Fullepub 
Chapter 11
eleven
. . .
Romeo
River
Guess where I am right now?
Kingston
Well, you’re sitting next to me and Nash, so we already know the answer to that.
Hayes
Some of us are at actual work right now. Are you going to tell us or just fuck around?
I just ran seven miles, and I’m fucking exhausted. Let’s hear it.
Kingston
Are you exhausted from the run or from something else?
Nash
Romeo, he’s fucking with you. We’re at The Golden Goose. You can take it from there.
Hayes
What am I missing?
River
Our Golden Boy has been here several times over the last few weeks with a certain lady friend, with whom he continually says that nothing is going on with.
Kingston
Midge said you two were here on Valentine’s Day. And several times since. It’s becoming a habit, apparently. <winky face emoji>
Nash
And your name is Romeo, lover boy.
Hayes
Listen, if he doesn’t hold what her family did against her, neither should we.
River
Did someone steal your phone, Hayes? Since when are you the voice of reason?
Kingston
I think Hayes must have gotten laid last night.
Hayes
None of your business. I don’t have to get laid to call shit as I see it.
Nash
I think Cupid shot his fucking arrow right through Romeo’s heart.
Hayes
Give him a break. He’s working his ass off. If he likes the girl, let him be.
River
So, what’s the story? We don’t keep things from one another. Why are you keeping this from us?
Something happened at the gym a few weeks ago. She got spooked and fainted. We went to get grilled cheese sandwiches after. That. Was. It. We’re friends, I guess.
River
What spooked her?
I knewhe’d react this way. Beneath his asshole exterior was a big heart. He just didn’t like anyone to know it.
She won’t tell me. Something that happened with some dude, I guess.
My blood still boiled every time I thought about it. And I wanted to fucking know—needed to fucking know what happened to her. I’d tried over the last few weeks. We hung out a lot. More than I was telling them. I always stuck around when she trained with Pinky to make sure she was okay. I walked her home after she worked out at the gym every night. Sometimes, we grabbed a bite to eat. Nothing had happened beyond that, but I’d never spent this much time with a woman. Not even one that I was dating. I liked being around her. Craved it most days.
Kingston
Enough to make her faint? That means some shit went down with her. Do you think it was Slade?
She’s adamant that it wasn’t him.
Nash
Maybe she’s afraid of her father. He’s an asshole, too.
Yeah, maybe. She wants to know why I hate her family so much.
River
Did you ever think about telling her? It’s not really a fucking secret at this point. Maybe she should know who they are. See what she thinks of it. If she makes excuses, you’ll have your answer.
I scrubbed a hand down my face as I chugged one of the shakes Demi made for me. They were making a huge difference in my training, and Joey was impressed with how well I was holding up now.
I don’t like dredging that shit up. We both survived, right? But I’ll think about it. How about you dickheads eat your breakfast and stop gossiping with the locals.
River
Don’t shoot the messenger. It’s the first time I’ve seen Midge Longhorn seem excited about anything. She asked if we knew who you were out with.
Kingston
She actually smiled. I had no idea that Midge had teeth.
Nash
Stop with the fucking teeth talk. They were stained yellow from years of smoking, and I think she should go back to her standard resting bitch face. It’s not good for business.
River
Yet you ate four pancakes.
Nash
What can I say? Buttermilk pancakes are my weakness. Don’t tell Beefcake we came here. He’ll be pissed that he’s at school while I’m eating fucking pancakes between jobs.
Hayes
I’d be more worried about Beefcake finding out that Uncle Ro is spending a lot of time with his girl. <head exploding emoji>
Kingston
You better watch your back, Romeo. He’s got his mind set on your woman.
She’s not my woman, you fucker. Don’t you have work to do?
River
I love it when you deflect, brother. The writing is on the wall. Just be prepared for the wrath of her family when they find out. But you know we have your back, so stop being a pussy with this girl.
Hayes
I think that’s River’s way of saying you have his blessing. <praying hands emoji>
Kingston
Hayes is going biblical this morning. Can I get an amen?
Nash
You can get a shut the fuck up. Romeo, stop holding back. We know you like the girl. King and I liked her when we worked with her. She’s good people. Just don’t tell River that I said that.
River
You’re hilarious. <middle finger emoji>
Can we stop talking about this? Some of us have to get back to work now. Thanks for this enlightening conversation.
River
We can stop talking about it if you stop hiding this shit from us. We’ve got your back. You know that.
