Chapter 7

seven

. . .

Romeo

Now I couldn’t fuckingsleep because the smell of strawberries and coconut was wafting around my room, and after having her stare at my dick for a good thirty seconds, I was hard as a rock. And it wasn’t like I could relieve myself with her sleeping ten feet away from me.

A fucking Crawford was sleeping in my house.

The guys were going to shit themselves when they found out.

But what was I going to do? Leave her in that place with a broken door? I’m not a complete asshole.

I tossed and turned multiple times, unable to get comfortable because my dick had a mind of his own, and he was literally begging me to wrap my hand around him and release this tension that was bordering on painful.

“Romeo,” she whispered, catching me off guard.

“Yeah?”

“Are you having a hard time sleeping?”

“I guess. I’ve got a lot on my mind.” It was true, but the main reason I couldn’t sleep was because she was here.

“Is it about the fight with that Leo guy?”

I reached for a second pillow and propped it behind my head so I could sit up a bit. “That’s part of it.”

“Are you going to fight him?”

I liked the sound of her voice. It was smooth and sort of sultry, but effortless at the same time.

“I haven’t announced it yet.” I cleared my throat. “But yes, I am.”

“Well, we’re even. You kept my secret, and I’ll keep yours.”

“Mine is going to be public record tomorrow or the next day, so you won’t need to keep it in the vault for that long.” I chuckled.

“Are you nervous about it?”

I could feel the corners of my lips turn up at the question. Demi Crawford could hold her own when I was being a dick, but there was a sweetness there that I wasn’t used to. The last girl I dated sliced my tires with a razor blade, and the one before that fucked a guy at my gym because I went out with my boys one night when she wanted me to come over.

Sweet wasn’t something I’d ever been drawn to.

Not that I was drawn to Demi. She just happened to be here.

“I’m not necessarily nervous. I’m dreading telling my mom, my grandmother, and Tia. They won’t be happy. And I’m not looking forward to this being such a public fight. But I know that I’ll put in the work, and I’ll show up in the best shape of my life, and that’s all I can do, right?”

“Well, just for the record, the Rocky movies are my favorite. Will you train like that? Drink raw eggs and chase chickens around a coop?” I could hear the humor in her voice.

“I guess. It’ll take me about three months of training all day, every day, between work. Luckily, my business is a gym, so that works in my favor. And I’ll need to change the way I eat so I can have the stamina to work out that hard. But I don’t think I need to drink raw eggs. I’m guessing I’ll cook them first.”

“Ahhh… you could be my guinea pig,” she said.

“I don’t think pumpkin chai lattes are on the menu for a boxer.”

“Don’t offend me. I know what kind of food is required when you train like that. I was a nutrition major. That’s my goal for the coffee shop, to incorporate juices and protein drinks into the menu. There’s a green drink I’ve been working on that would be perfect for you. It’s loaded with protein and packed with supplements that will help with energy and muscle repair. Protein shakes would be beneficial between meals, as well. While you’re building muscle and training hard, you need to meet the needs of your body.”

“You worried about my body, Demi?” My voice was gruff.

Jesus, we were talking about green drinks and protein shakes, and I was making it sexual.

She’s a fucking Crawford, dickhead. You won’t speak to her after tonight.

“Sure. I think it will help you to stay healthy. How about you let me try out some of my recipes on you, free of charge? If you like them, you can just tell people about them. It will be an advertisement for me.”

“I can pay for my own drinks,” I said, and it came out much harsher than I meant it to.

“What is your deal with that? I’m not offering you cans of food. We’re neighbors. I offered every business on the street one free cup of coffee. It’s called marketing, not charity. You were the only one who didn’t take me up on the offer.”

“My deal is that I don’t like handouts from rich people, Princess.”

She sighed loud enough for me to know she was annoyed. “I fucking hate being called Princess.”

“Why? If the shoe fits…”

She sat forward, and I could make out her form with the little bit of moonlight coming through the opening beside the window shades. Her back was straight, her shoulders back, and it looked like her hands were in little fists. “The shoe doesn’t fit, genius. Do you see me working every day? I lug in my own deliveries from the alley. I oversaw the renovation and even saved money by helping with the demolition where I could. I work long freaking hours every day. It’s not really princess behavior, is it? You seem to hate being judged about money, yet you’re judging me for the same thing without even knowing me.”

She fell back down, lying on her back, and I knew her rant was done.

“Fair enough. I won’t call you princess again.”

“Wow. He does know how to concede,” she said, her tone lighter now.

