Sucker Punch (TKO 4)

“Wow, you sound so mature, Brendan. I honestly never thought I’d hear these words come out of your mouth,” I tell him.

“I know, me neither. I had to grow up, though, and I’m glad I did. This guy you were with, he’s a good guy?” Brendan asks.

“Austin? Yeah, he’s nice. I met him in the hospital after he was in an accident. That’s how he lost his arm.”

“Has he met Darla?”

“He met her last night for the first time and it was unintentional. I was at my neighbor’s house for dinner. He knows them and was there.”

“If you two got serious, would he be good around her?”

“Look at you being all protective,” I joke with him.

“You would do the same thing if I were seeing someone,” he replies.

“Are you seeing someone?”

“No. If I hadn’t fucked up years ago, I’d still be with you, but we both know that ship has sailed.”

“To answer your question, I think he would be good around her. But we aren’t dating or anything.”

“You’re beautiful, Paige, he’d be stupid not to want to be with you.” Brendan smiles.

“Today means a lot to me, Brendan, I mean it.”

“It means a lot to me too.” He grins.

Darla comes running up to Brendan and asks if he can watch her slide. He gets up from the table and goes to stand by the play pit. Out of curiosity, I grab the check out of my purse and unfold it. I nearly choke as I read the amount. He wrote a check for five thousand dollars. My face turns a shade of pale and I want to really go tell him I can’t accept this, but the argument would be lost. I just tuck

the check back into my purse and try to forget I looked at it.

Chapter 28

Austin

It’s a little after five in the afternoon and I haven’t heard from Paige. I know she was meeting with her ex today so I didn’t want to bother her, but I wanted to talk to her today.

I just got showered up and my body is a little sore. Lance and I sparred continuously today and it was well worth it. I grab my phone and pull up Paige’s name.

Austin: How was your day today?

Paige: Surprisingly good! How was yours?

Austin: It was good. I wanted to see if I could see you this evening. I just wanted to talk to you.

Paige: Well, since you already know about Darla, I guess so.

Austin: Can I head over in a few?

Paige: Yeah, we’re about to order a pizza so just head over.

I’m elated she said I can go by. This means a lot to me and I can’t wait to get there. I grab my shoes and put them on and head out of the door.

Ruston isn’t home, but I’ll send him a text in a few and let him know I’ll be back a little later. I don’t plan on being at her house too late because she does have a daughter she has to get settled down.

I drive a little faster than I should to her house and as I pull into the complex, a grin spreads across my face. Things have been going so good today, they can only get better. I get out of the car and head straight to her door. I knock lightly and in a matter of seconds, she opens the door.

“Oh hey! I thought you may have been the pizza guy. Come in,” she greets me.