His words cause my blood to run cold. I haven’t heard that name in years. A fear runs through me that I’ve never felt before. This is bad shit.
“Shit! I have to go,” I say through gritted teeth. “Thanks, man.”
I take off walking, allowing the anger to build up inside at the memory of the last time I saw Alex. It was the worst night of my damn life and still I wouldn’t take back what I did. I have no regrets, but I don’t like the thought of him out there somewhere fucking up just like I did.
“Memphis! Come on, bro. Stay and chill with us. Give the crowd a good fight. It’s been six years.”
“Can’t. I’m done with this shit, Trevor. I’m over it.”
“You’ll be back. I give it a week,” he yells. “A fucking week. You can’t turn away from something that’s in your DNA.”
I don’t look back to react to his words. Instead, I just walk as fast as I can until I’m back to my truck.
Right as I’m about to open the door Rachel appears out of nowhere, places her hand on the door, and slides in between me and my truck. She looks up at me with those big blue eyes before placing her hand on my chest and pulling her bottom lip into her mouth. I’d recognize those red lips anywhere.
She’s damn cute and she knows it: blonde hair, short, denim skirt, and red cowgirl boots to match her lips. My dick may hate me later, but fucking is not what I have in mind right now. Everyone that I touch gets hurt. They always have. I was just too much in denial to admit it back then.
“That was damn sexy what you did back there, Memphis.” She smiles while running her hand down my stomach, stopping just above my belt. “You knocking him out with your knee. Everyone out there is always talking about you, you know. I heard you’ve only ever lost one fight and it’s because you were drunk out of your mind. All the guys want to fight like you and all the girls want to fuck you, including me. I’ve waited a long time and I’m really horny right now.”
“Rachel,” I say with a snarl. “I see you haven’t changed for shit,” I mutter as she slithers her hand down to cup my package with a moan, groping me through my jeans.
She bites her bottom lip and moans. “Mmm . . . exactly what I expected to find. A big, hard dick. I can take care of that, baby.”
Grabbing her wrist, I pull her hand away from my dick, spin her around so she’s out of my way, and open my truck door. I can tell by the smell of liquor on her breath that she’s wasted and I really don’t have time for this. I need to keep my head straight. Fucking her won’t do anything to help that at the moment.
“You can keep on waiting. I don’t have time for your shit.”
She gives me a shocked look before crossing her arms over her small chest. “Are you serious, Memphis? Don’t act as if you didn’t want me in the past. I know you did. Now is your chance. I’m right here, asshole.”
Pinning her against my truck, I move in close enough to lean into her, beside her ear. She lets out a little moan as her breathing picks up in anticipation. Brushing my lips under her ear, I whisper, “That was in the past, Rachel. Things have changed. I’ve changed.”
Backing away from her I get in my truck and start the engine, watching as she walks away. I don’t even feel bad as I drive off. She’s not worth stressing over.
ONCE I GET BACK TO the house I park my truck in front of the garage and sit for a while, taking in my surroundings, and realizing how different everything is going to be now than before I left. I never thought that freedom could make me feel so empty, but I definitely feel it. This feeling hits you hard and it’s definitely tough to swallow.
Jumping out of the truck, my eyes wander over to the house next door. It was one of my father’s rental properties back before I turned seventeen, but then he stopped renting it out. It’s weird knowing that someone is staying there now; someone beautiful as hell . . . from what I could see.
I have to admit, I was a little shocked when I saw her staring out the window at me, as if she wanted nothing more than to know me. She was looking as if she had no shame, even knowing that I had caught her; she just stared back. It took just that one moment for me to get lost in those damn eyes. I just need to remember to keep my distance, although, it shouldn’t be that hard. I’m used to it.
Already knowing I won’t able to sleep, because I never can, I grab my guitar and sit on the back porch. I let myself enjoy the feel of the light breeze against my T-shirt as I play.
It’s been years since I have been able to play my guitar in this spot, and feeling it in my hands is bringing back a lot of memories. Memories that consist of the person I wish I could have been—the person I tried to be and failed due to my need to fight. Everything started with fighting and ended with it.