“Well, I got super into weightlifting while in Houston and I’ve decided to pick that up here but try Pilates instead. I’m going to take a training course and become an instructor for the summer. Figured it’d be a good way to keep active and distract myself during my down time. Plus, it’ll help manage my symptoms with my condition.”
My dad sits forward, a wide smile crossing his handsome face. “That’s great Maggie. I think that’s an excellent choice. Maybe you’ll meet someone at a Pilates class.”
I wince because I really do know he means well, but the fact that he’s bringing that up,again,doesn’t help matters.
I force one of my extra sweet smiles, “Sure, maybe dad.”
I go back to stabbing my spaghetti, this time with a little more force. My mind drifts back to Clay and what he’s doing tonight. Sounds a little more exciting than sitting in the fire house talking about my non-existent dating history with my father. Suddenly, the firehouse alarm blares, cutting through our quiet dinner. I can hear the rapid footsteps of the firefighters rushing toward the trucks through the closed door.
“Ah, damn, Maggie. Hate to ditch dinner, but I should be on that call,” my dad says, standing up quickly.
I wave it off, trying to act casual even though my mind is already elsewhere and I’m relieved to have an out on this conversation. “No big deal.”
He leans down and kisses me gently on the top of my head. “You’ve always been so understanding. I’ll see you at home later tonight?”
“Yeah, sure.”
The moment the door clicks shut behind him, I’m on my feet, tossing out the empty take out cartons and tidying up his office the way that I’ve done since I was a kid. Anything to keep myself from thinking about driving to San Angelo to see Clay.
Anything to distract me.
Ten minutes of pointless cleaning later and his office is so spotless you could lick the floor. I know that I’ve lost the fight.
Keys in hand, I’m out the door, ready to uncover the mystery that is Clay Cameron...
Chapter 14 – Clay
“You really think you’re going to be at your best tonight with those ribs still bruised?” Dallas asks, his tone is sharp as he holds the warmup pads for me in the dingy back room of the locker room area.
The space reeks of sweat and damp cement, a far cry from anywhere you’d expect to train seriously but I guess this is as good as you get when you're doing underground fighting.
My fists tap against the pads with a steady rhythm, the repetitive motion warming up my muscles as I feel the frustrating pull against my sore ribs. They're still tender, but healing.
I’mfine.
“They’re better,” I mutter, not fully convincing even myself.
I deliver another jab, and an upper cut to Dallas before I feel warm enough to stop but not too hot that I’m exhausted.
He scoffs and shakes his head, “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya if we end up back at Lonestar Junction’s hospital tonight.” He lowers the pad, running a quick check over my gear, making sure everything is in place for tonight’s fight.
“When does Dove get back from her tour so you can finally get off my ass?” I tease, though I liked having Dallas in my corner,especially for fights. He’s the only one in my life who knows all the details about my after-work fighting and I intend on keeping it that way. Losing Dallas’ support would be a blow to my training, but I know eventually, Dove will come home for good and retire from performing, and that means I’ll start seeing him less.
Though Dove and Dallas are older now, the success she’d tasted at a young age still lingers. There was always demand for Dove and her band,The Valor, to perform in the States, even though the crowd has aged.
“When she’s home, you ghost everyone,” I continue, “hole up at Golden Farm like you’ve forgotten the world exists.”
And honestly, I can’t blame him. Dove is the love of his life, and when they’re together, it’s like nothing else matters. The way they look at each other is the kind of thing that makes everyone else fade into the background. I wonder if I’d ever looked at Savannah, or any other woman that way.
“Three more weeks. Then she’s home until after the holidays. Said she wants to do nothing but sit in our backyard, watch our crops grow and drink coffee with me. Can’t say there’s nothing more that I want to do than be deep inside of her while some snow falls but I doubt we’ll see that here in Texas.”
“Gross, old man,” I shoot back with a laugh.
He’s only eight years older than me, but I envy the love he has for Dove. They’d stumbled into each other’s lives by accident, exchanging letters as teens, though they hadn’t met face-to-face until he was thirty and had moved to Lonestar Junction on a whim after retiring from the Marines, unknowingly seeking her.
“You ever gonna find someone to sit around and watch crops grow with while making love? Or are you still hung up on that girl who cheated on you?” Dallas shoots back with a smirk.
We don’t usually dive into feelings during our training, but Dallas is tight with my oldest brother, Wylie, and I knowthat Wylie’s big mouth had spilled the details of how things ended between Savannah and me six years ago. The memory of my naivety still stings but the betrayal stopped hurting years ago. I’m over it, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some lingering feelings of rejection that remain.
