“Yeah, you heard right. Completely ruined my morning.”
“So the sex was good?” She grins.
“Nor, it was amazing. I’m getting real feelings for him and that scares me,” I say as I take a bite of a chip.
“You haven’t had feelings for anyone since Brendan, have you? Hell, have you slept with anyone since?”
I shake my head no to each question. Her eyes bug open. I swear they may fall out of the sockets. “You haven’t had sex in four years? My gosh, no wonder it was amazing!”
“Can you not yell out my sex life?” I deadpan.
“I’m sorry. I’m just so happy you’re finally getting some. So what was the most amazing part?”
“Nosy ass. Like I would tell you. That’s for me to know and you to never know.” I grin as I finish the last of my chips.
“That’s fair. See, things are looking up for you. Now you just need to let him meet Darla.”
My smile fades and I stare at her. “Not yet. I’m not ready.”
“I know. Let’s get back to work. We’ll talk later.”
Before I put it away, I check my phone one last time. I was able to charge it a little on the way here so it’s not as close to dead as it was. I see a message from Austin; it must have just come through.
Austin: I can’t stop thinking of last night.
Paige: We have something in common then.
Austin: I hope you’re having a good day. Sorry for almost making you late.
Paige: Don’t be, it was worth it. I have to get back to work. I’ll text you later.
Austin: Okay baby.
I love when he calls me baby. I know that’s such a typical nickname but it makes me smile and my heart flutters, so you know what? He can call me baby all he wants.
Chapter 20
Austin
I was a little concerned after I dropped Paige off at her apartment. I don’t know that I like the idea of an ex just popping up like that. He didn’t seem too friendly either. I can at least rest my mind and know nothing is going on between the two of them but I can’t help but wonder what the true history is. Has he physically or mentally hurt her before? If he has, I’m not sure I want to know because I won’t be able to keep my cool. I find myself growing protective over Paige and no one poses a threat to people I care about.
I pull into my typical spot at Lou’s and walk in to find the guys talking in the office. Lance is still fuming over his loss from the night before. It’s weird to see him like this. He’s not the typical happy-go-lucky guy I met.
“Hey guys,” I greet them.
“Hey, Austin,” Garrett and Howard reply almost at the same time. Lance just gives me a nod.
“We’re just going over the fights from last night real quick,” Howard informs me. There’s an empty chair in the corner so I go and sit down while they finish talking.
I almost put my two cents in, but I stay quiet and listen to Lance as he continues to beat himself up, over and over again, for not being more prepared. I still can’t figure out for the life of me how he even lost, because I watched the entire damn fight and there was not a single thing he did wrong.
Lance finally sighs and shakes his head. “I’m over it. I lost and that’s that. I’m ready to get happy again. Someone put some Taylor Swift on.”
“No!” Garrett, Howard, and I yell in unison.
Lance just starts laughing and he’s back to himself. “Let’s just get to work since you’re all a bunch of haters.”
Standing to my feet, I follow Lance out onto the mats. “I thought you did damn good last night, man,” I tell him.