“I hate you.” Kline shakes his head and grabs a towel to wipe his chest.
“Oh, I love you to,” I chastise him.
“I’m gonna hit the sauna. I’ll see you later.” He tosses his stinky towel at me. He has to be a certain weight for the weigh in. He’s more anal about his weight than I’ve ever been.
“Gross!” I shriek and go to snap him in the back with it, but my delivery is late and I miss. “Shithead,” I call after him. I toss his towel in a basket and grab my bag, heading for the locker rooms to take a whore’s bath and change into my polo and khaki shorts.
Working behind the front counter I am at a loss for words when I see my ex coming from Jay’s office. I duck down and fiddle with the laces on my shoes, I can’t see him today. Today is going good.
As hard as I try I’m not over Royce. I’m not sure if I ever will be.
I hear him shout he’ll be coming around a lot more and my heart stops. In recent months he’s not been training here, at least not when I’m on the clock. Asking Kline about Royce is a major no. They were sort of friends before we began dating. Which is the only reason why I don’t give Kline too much grief about Tiff.
Speaking of the best friend, I’m meeting Tiffany for lunch.
I dread it. I had a message test message from her last night saying my brother was being distant, and she was worried about him. She knows that Charlie is a dick, but I’m not sure what Kline has told her about this fight coming up. She deserves full disclosure. With all that my brother has going on right now, he’s going to be hard to be around. He isn’t the easiest person to love as it is. Kline is very set in his ways. He’s a bit OCD about his training. In his world his career comes before all else, even family at times.
He’s so determined to leave his mark on the MMA world. I do admire his passion, even though at times I feel its misplaced and misguided.
As I’m walking a few blocks over to Healthy Vines, a salad and tea place my phone pings. I have a new notification on my selfie. OZ comments and his screen name has me cackling.
Pussy Wizard: You have my vote ;)
I think he’s flirting. I don’t know what to say back, I’m so not good at the whole flirting and dating thing. I have zero experience aside from Royce. That didn’t go so well. I’ll ask Tiff she’ll know what to do, she’s the best when it comes to sassy and cute.
She calls me over from a table in the back when I walk in. The air conditioning smacking my face is welcoming. I can’t believe she nabbed us a table; we usually have to order to go and eat outside. I go over and greet her briefly. She already has her food so I go up to the counter to order mine. I don’t know why I come here planning to be healthy. By the time I order extra cheese and dressing on my grilled chicken salad, I might as well have not worked out at all this morning. This place has the best dang tea I’ve ever drank though. Not too sweet, but not too strong either. Perfect.
After getting my order I trudge through the line waiting to order and make my way back to our table.
I sip my tea and wait for Tiff to stop chewing before I ask for her opinion on OZ. I’m not exactly looking to date, but a little fun couldn’t hurt. Although I swore to myself I would never get involved with another fighter. Kinda hard not to though when I am surrounded by them daily.
“So what do you think?” I ask sliding my phone across the table. She tucks a blonde curl behind her ear and points her fork at me. “You need to wait before responding. Don’t come off so eager or desperate. I made Kline chase me. Even though I was lusting for him on the inside, I couldn’t let him see that.” She grins and green eyes grow wider. “Pussy Wizard. No just no Brandi. This dude screams Royce 2.0. You don’t need to go there.”
“What if I want to just for fun?” I frown. “I could just post a simple heart,” I announce taking back my phone.
Her hand slams down over my wrist. “Absolutely not. Guys don’t speak emoji. Don’t be one of those girls.” She shakes her head and her curl springs back into her eyes.
I throw my hands up in defeat. “Okay then wise one. What do I do?”
“Give me your phone,” she demands as I dig into my salad before it gets all soggy from the dressing I blanketed it in.
Reluctantly I slide it over.
She powers it off with a proud smirk. “There. Crisis averted. Out of sight out of mind. You don’t want to get involved with a guy who refers to himself as the ‘Pussy Wizard.’ Fun time or not, that’s an STD waiting to happen.”
“You suck,” I mumble between bites.
“I know just ask Kline.” She grins at me and it takes a lot of effort not to stab her in the hand with my fork.
“For the sake of our friendship I am going to pretend you didn’t just say that.”
Tiff rolls her eyes and takes a drink of her tea.
“You’re so lucky I love you,” I tell her as I toss my food in the trash and go back to the gym to finish my shift.
Chapter 2
“Weighing in at 220 pounds, in the red trunks, Kline ‘TNT’ Evans. And weighing in at 235 pounds, in the silver trunks, Brent ‘Killer’ Miller.” The crowd cheers and howls.