Hayes
Yep. Ride or die. Brothers till the end. Loyalty always. Forever my friend.
Kingston
There he goes again. Hayes definitely got laid last night.
Hayes
<middle finger emoji>
I laughed and set myphone down on my desk. I’d spend the next few hours working at the gym before I’d have to suit up for my afternoon workout. Brinkley had sent me a text reminding me that the article she’d written about me was in every store today, as if I could forget when she’d reminded me multiple times. She’d come to town a few weeks ago and followed me everywhere that day, and the article was now out in the world.
There was a knock on my office door, and I shouted for them to come in.
Demi peeked her head in and then held up the magazine that had me on the cover and waggled her brows.
“The Golden Boy is preparing for the fight of his life,” she said, as she closed the door and hurried over to the couch to sit beside me. “You didn’t tell me this was coming out today.”
I groaned. “I didn’t know if they’d carry it here.”
“Are you kidding? The Daily Market has a line out the door. Peyton ran and got us a couple of copies.”
“Great.” I leaned back before glancing over at her. She wore a cream sweater that hung off of one shoulder, a pair of faded jeans, and her favorite cowboy boots.
“Let’s read it together,” she said, turning to face me. The urge to touch her was overwhelming lately. I liked just sitting with her sometimes, memorizing every line and curve on her face. The way her tongue dipped out in the corner of her mouth when she was concentrating. The light spatter of freckles on her nose was cute as hell.
“All right, I’ll read it to you,” she said when I didn’t respond.
“I’ve read it,” I grumped. Brinkley had sent me the final article over a week ago.
“Well, I haven’t. And you haven’t heard me read it aloud. So, consider yourself lucky. Sit back and enjoy the moment. You’re on the cover of Strive Forward magazine. That’s a big freaking deal.”
I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of her voice. I fucking loved the sound of her voice. It was sweet and sexy all at the same time.
Had I ever noticed a woman’s voice before?
A woman’s freckles?
“Romeo Knight is set to take the boxing world by storm in just a couple of months. When Leo ‘The Flamethrower’ Burns set his sights on Magnolia Falls’ small-town Golden Boy, Romeo was left with no choice but to agree to the challenge. After months of what many would consider online bullying, through social media posts and interviews with any sports network who would listen, Burns was relentless in his pursuit.” Demi paused, and I opened one eye and looked at her.
“What?”
“I really hate Leo. I hope you kick his ass.” She smiled, and my fucking chest squeezed. My hand was resting right beside hers on the couch, and I wrapped my pinky finger around hers playfully. She didn’t pull away. She liked it.
We both did.
This pull was so fucking strong I didn’t know how to fight it anymore.
“I’m just hoping to leave that ring in one piece. If I can kick his ass in the process, that would be a huge bonus.” I chuckled.
The concern in her eyes was cute as hell, but she forced a smile and continued reading. The article went on about my intense training and about how the last fight I’d participated in was the fight where my father had dropped to the mat and was rushed to the hospital. Demi paused after she read the line about him not coming home that day.
“Is it hard for you to be training for a fight now? You know, is it bringing up memories about losing your dad?”
This girl, man.
So fucking sweet.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss him. It’s hard for people to understand. He wasn’t perfect. He made a lot of mistakes. But he was still my dad, and boxing was something that we shared.”
Her brows pinched together. “It doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks. When you love someone, you love all of them. That’s how I feel about Slade. His addiction doesn’t make me love him less. It makes me sad that he is struggling, but I don’t weaponize love.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, as I turned her small hand over in mine and traced the scar that had faded on her palm.
“It means that I don’t hold love over people’s heads. I’m careful about who I love, and when I love someone, it’s forever. I can’t just turn it on and off, and I don’t think you can either.”
“I guess we have more in common than we thought,” I said, my voice quiet.
“Because we both love fiercely?”
“I was thinking more that we both have fucked-up family members, but your answer sounds better,” I said, teasing.
She burst out in laughter, putting her attention back on the article to read the ending.
“Romeo is training hard every day. He’s running until he pukes, boxing until his arms are so sore he can barely lift them the next day, and putting his body through every imaginable form of training to prepare for this fight. I think it’s fair to say that we’re all going to be in for a good showing in Las Vegas come May. I’ll be there. Will you?”
She glanced at the photos that Brinkley’s photographer had taken.
“I look so shiny.” I laughed.
“You look really good.”
“Yeah? Should you be saying that to a friend, Beans?”
