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.Questions swirled in my mind.Long, sleek legs interrupted before I could voice one.Becka leaned forward, bracing her hands on Gage’s shoulders.“Baby, they’re closing soon.Are we going somewhere--”He pulled her hands off him, dropping them in front of her.“I’m talking.” She stepped back at his shortness.“Go back in.I’ll be there soon,” he added with a bit more control.Spotlights flicked on, flooding the patio with light, and the music shut off.People were flowing to the doors, and Becka reluctantly followed.I stood up with one last calming breath, checking my emotions before facing everyone.“Things will get better.” Gage stood up, too close to me.His eyes searched my face, too intense.I watched his full lips as he added, “You’re a fighter.You’ll get through this and get to living, not just surviving.”His words cracked the dam holding in my emotions, and I had to step back to protect myself.I nodded, running my hands through my hair to avoid reaching for him.Too much had happened tonight, and I wasn’t thinking clearly.My worry for Nan made me too emotional.I walked around Gage, back inside, needing the buffer of a crowd.The lights were bright, the place clearing out, but many people still milled about.Trichelle wrapped my arm in hers as we followed the group out.“I was looking for you.Everyone’s leaving.Tonight was so fun.” Her liquor breath whispered into my ear, “I think I might go home with Jase.”I pulled back.“But I was going to stay at your house.”Her face crumpled.“Shit.That’s right.I forgot.”She dropped my arm and sulked to where Jase was waiting.Dexter walked beside me as we inched our way to the exit, his face serious.“Everything okay?”I nodded, tight lipped, not wanting to talk about Nan anymore.“I think your girl hit it off with my boy.” Dexter’s typical smile returned as he nodded to Jase and Trichelle.I smiled in return.“Yeah, I’m sure I’ll here all about it tonight.”Taxi’s lined the street, waiting for customers.Danny opened the door to one.“Jase, you coming back to the house?”Jase grabbed Trichelle’s hand.“Can Rea stay with one of you tonight so that Trich can come with me?”“My bag and things are at your house,” I interjected.“Calm down Dora.You can go without your backpack for one night.”I dropped my head, to hide my amusement while giving Dexter the middle finger.Humor was clear in his voice as he continued, “I’ve got maps.We can get it in the morning.It’s all good, Boots has this under control.”I lifted my head, meeting his eyes.“Did you just call yourself my sidekick?”He rolled his eyes and slid his arm around me.“You must not watch Dora.Boots runs that show.” He nodded to Jase.“Take your girl and go.We’ll call in the morning to get Trich and Rea back.”They slid into the Taxi with Danny, and another pulled up in its space.Gage opened the door, letting his two guests slide in.He paused, turning to Dexter.“Are you coming home tonight?”Dex dropped his arm from me and wrapped it around Leona.“My car’s at Lee’s.We might stay there.”Gage looked towards me.“You can stay in the guest room again, if you want to ride back with me.”The way he offered, with a soft, shy voice, churned emotions in my stomach.But the girls in the Taxi made my stomach turn in a much different way.“I’ll go with them.” I nodded to Leona and her friends.Gage slid into the cab and shut the door, cutting off the trills of laughter from within.Leona shot a dark glance at me, pulling on Dexter's arm as she swayed on her heels.“You two stay at my house.I think its best I keep my eye on you.”“Babe, don’t be like that.” Dexter pulled her in tighter, giving me an apologetic smile.She pulled Dexter into the cab first, sitting herself between us.***It wasn’t the worst couch I’ve slept on.It wasn’t anywhere near the top of the list either, but it was free so I had no complaints.My mind raced with thoughts of Nan, and Gage, and my fight, and Anthony, and anything I ever had to worry about.I wanted to know more about Gage and Dexter, how they had managed, how they overcame, especially how Dexter came out so carefree.He wasn't hardened and jaded, and I envied that.At some point, my thoughts slowed and I fell asleep holding onto the only thing I knew with certainty; I had to win next week.I couldn’t afford to lose and neither could Nan.***Jase picked me up the next morning, taking Trichelle and me back to her house.From there I went straight to the gym, hoping to squeeze in some training before my shift at Johnny’s.“You’ve lost two more pounds,” Silas shook his head with disapproval.I stepped off the scale, unsure of what this all meant.“I can still fight this Friday right?”He sighed.“You’ll be fighting out of your weight class.You can do it, but you cannot lose any more weight.I told you, you need to eat and eat well.” His eyes flicked over me.“We’ve got to cut back on the workouts this week.I don’t want you sore on Friday anyways.We’ll focus on technique until then.”We went into his office and made a plan that fit with my work schedule.He also gave me a diet plan.I needed to make sure I ate every three to four hours; it seemed like an impossible task.But I would do it.***The lunch shift was busy and stayed that way, merging with the early dinner crowd.I ran nonstop from table to table.I dropped off the bill for one table, set down extra napkins for the next, and gave a refill on soda to the third.Making my way back to the kitchen to pick up meals for a table with screaming children.Drew stopped me.“Some dudes up front for you,” he said as he passed by, just as busy as I was.I looked to the front and saw Dexter waiting.He was alone, which was odd for him, and set off small warning bells.I finished my path to the kitchen and dropped off food for my table, giving them extra crayons and pictures for the kids, then met Dexter up front.He smiled and greeted me with his typical hug.I was reluctant to return it since Leona’s comment last night.Dexter extended a grocery bag to me; it was weighed down with Tupperware containers inside.“Here’s some food for you.Silas told me you dropped to a lower weight class.”I took the bag and narrowed my eyes.“You do realize I work at a restaurant? I’m surrounded by food?”He laughed and pointed to the bag.“Yeah, but that’s the good stuff.Gage made it.He cooks a crap load at once, so his fridge is always full.Enjoy [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]