Chapter 17

seventeen

. . .

Romeo

The last threehours had been excruciating. Butch was known for bringing the heat, and he and Joey had definitely been putting me through it. I hadn’t heard from Demi yet, which made it tough to focus on this workout, but every time, Butch slapped me harder in the stomach when I sat forward on the endless sit-ups, it forced me to get my head in the game. We’d roped off a corner of the gym where I could work out, because more and more people were working out here now, which was good for business, but not great for workouts, as they were gaping over at me while I trained. A group of women had started coming in to hang out and watch boxers train, me in particular.

“Faster, Romeo!” Butch shouted, and the sweat pouring down my face made it tough to see. My chin grazed my thighs each time I came up, and he’d slap me right across my middle.

And I pushed harder.

“Last ten,” Joey called out. “Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. Done.” I fell back on a gasp and let out a few sharp breaths.

“Good Christ, did you have to hit me so hard?” I hissed at Butch, and he chuckled.

He had a few titles under his belt, and having him on my team was a huge asset. But it didn’t mean I had to enjoy the beating.

“Trust me. That asshole Leo is going to hit a hell of a lot harder than that.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” I took his hand when he offered it, and he pulled me to my feet.

“Can I get a picture, Romeo?” a woman called out, and I glanced over to see her standing next to Pinky’s girlfriend, batting her lashes at me.

“For fuck’s sake. If you aren’t boxing, you have no business being here. This isn’t a goddamn show. You want a show? Buy your ticket to the fight in Vegas, sweetheart,” Joey grumped, as Pinky hustled over and ushered her away.

I guzzled my water, and Butch studied me. “You’re looking good, kid. Couple more weeks of this, and you’ll be ready. But we may need to find somewhere else to train in the afternoons. Having all these people filming you and sharing it on social media is just going to let Leo know how hard you’re working.”

I nodded. “All right. I can try to find a place.”

I wiped my face off with a towel just as Demi walked into the gym. Her eyes were puffy, and when her gaze met mine, I could tell her smile was forced. She held up a bag, asking if it was an okay time to give it to me.

This girl.

My girl.

She was always bringing shakes and food over.

Joey motioned for her to come over before leaning close to me. “I like this one for you.”

“Yeah? Me, too.”

“Hey,” she said, as she moved under the roped-off area that Joey had put up for me to use. “I made a bunch of chicken and salmon and thought you might want some post-workout protein.”

I didn’t give a shit about the protein. I was worried about her.

“That’s exactly what he needs,” Butch said as he winked at Demi. “This one’s a keeper, Romeo. I think I heard Pinky call you Beans. Is that your handle?”

She chuckled, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I mean, only the people here call me that, but it works for me.”

I took the bag from her hand and linked our fingers with my free hand. I wasn’t hiding a damn thing anymore, and I wanted everyone to know that she was mine.

That we were together.

A flash went off, and Joey whipped around to see someone taking pictures again. “Get the hell out of here and give the man some privacy!” he shouted.

“We need to find somewhere else to train, Romeo. This isn’t working, and I know it’s a business and it’s money in the bank to have all these people paying to be here. But we need another location for when we don’t want people watching you.”

“I’ll call around and see what I can find,” I said, anxious to end this conversation and get Demi to my office so I could find out what happened.

“I have the space next to the coffee shop that’s empty. There’s paper over the front window because it’s vacant until I can figure out what to do with it. It’s not fancy, and it’s pretty bare-bones, but it could work if you want privacy.”

“Like I said… I like this girl. We’ll take it, Beans.” Joey laughed and clapped her on the shoulder. “You just might be the Golden Boy’s lucky charm.”

I rolled my eyes, even though I thought he was right. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, all right? I’m going to go eat some protein.”

“Sure, you are,” Butch said with a chuckle. “Good job today. You’re on track, and we’ll just keep pushing until the fight.”

