“Asher!” Ty calls out, raising his hand to greet a guy standing with his foot kicked against the brick wall of the school. He’s got brown wavy hair, cut in that shaggy way that seems polished yet effortless at the same time and the most piercing blue eyes. When he hears Ty’s voice he tips his head up in greeting. “What’s up, man?” He sees me tailing along beside Ty with my head held high and cocks an eyebrow. “Who’s this?”
“I think you mean, ‘who are you?’” I scoff, insulted and annoyed at being talkedaboutinstead of talkedto.
“Sorry,” Asher says, turning to face me head on. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Roxie.”
“Asher.”
“I heard,” I nod. “Food?”
“Food,” they both repeat and we make our way to the cafeteria. We walk into the building, along the hallway and I can’t help but notice as we do, it’s not awkward. I’m not the third wheel. It’s not that Ty suddenly forgets me as soon as his friend shows up, heincludesme.
Asher starts talking about this new idea he’s thought up for a business and Ty’s nodding along, but they’ve left space for me.
And for the first time in a long time, I feel accepted.
CHAPTER 4
“So,”Asher starts and I screw my eyes shut. “The new girl.” He smirks at me with a knowing fucking smirk I want to wipe off his face. This isn’t the time or the place and he knows it. The Underground isroaringtonight and I’m about to fight a guy who easily looks like he could crumble me with one hit.
I’m going to have to be really smart about this one.
Know. React. Believe.I can do this.
“What about her?” I snap.
“Do you…like her?”
“Jesus.” I sigh and run a hand down my face. “She and I understand each other. Is she cute? Obviously. Does she keep me on my toes? For sure. We’re just hanging out. I helped her out with Frank and his gaggle of morons, not that she really needed my help, but there’s that.”
“So you like her,” Asher says plainly, punching me in the shoulder.
“Shut up,” I mutter and punch him back. “Stop distracting me, I need to focus.”
“Yeah, you do. That guy looks like he’s going to chew you up and spit you out. You’re going to need to make sure that you watch for that barely healed bruise on his left flank. I’d guess broken ribs so he’s going to be favoring his left. That paw might still get you, but I’m going to bet that if you land a few good punches there, he’ll go down.”
“How the hell…” I let the sentence float between us because Asher’s not always the most observant person.
“When it comes to leaving here with my teeth and a fat stack of cash or being injured and us going without food for days, I fucking pay attention.”
I shrug and nod, can’t fault him there. Taking a deep breath, I try to steady my nerves and channel the adrenaline going through my body. I welcome the adrenaline rush, the rush of emotions that causes me to fidget and move, it forces me to be on edge. Alert. Focused.
“You’ve got this, Ty. He’s bigger than you, but you’re fast. Use it.” Asher nods, pumping my shoulder with his fist. “Know, react–”
“Believe,” I finish and step forward, eyes trained on my opponent as the bell goes off and the fight starts. We circle each other, eyes trained on the other to make sure there’re no surprises.
I can’t take the chance.
Bringing my hands up, I wait.
Patience.
I force myself to steady my breathing before the first punch even lands, and when he steps forward again, I swerve. He’s bigger, thicker, meaner. Every muscle on him looks like it wascarved from stone, and I know damn well this is the kind of fight where one wrong move means lights out.
But I don’t back down. I never have. Never will. If I want to make it down here, make it enough that I can survive up there, I need to win this–and every fight–that comes my way.
Losing isn’t an option.
