“Didn’t you learn your lesson with Rosie?” I ask.
Duke is over it now, but there was an incredible amount of tension and bloodied noses in the family over Rosie for a while.
He shoves my shoulder. “I think once is enough.”
Sterling snorts out a laugh. “This isn’t the same. I never said I was going, but if I do, she already rejected you.”
“Who is she? She must be a looker if y’all are fighting over her and she hasn’t even gone out with either of you.”
“Dallas Hayes.” Duke practically moans her name. “She is fucking gorgeous.”
Sterling shakes his head. “You realize she has twin boys. Are you ready to be a stepdad?”
“Are you?” Duke scoffs.
Sterling shrugs. “Like I said, I haven’t said yes yet. I still have another year in the military, and I might sign on for more. Dolly said she wants a long-term relationship, but she’s not in a hurry.”
Duke’s mouth gapes. “Then why the hell can’t they set her up with me?”
“I don’t know, but you should go talk to her about it and quit acting like a little bitch.”
We’re getting closer to the high school. I tune them out and focus on the fight I’m walking into. The opponent is Hank Matthews. He’s local to Star City. He’s in his early forties, but they say he used to be on track to potentially go pro MMA. I don’t know what stopped him. Now he works as a day hand for different ranches, sometimes for the Redfords. He keeps to himself.
Going pro MMA is something I would’ve considered if it wasn’t for Moonlight Ranch being my priority.
“What do we know about Matthews’s fighting style?” I interrupt their arguing about who would make a better stepdad.
Sterling answers, “I watched some YouTube videos of him. He’s quick and effective. It makes sense why they predicted an MMA career for a while. He favors his left hook, and he’s six foot tall.”
I probably should’ve tuned in to watch him fight, but I was too busy with the ranch and sexting their little sister this week while actively trying to evade her while she’s living in my house.
She’s with Rosie and Holden tonight. Duke told her we were just having a guys’ night. I texted her about it as Ropes and told her I’d send her a picture of my bruises afterward if she asked nicely.
It’s become an addictive, secret, salacious, fucked-up texting exchange that I keep vowing to end, but never do. Her last message to me keeps running through my mind on repeat.
@redreads
Please don’t get hurt before I get the chance to experience being tied up in person. I need you in mint condition for my first lesson.
She keeps hinting more at wanting to meet up in person. She’s ready to take the sexting to the next level. I’ve been telling her we should get to know each other more for now, but I know that isn’t going to fly forever. The app gave us the option to view each other’s photos after seven days of consistent messaging, but so far, we’ve both bypassed it. At any time, she could choose to view mine. The thought brings me both a sense of relief and a stab of panic to my gut. I think she’s waiting for my permission.
We walk up to the side entrance, and Duke knocks three times on the metal door. A group of girls who can’t be much older than eighteen or nineteen walks up behind us, giggling as they pass around a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag.
The door finally slides open. The bouncer recognizes us and lets us in without a word. He stops the girls to make sure they’re over eighteen. I wish they would set the minimum age at twenty-one, but I don’t make the very few rules here.
The old gym looks like an abandoned warehouse inside. Less than half of the lights overhead are working. There are a few broken-down bleachers still inside and one basketball hoop without a net. It could be the set of a zombie apocalypse movie.
After checking in with the organizer of the fight, we go stand near the edge of the cage to watch the guys currently fighting. The steel cage was homemade by a retired welder. It keeps the fights contained and provides somewhat of an arena for the spectators to gather around.
Some old metal chairs are around, but the serious onlookers are all standing and screaming. It’s always too damn loud in here, but when I’m in the ring, I tune it all out.
Duke leans toward my ear. “I forgot to tell you, Warner found some shit out about Cain’s ex and his kid. So, we might be getting closer to putting an end to this mess so you can have your house back.”
I turn to face him. “What did he find out?” I’m jogging in place to get warm.
“That Cain had at least two kids, maybe more, that no one really knew about because he wasn’t raising them. The woman who filed the lawsuit might just be the first of several baby mamas who are out for cash to help support his spawn. This one had an open child support case against Cain, which is why she might have grounds to sue for wrongful death.”
He holds up hand pads for me to throw light punches at. I swing with my right, jolting him back an inch.