I nodded, did that half-bro hug, handshake thing, and then led Demi to my office. She wasn’t working out with Pinky tonight, and we’d planned for her to meet me here after work. I shut the door, set the bag on the table, and dropped to sit on the couch, pulling her onto my lap.

“Sorry, I’m all sweaty,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her. “Tell me what happened.”

She took a minute as she ran her fingers along the palm of my hand. “He admitted it. All of it.”

I just held her there, knowing that it had to hurt like hell to learn that someone you loved wasn’t who you thought they were. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She turned on my lap so she was facing me. “The other kid that was with Slade that day was Ronny Waterstone.”

“The same guy who attacked you? Looks like he’s always been a piece of shit.”

She nodded. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Obviously, a leopard doesn’t change its spots. My father said that he originally thought you and River were involved, and he was just doing his part to keep Slade and Ronny out of it. Apparently, Slade was riddled with guilt and went to my dad and told him that you weren’t involved. My dad said he hired an attorney to get you and River out of there sooner. As if that makes everything better.”

I nodded. “That could be true. My mom was trying also, but your dad would have had a lot more pull than she did. Listen, Demi, I don’t want to come between you and your family. I didn’t tell you about this because I wanted you to fix it. I told you because I’m crazy about you, and I needed you to know why I had an issue with your brother and your father. But we can’t turn back the clock. It is what it is. It happened. It sucked. But we survived, and we’re stronger for it. And you’re sitting on my lap now, making sure I eat right, so, at the end of the day, I won.” I smirked, and she smiled a real smile for the first time since she’d gotten here.

“I think we both won,” she said. “And my mom and grandfather were really upset. They didn’t know anything about it. My father packed his bags and left for the city to give my mom some time to process. I’ve never seen her so angry.”

Shit. I hadn’t expected that. I figured they were either all involved, or they’d all supported him for doing what he could to protect his own kid.

“I’m sorry about that. I’m sure this has to be upsetting for you.”

She shook her head. “What’s upsetting for me is what he did to you. I won’t speak to him until he apologizes to you and River.”

“I don’t need an apology from him, and neither does River.” The man didn’t have any place in my world now, aside from the fact that I was pretty certain I was falling in love with his daughter. “Did you ask him about the restraining order? Because I had River run Ronny’s name in the system with a police buddy of ours. There is nothing pulling up for a restraining order.”

She nodded, and her eyes welled with emotion. “Yeah. He admitted he lied about that, too. Apparently, I don’t really know my father at all. He just called Ronny and threatened him directly.”

I wrapped my arms tighter around her and tucked her head beneath my chin. I hated the guy, but I knew that she loved him, and for that reason, I tried to say something to soothe her. “Listen, my dad fucked up a lot when I was young, but he turned things around later in life. He owned it, and he did better those last few years of his life. Don’t try to predict the future. Just take it one day at a time.”

“You should be bashing him after what he did. Why are you being so nice?”

“I’m not that nice, Demi. I don’t care for him, but I care for you. And I know you love him, even if you’re angry at him right now.”

“Wow, that was very romantic, Romeo Knight. You’re full of surprises.” She pushed back and rested her forehead against mine.

“You’re full of surprises, too,” I said.

“How so?”

“You’re just—” I took her face in my hands and looked into those gorgeous green eyes. “You’re kind, and you’re beautiful, and you’re strong all at the same time. I’m not used to that.”

“Not used to what?” She raised a brow, eyes searching mine.

“Feeling this way,” I admitted.

“Me either.” She leaned down and kissed me. And then she pulled back. “Can we stop by and see River before we call it a day? I’d like to speak to him.”

“You don’t need to do that. You don’t owe anyone anything. He doesn’t blame you either. We were wrong to hold it against your whole family when you had nothing to do with it.”

“I get it. But he’s your best friend. Can you just take me there so I can say my piece?”

