“I expected you to say the same thing you always do.”
“Career before relationships,” Dad intones, mimicking me.
A grin spreads over my face. “Well, it turns out that I don’t have to choose.”
Mom’s brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
“The girl I’m interested in is a professional fighter, same as me. She’s beautiful, fierce, and won’t let me off the hook for anything.”
“Sounds as if I’d like her,” Dad says. “When are you bringing her to visit?”
I savor a mouthful of coffee before replying. “Once I win her over. At the moment, I haven’t gotten there yet. She’s a very cautious person and might have been burned before, so I need to let her know she can trust me.”
“Don’t rush her,” Mom warns, raising a finger. “That’s a surefire way to scare her off, and I want the chance to meet this girl.”
“You’ll get it,” I promise, wishing I felt as sure as I sound. I dearly want to believe Harley will come around, but while I’m certain she’s attracted to me, that doesn’t always mean something in the grand scheme of things. Gabe and Sydney shared a mutual attraction for years before they acted on it. The thought of going for that long without touching Harley sets my teeth on edge. “Now, tell me what’s going on with you.”
ChapterSix
Harley
Once I’ve showered and changed into a fresh set of clothes, I take an Uber to Jase’s house. I pause outside for a few moments to take it in. The place is big, modern, and looks expensive. It’s hard to picture Jase, with his tattoos and cocky smirk, being at home here. But maybe there’s a side to him I haven’t seen yet. I wander down the drive and knock on the door. A few seconds later, it swings inward, and I look into a pair of the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Uh, hi.” I stick out a hand. “You must be Lena.”
The woman, who has clear skin and red hair, breaks into a smile. “And you must be Harley. It’s so nice to meet you.” She takes my hand and gives it a shake, then holds onto it for a beat longer and squeezes. “I’m glad you came. Things can get a bit overwhelming with all the testosterone at the gym and we figured you could use a break from it by now. Come on in.” She stands aside. I stop in the doorway to kick off my shoes. “Oh, don’t worry about that.”
“Thanks for inviting me,” I say, lining my footwear up against the wall regardless of her comment. I’m not traipsing dirt into this McMansion. “I’m used to the testosterone at this point in my life, but I don’t really know anyone in Vegas so it can be a bit lonely.” Especially when I’m used to being surrounded by people twenty-four-seven and suddenly the only person around me is Seth, who doesn’t talk much. I hold up the container that was tucked under one of my arms. “I brought healthy snacks because I’m in fight camp. Is there somewhere I can put them?”
“Pop them in the fridge,” Sydney says from a doorway that leads further into the house. She smiles warmly. “I made some healthy options too. Lena and I are used to catering for the boys, and we didn’t want you to go hungry. Save yours for later.”
“Oh.” Well, now I feel awkward. Of course these women are used to fighters and their needs. They’redatingthem. “Thanks, that’s really nice of you.”
“No worries.” Sydney’s smile might be the loveliest one I’ve ever seen. I can tell why Gabe is with her. She’s his perfect foil. Open and soft where he’s quiet and broody. Not that I’ve met him in person, but we’ve talked a couple of times over the years. She tilts her head. “Come with me, and I’ll show you where the kitchen is. Lena has already prepared a platter of finger foods in the living room.”
I follow her into a mammoth kitchen with a long bench down the center and all the appliances a person could possibly desire. “Whoa.”
“I know, right?” She takes my container and puts it in the refrigerator. “The boys are serious about eating well, and that means making sure they have the right equipment.”
“I’ve gotta tell you, Seth’s kitchen doesn’t look anything like this. It’s bare basics. Oven, refrigerator, freezer, microwave.” But then, he’s not the fancy type. Never has been, even at the height of his fame.
“What does his place look like?” Lena asks from behind us. I turn, and find her expression full of interest. “Neither of us have been. The guys might have, but they’re not exactly into details.”
I shrug. “It’s your basic condo. Two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and open concept living space. To be honest, I don’t think he spends much time there.”
“Hmm.” Lena’s eyes narrow and her lips purse in thought. “Is there a woman in his life?”
A hard lump of discomfort settles in my gut. “Other than me? Not that I know of.”
I’m not sure how I’d handle it if there was. As far as I’m concerned, he belongs with Ashlin and always will. The thought of him with anyone else is just wrong.
“Okay, enough with the inquisition,” Sydney says, giving me an apologetic look. “Seth is a bit enigmatic, so it’s hard not to be curious.”
Lena turns and heads away. Sydney follows, and I fall into step behind them.
“I don’t think enigmatic is the right word,” I reply. “He just doesn’t have much going on outside the gym, so there’s nothing to talk about.”
“That’s a bit sad.” Lena sinks onto a sofa and Sydney takes an armchair. “He’s a good-looking guy.”
