I take a sip of my wine that the server just dropped off at the table. “I find that hard to believe.”
He chuckles. “It sort of snowballed from there. Won my first fight, then my second, and before I knew it, I was fighting the big guys and winning. Somehow here I am, undefeated and on my way to headline in Las Vegas.”
“Wow… that’s incredible. I work with athletes all day and I know that must have come at a price.”
He nods. “My body,” then he chuckles. “Not sure how much more I have it in me but I’m excited for this headliner. I see myself winning it then taking a break.”
“I lived in Las Vegas for a period of time. It’s an interesting city.”
His brows raise. “The leap from Vegas to Nashville is huge. How’d you like living in Vegas?”
“I didn’t. I worked at one of the casinos.”
He nods just as our server arrives, setting our plates down with a polite smile.
“Thank you,” I murmur, flashing a quick smile before instinctively reaching for my phone. It’s been a while since I’vehad dinner with someonenottalking business—unless I count Cody. But honestly, I don’t even know if he counts anymore.
I set my phone down and pick up my drink instead, swirling the last bit of wine before tipping it back.Damn.That went down way faster than I meant for it to.
"You seem like you really love what you do," I say, trying to keep the conversation flowing.
Axel nods, his expression turning intense. "I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m passionate about it. And when I find something that I like, it usually becomes an obsession."
His eyes glint with something teasing, almost wicked, and Iknowhe means more than just his career. My stomach tightens at the implication, but before I can let my mind go there—before I can evenentertainthe thought—Cody slams into my head like a wrecking ball.
Last night.
His hands, his mouth, the way he knew my body like it was his.
Fuck.Stop.
I drag my napkin across my lips, using it as a distraction, then set it on my lap. “Will you excuse me for a minute? I need to run to the restroom,” I say, already pushing my chair back.
But instead of heading straight for the bathroom, I detour toward the bar.
I need another drink. Something stronger. Something that’ll drown out the lingering ghost of Cody that’s still burning in my veins. Because if I’m going to go home with Axel tonight—if I’m going to do this—I can’t be in my head about it. I can’t let my body betray me, comparing him to the man I’ve knownforever.
Because how could I even compare them?
Cody is my past. A past that, somehow, has reignited into something just as raw and unfiltered as it always was.
But Axel?
Axel could be my future.
Or at the very least, he could be mytonight.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.Because this is just a first date and I have a daughter to think about and beyond that, I don’twantto date Axel. I don’twant to date anyone.
I walk up to the wooden bar, leaning against it as I try to flag down the very busy bartender.
"Mae?" A deep, voice booms from next to me at the bar. The instant I hear it I know who it is. I turn slowly, preparing myself for how this conversation is going to go.
Strong jawline, light brown hair peeking out from a baseball hat that’s pulled low over his face and dark shades over his eyes. But it doesn’t take me anytime to know because I smelled him the second that I walked over here.
Cody.
"Cody?"