“Sure. Let me eat a few bites of this because my stomach is rumbling. And then I’ll take you over there. You want to ride on the back of my bike? You’ve never been on it before.”

“Very sexy. A boxer with a motorcycle. Let’s do it.”

I devoured two pieces of chicken and some salmon, and we made our way out to the alley. I grabbed the helmet that I kept for my sister at the house and pulled it over Demi’s head, and she slid onto the back of my bike.

We drove the few blocks to River’s place near the water, and I loved feeling her body pressed against mine. The way her arms came around my waist and her hands fisted in my hoodie. We pulled up in front of River’s place, and I helped her off the bike before leading her to the door. River could be an intimidating guy. A loose cannon at times.

But he knew how I felt about her, and he’d hear her out.

“Don’t be nervous. He looks more intimidating than he is.”

We approached the front porch.

“I’m not nervous,” she said confidently as I rang the bell.

He pulled open the door. His shirt was off, his arm covered in tattoos, and he raised a brow. He was an enigma. A brilliant lawyer who’d buried himself in the books to get through law school. Yet he was a total wild card outside of his profession and always had been. He never liked being put into a box.

“If it isn’t the Golden Boy and his little lady.” He smirked. “This is a pleasant surprise.”

There was music playing in the background, and a woman’s voice called out to him. “Is that dinner, handsome?”

I laughed. My best friend was a player, just like his little brother. Neither of them had ever had a serious relationship in all the time I’d known them. I had a feeling it had to do with their upbringing, but it worked for them, so I wouldn’t judge. “We won’t keep you. Demi just asked if I’d bring her over here to talk to you real quick.”

“What’s up, Crawford?” He leaned against the door frame, and she smiled.

“I wanted to apologize for what my brother and my father did to you and Romeo. I confronted him today, and he didn’t deny it. I want you to know that I’m sorry, and I think it’s horrible and disgusting, as did my mother and my grandfather when they found out. If I could turn back time, I would. But I hope you won’t hold my father’s actions against me because this one is pretty important to me, and I know he’s important to you.” She flicked her thumb at me, and I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing my scruff against her neck.

“This one has a name,” I said, and she broke out into a fit of laughter.

River looked between us and then set his eyes on Demi. “Listen, if I held the actions of parents against their kids, I’d have to disown my best friends.”

I shot him the bird, and a wide grin spread across his face. “I misjudged you, and that’s on me. I’m glad you two figured your shit out. It’s nice to see my boy happy. You and I have no beef, Demi.”

“Thank you. That means a lot to me. And you can call me Beans now.” She smirked.

“River, are you coming?” a woman called out from somewhere in the house.

“That’s what she said!” he shouted back. “Now, take him home and make him shower. You stink, Golden Boy.”

He held his fist up for me to pound it, and he did the same thing to Demi. But she surprised us both when she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him. She sniffed a few times, and he looked at me with wide eyes. River wasn’t used to dealing with emotions, so this was foreign.

But more surprising than her hugging him was what he did next.

He wrapped his arms around her and looked up at me. “I think she’s a keeper.”

I barked out a laugh. “Yeah, you and everyone else.”

She pulled back and swiped at her tears. “Thanks for hearing me out.”

I took her hand in mine and led her toward my bike parked in the driveway.

“Hey, Beans,” he called out, and we both turned around.

“Yeah?”

“I assume I get a discount on the fancy drinks now that you’re one of us.”

“Finally. Someone who doesn’t have a chip on their shoulder about a discount. You can count on it.”

“You’re a goddamn lawyer. Pay the girl for her coffee, asshole.”

“See you tomorrow,” River said with a laugh before shutting the door.

“Feel better?” I asked her as I pulled the helmet over her head.

“Yeah. Now, let’s get you home and get you showered so you can have your way with me.”

I gripped her by the hips as she squealed, and I set her on the back of my bike, then burned out of the driveway because I couldn’t get her home fast enough.

And the sound of her laughter filled the air around me.