“Having a drink.”
“What’s your game?” I was about ready to get up and leave. I was suddenly frustrated again as the memories of the last year came back to me. It had all been pushed to the background because of the excitement of the fight, but I couldn’t hold it all back forever.
He gave me a long, penetrating look. I felt a shiver run down my spine. “See that guy over there?” Cole asked, nodding across the room.
I risked a glance in that direction and saw a man sitting at a table with an older woman.
“Sure,” I said.
“He’s a pimp and a drug dealer. And he’s one of the better trainers in the business.”
“Seriously?”
“And that guy,” Cole went on, “feeding a shot to your friend, he’s deadly as hell on his feet, an awesome striker. I’m pretty sure his fists could break concrete.”
I raised an eyebrow, watching the guy. He seemed so normal and harmless.
“That guy is a thief. That guy’s a drug addict. That guy can strangle you out in three seconds. That girl’s a fighter, too.”
I sighed, sipping my drink. “Okay, I don’t get this.”
“These are my people, Alex. This is who I am.”
“You’re not a pimp or a drug dealer.”
“No,” he grunted. “But I am a fighter.”
“So what?”
“So, I don’t belong in your world. You’re like my mother, clean and proper. I live my life fast and hard.”
I felt my anger rising again but forced it back down inside me. For as annoying as he could be, I was surprised by how open he was. It was like he was trying to bring me into his world but didn’t know how to do it.
And I didn’t know if I wanted to see it. Part of me wanted him to just be that guy from the vacation. I wanted him to stay a faceless and nameless force that I needed to exorcise from my life. I didn’t want to get to know him, because I was afraid that I was going to like what I found out.
“Then divorce me if you really think that.”
“Not yet.”
Before I could respond, a man suddenly loomed up in my peripheral vision.
“Cole,” he said, “I’m surprised to see you here.”
Cole barely acknowledged him. “Ronnie.”
I looked up at the guy named Ronnie. He was tall, maybe as tall as Cole, and about as built. He had a scar down his lip, making him look like he was constantly sneering. His eyes were so brown that they were almost black.
“Thought you ran away.”
“You know I didn’t,” Cole grunted.
“Yeah, I know. You were busy sucking Skad’s dick out in the jungle.”
Cole looked up at Ronnie then, his expression completely blank. “You should walk away now.”
“Nah, don’t think I will. See, you’re a low-life piece of shit, and I don’t want you coming back here.”
Cole sighed, slugged back his drink, and then slowly stood up. “All right. If that’s what you want.”
The two men squared off, and there was a hush over the room. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, trying to explode out of my rib cage. I was terrified that violence was coming, violence like the kind I had seen in the ring. But I wasn’t sure I was ready to see it up close.
And then Ronnie burst out laughing, and Cole grinned, and they threw their arms around each other, hugging. The room resumed talking as they laughed and embraced.
“You piece of shit,” Cole said. “Jealous motherfucker.”
“Jealous? Fuck yes I’m jealous. You got to train with fucking Skad.”
“Alex,” Cole said, looking at me, “this is Ronnie. He’s my old training partner.”
“Well hello there,” Ronnie said, turning to me.
“Nice to meet you.” I was so relieved that I could hardly form words.
“I think we scared the lady,” Ronnie said to Cole. “Listen, Alex, how about I buy you a drink?”
“Careful,” Cole said to him.
Ronnie raised an eyebrow at him. “What? She yours?”
“I’m not anybody’s,” I said.
“That’s my stepsister.”
“Stepsister?” Ronnie burst out laughing again. It was an infectious sound, and I found myself giggling with him. “Can’t believe there’s finally a girl you can’t actually fuck.”
Cole gave me a grin as Ronnie calmed down and sat with us. He ordered new drinks for everyone, and then Ronnie and Cole began to talk shop. I got lost in their back and forth banter about the different fighters. Ronnie caught Cole up on what had happened since he had been gone, which apparently was a lot.
I kept glancing over at Lacey. She seemed okay, though she was awfully close to that one dangerous boy, and I was pretty sure she was hammered. I didn’t care if she wanted to go home with him or whatever; I just wanted her to be safe. Cole noticed me glancing at her and gave me a look, like he was reassuring me or something.