“Should you be stroking my palm like some kind of sex god, Golden Boy?”
Goddamn, she was funny.
And cute.
And honest.
And kind.
And sexy.
I was so fucked. The guys knew it. And I knew it, too.
“Some kind of sex god, huh?”
“I don’t know. You’re just looking at me with those bedroom eyes, and your warm finger is tracing over my palm in a way that’s got me all… flustered.”
There was a knock on the door, and I pulled my hand away from hers, and we both straightened.
“Yeah, come in,” I called out.
It was Pinky, and he looked between us curiously. “Hey. Joey called and said he’d be here in twenty minutes and that you should prepare for a beating today.”
“Great,” I groaned. “I’ll be ready.”
“Is it all right if I’m training Demi in the other ring?”
“Yeah. Of course. She can get some inspiration.” I waggled my brows.
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and she smiled. Pinky looked between us and cleared his throat. “Great. I’ll see you in an hour. I’ve got a client now.”
“Perfect.” She pushed to her feet. “I’ve got to place a few supply orders and change my clothes, and I’ll be back.”
“See you soon.” Pinky stepped away.
“Oh, I almost forgot. I wanted to tell you about some research that I did. I found some recipes that I think would be good for you. I was going to make one tonight if you want to come over and try it.”
“Are you asking me out?” I smirked.
“I’m asking you to try some salmon. I’ve already told you, I’m not going out with you until you tell me why you hate my family.”
“Well, I’m not going out with you until you tell me why you fainted that day in my gym.”
What the fuck was I doing?
“Then I guess we’re having salmon, friend.”
“I guess we are.” I pushed to my feet. “My workout will last several hours, so I’ll just come by when I’m done?”
“Yeah. And if you need a sparring partner, just holler.”
I rolled my eyes. “Take it down a notch, Champ. I won’t be getting into the ring with you.”
“I think you’re a little scared of me, Romeo.”
She didn’t have a fucking clue.
She terrified me.
The way she made me feel.
The way I wanted her.
All of it.
She walked out of the office, and my phone rang. My sister Tia’s name lit up my screen.
“Hey, T,” I said, as I walked toward the locker room so I could change back into my workout clothes. My sister and I were close, and we talked a couple of times a week. My family had taken the news of the fight better than I’d expected, aside from my mom blinking back the tears as she listened. We’d talked it out over dinner and then I’d FaceTimed Tia and gone through it all over again. But they understood my decision and even if they weren’t thrilled about it, they would support me.
“Hi! I just bought five copies of the magazine. My God, Ro, you’re on the cover of a freaking magazine. My roommates are all starstruck,” she said with a chuckle.
“Well, let’s see how starstruck they are after the fight.”
“You’re Romeo ‘Golden Boy’ Knight! No one works harder than you.”
“That’s all I can do, right?” I pulled my gym bag out of my locker and set it on the bench.
“Well, Brinks killed it on the article. It’s so good. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. How are classes going? Is chemistry still a fucking nightmare?” I asked, because she’d called crying about how challenging it was a few nights ago.
“Yes. I hate it. But school’s great. I can’t wait for you to come visit again.”
“Yeah. I’ll come after the fight. Right now, I need to focus on doing the work.”
“Agreed. Anything else you want to tell me?”
“About?”
“Mom thinks there’s something going on with you and Demi Crawford.”
I clearly wasn’t doing a good job of keeping this quiet.
And nothing had even fucking happened.
I knew I could say anything to Tia because she was like my mother, and they didn’t judge. Even if they’d hated the women I’d dated in the past, they were always supportive. And Demi was different, so I wasn’t surprised that they’d both push for something there. They’d like her. What wasn’t to like? Aside from her family and her shitbag brother.
Hell, everybody liked her.
“There’s nothing going on,” I said, but there was no conviction behind my words.
She squealed, and I held the phone away from my ear.
“But… you want there to be.”
“I don’t know about that. It would be pretty awkward if I was at one of her family dinners, right? After what they did?”
“That was all Slade. And he’s a weasel. But that doesn’t mean Demi’s not great. I’ve always liked her. And her mom is really sweet, too.”
“The timing isn’t right anyway. I’ve got to focus on this fight. I don’t need any distractions.”
“Well, you can’t always pick and choose when someone walks into your life and knocks you on your ass.”
“No one has been knocked on their ass.”
But even I didn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth.
Because Demi Crawford had definitely knocked me on my ass.
