”
“It’s no big deal.”
“What’s going on? What are you two doing?” Lance took a single step in my direction, angling his body in front of Sophie. A protective stance, one I didn’t appreciate. One that was unwarranted.
“Jackson said he’d show me a few moves I could use to protect myself. In case anything ever happened.” Her voice softened toward the end, and I couldn’t tell if her statement was a generalized one or if she’d thought of her ex when she said it. Had he abused her in any way? Did she fear him?
“He did, did he?” Lance’s tone was borderline angry.
I refused to look at him because if I did, I had a feeling I’d witness an expression that would cause me to say something I shouldn’t.
“We’ll do it in the back room so we have some privacy.” I swung my arm out to the side, indicating I wanted her to precede me.
Ten seconds of uncomfortable silence swirled around the three of us before Sophie finally took a step forward. As I followed her toward the back of the gym, thoughts of the last time I’d been alone with her in the back room infiltrated.
Me. Naked.