We weren’t friends, so I didn’t know why I wanted to keep talking to her. I should end this now and go to sleep. But I didn’t want to.

“I’ll try your green drink, and if it’s good, I’ll mention it at the gym.”

“Thank you, neighbor. That’s the normal response. Was that so difficult?” she asked.

“It was fine.” I pretended to be annoyed, but I was fairly certain she knew I wasn’t. “Why’d you name the place Magnolia Beans if you want it to be more than just a coffee shop?”

She was silent for a long pause. “If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone.”

“I can’t wait to hear the dark and devious secret behind the name Magnolia Beans,” I said dryly, but I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.

“So, when I was in middle school, everyone called my brother Slade the Blade. It’s a cool nickname, right?”

For a dickhead named Slade. But I wouldn’t say that to her.

“Not really my style, but okay.”

“Well, my cousins all had nicknames, too. You probably know them, although they’re a few years older than us and live on the East Coast now. Elliott and Dalton Clark. They’re on my mom’s side of the family.”

“I’ve heard of them,” I said.

“Everyone called Elliott, E-Money. And they called Dalton, D-Dog.”

I barked out a laugh. “E-Money works, but D-Dog is kind of stupid. Why not just Dog?”

“Hey, I didn’t make up the name. But they were all older than me, and I was the only girl, so I wanted a nickname, too.”

“Is there a point to this story?” I asked, my voice light.

“I came up with Beans. You know, like cool beans.”

Now I was laughing hard. “Beans was the coolest name you could come up with?”

“I was twelve or thirteen years old. Beans sounded a whole lot cooler than Demi.”

“So, did your cool sibling and cousins call you Beans?” I asked, and fuck, she was cute the way she just shared her ridiculous shit with me. That was very unexpected.

“Nope. Not a soul called me Beans. I asked my friends, my parents, my cousins, my brother. No one remembered to do it more than once. Slade said I wasn’t really the type to pull off a nickname. So, I’ve always just been Demi.”

That dick.

Why the fuck didn’t he let her use the stupid name if she wanted it?

“Your brother sounds like an asshole.”

“You don’t even know him.”

Oh, but I do.

“I know that he didn’t use the nickname that you asked him to use. I know that he broke into your business tonight and robbed you. That’s kind of enough to label him an asshole.”

And I know that he let me and my best friend take the rap for something that he did.

But the more I knew of her, the less I thought she probably knew about it.

“Fair enough. How about you? Do you have a nickname? Or a handle, like the ‘Italian Stallion’ when you fight?”

I fucking loved that she kept quoting Rocky. They were my favorite movies, as well, but I hadn’t expected them to be hers. 1970s films about a boxer weren’t exactly as popular these days.

“Golden Boy. My friends sort of started it when I’d get into fights when we were young, and it stuck in my boxing career, I guess.”

“Romeo ‘Golden Boy’ Knight. It works. Very cool.”

“Says the girl who thought Beans was a cool name,” I said with a chuckle as I heard her yawn.

What the fuck were we doing talking like this?

I needed to end it.

“You haven’t fought in a long time?”

“Not in a few years.”

“How come?”

“That’s a story for another time.” One I didn’t plan on ever telling her. “Let’s try to get at least a few hours of sleep.”

“Fine. Thanks for letting me stay here tonight. Good night.”

“Good night, Beans,” I teased. I lay my head back down on the bed and closed my eyes as she chuckled.

And I let sleep take me.

River

Big news, boys. Our Golden Boy just agreed to fight that fucker, and Brinkley broke the news about three minutes ago, so get ready for this to be blasted all over town. Let the training begin.

Kingston

Let’s go! I’m ready to see you wipe the mat with his annoying ass.

Nash

Dude, you’ve got this. Looks like we’re all going to Vegas in May, yeah?

Hayes

Fuck, yeah. If you need to use anything at the firehouse for your training, just let me know.

River

What’s he going to do? Climb a ladder and dive into a burning building? Seems a little risky when preparing for a fight.

Hayes

<middle finger emoji> We’ve got equipment he can use, asshole.

I officially start training tomorrow. Working on a training plan right now with Joey.

Joey was Rocco’s son, and he’d trained several professional fighters over the years, as well as being the heavyweight champion forty-some years ago himself. He’d retired a few years ago from training fighters but was coming out to officially train me for this fight. He was family, and I was lucky to have his experience on my team. He and I had spent the last two hours working on a plan for how I’d train. He was old-school, gritty, and he’d get me in the best shape of my life, no doubt. Joey had trained me for the fight against Gunner when I’d earned professional status. I knew he was exactly what I needed. He was scribbling in a notebook and organizing things by the week.

