“You’re terrible at poker,” Clay reminded him. “Why’d you always say you’re betting on the fights when you and me both know you ain’t doing any such thing.”
Wyatt rolled onto his back and then sprang to his feet, showing off amazing agility and martial arts skill. He ran his fingers through his hair and avoided Clay’s eyes as he said, “It’s better than saying I’m worried and I don’t want you to get too hurt, ain’t it?”
Clay considered the confession as he looked up at Wyatt, whose face showed deep concern. Finally he nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that’s definitely better. Go back to that; it was working.”
Wyatt laughed, his smile bright once more. “Then you better get your ass up and get back to training, ’cause I ain’t losing a bunch of money just ’cause you’re lazy.”
Clay rolled back and then sprang to his feet the same as Wyatt had. Hours of this and he was starting to get tired of the abuse. He didn’t want to spar with Wyatt. He wanted to see Melody.
He glanced at his watch and raised his eyebrows thoughtfully. “You wanna take a shower and then go grab lunch?”
“No, I don’t,” Wyatt said in disbelief. “I had to hire an extra deputy and take a pay cut to be your training partner. Not to mention the night shift I’m on. So guess what, Clay ‘Powerhouse’ Powers, that’s what we’re doing. We’re gonna train, and you’re gonna be fucking happy ’bout it.”
“I pay you to be my training partner. You make twice as much off me as you lost in the pay cut.”
“Yeah, but I’d be doing it even if you weren’t paying me,” Wyatt said, giving Clay a look of insult. “Now stop thinking about your piece of pie and get your head in the cage before you come back to that pretty waitress in a body bag.”
Clay glared, feeling irritated that Wyatt was right. Rather than complain, Clay jumped at him. He threw his shoulder into Wyatt’s chest and knocked him off his feet. The two of them started grappling. Fists and kicks were reserved for the equipment after the last cage match that ended with stitches, so all he could do was pin Wyatt enough times to work off the frustration.
* * * *
Muscles aching, freshly showered, Clay was starving and ready for lunch. He put his UFC hat on and walked out of the locker room ahead of Wyatt, who always took longer. Wyatt was going into work after lunch and needed to be in uniform. Plus the asshole was vain as could be. He always fussed with his hair, and the bastard had the nerve to give Clay shit about some cucumber-scented body wash?
“Clay.”
He turned around, the smile dying on his lips when he looked at Melody. She was put together for work, with her usual blue and white uniform. Her hair was back up, her glasses on, but her face was flushed, her eyes puffy and red. It was obvious she’d been crying.
Clay rushed to her and instinctively grabbed her waist. He pulled her close, studying her face in concern. “What happened?”
Melody buried her face against his chest rather than look at him. One hand reached up to run over his pectoral muscles, her open palm stopping to rest over the place where his heart was beating wildly out of control.
“Tell me,” he pressed, his hand sliding up to rub her back.
She lifted her head, her eyes swimming pools of green beneath her glasses. Her face scrunched up, and she bit her bottom lip against a sob. Clay wanted to push, but he let her take a shuddering breath and waited patiently until Melody finally tilted her head and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “Yes, I do.”
“What is it?”
“We can’t—” She squeaked. Her hand covered her mouth, and her eyes closed tight against the pain that was so palpable Clay could taste it in the air around them. “W-we can’t be together anymore.”
Clay gaped, his heart plummeting into his stomach. “What?”
“I told you I was broken,” she whispered as she lowered her head and wiped at her cheeks. “You should’ve listened.”
“You’re not broken, Mel.” He rubbed her back again, hoping to God this was just cold feet. He studied her face streaming with tears, red and blotchy; she was still beautiful to him. “I think you’re amazing.”
“Oh no no no.” She shook her head frantically, another sob bursting out of her. “Don’t do that. Please don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?” Clay tried and failed to keep the gruffness out of his voice, because he was suddenly very scared Melody was slipping through his fingers. “What am I doing wrong? Why’s this happening?”