My phone vibrated, and I glanced down to see the group chat still going off.

Kingston

I’m glad he agreed to train you. The dude is going to torture you, though.

That’s what I need.

Kingston

Think of the ladies that we’re going to pull with our boy being all over the media.

Hayes

Don’t be a dick. He’s training for the fight of his life. This is not about how it benefits us.

Kingston

Obviously, we’re there for Romeo. But if we happen to get laid a lot in the process, I’m happy to take one for the team, yeah?

Happy to help you out, old-timers.

Nash

Isn’t there some rule about no sex while you’re training?

Kingston

Mick said that women make the legs weak.

River

Are we talking about Mick, the fictional character who trained Rocky in the movies?

Hayes

For fuck’s sake. <eye roll emoji>

Kingston

Do not hate on Mick. He’s the best trainer to ever live.

Hayes

That’s offensive to trainers that have actually trained fighters in real life.

Kingston

I said what I said.

I’m fairly certain the no-sex thing is a myth.

River

I heard you shouldn’t have sex for six weeks before a fight. Ask Joey what he thinks.

“Hey, the guys and I have a question for you,” I said, and he kept writing, but he nodded for me to go ahead.

“Let’s hear it.”

“Is sex bad for training? Isn’t that something someone just made up?”

He set the pen down and looked up at me. Joey was in his mid-sixties. He was a big dude, bald, and covered in tats. No one messed with him.

“I went home with the championship belt after having sex with Myrna the night before, though I don’t know that I’d recommend doing that. It was a risky move, but you know I can’t keep my hands off my woman.” He reached for his water and took a sip. “I think the rule is that you shouldn’t be out chasing women and boozing it up when you’re training. You need to follow a strict diet and start eating right as of today. No booze. No partying. No fast food. You’ve got three months to show the world who you are, Romeo. The man I know you are. The man your father, God rest his soul, knows you are. It’s game time, son.”

I knew diet was going to be important in my training, and I thought of Demi and her offer about health drinks. I figured it would be easier to drink some of my nutrients each day because I wasn’t much of a cook.

“Got it. Thanks, Joey.”

“I’ll meet you here after your morning run tomorrow. Six miles. I don’t care if it’s snowing. None of this high-class treadmill shit either. You get outside in the cold and the wind, and you run hard. Don’t stop until you’re puking.” He clapped me on the shoulder and left the gym.

I picked my phone back up.

Joey said sex is fine. No more drinking for me for a couple of months.

Kingston

Thank Christ. I couldn’t go three months without sex.

Hayes

You’re so fucking soft sometimes, King.

Kingston

Nothing soft about me. Ask the ladies. <winky face emoji> <eggplant emoji>

River

Well, you may not be soft, because we share the same genes, so I’m guessing you’re right. But you’re definitely too fucking full of yourself. I’d like to see you get into the ring and go a few rounds with Romeo.

Kingston

I’m a lover, not a fighter.

Anyone want to run six miles in the morning with me?

River

Fuck no.

Kingston

It’s Saturday. I plan on sleeping in, Golden Boy. You’re on your own for the running side of things. But I’ll come by the gym after I wake up and cheer you on.

Nash

Interesting, because we have a job this weekend, and we’re meeting at the Wallen Ranch at 7 a.m. tomorrow, asshole. You aren’t sleeping in. River, you’re still good to hang with Cutler for a few hours tomorrow?

River

Yep. I’ll take him to breakfast, and we’ll go check on Uncle Ro at the gym afterward.

Nash

Romeo, did you hear anything about a broken window last night? Someone shattered the front door at Magnolia Beans. We had to do a rush order and get someone out there to repair the glass for her this morning.

I’d never lied to these guys, and I wouldn’t start now. But I also wouldn’t offer more than I had to in a text.

Yeah. I’ll fill you in when I see you tomorrow. But I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.

Kingston

Such a shady answer, Golden Boy. There’s a story there, isn’t there?

River

I’ll see you tomorrow, and you can fill me in.

He wouldn’t drop it. None of them would. But I’d just helped out a girl who was in a bad situation.

They’d do the same thing.

It didn’t mean anything.

When I left the gym and locked up, I noticed the glass on her coffee shop’s front door had been replaced. I paused for a minute and thought about checking on her, but instead, I turned down the alley and made my way home.

I had no business getting involved with Demi Crawford.