Battle

“Six months later. Her and Tuck have a newborn at home.”

Battle and I squeeze into the back of a cab with Marty and Austin to ride to a local hotel for the mixer. Press awaits us outside of the hotel. Battle holds my hand as we walk to the door. Several members of the press shout at him, asking who I am. He ignores them, signing autographs for a group of kids.

Who am I to him? Are we together like he told Ginger? I’m not his girlfriend, like Austin said earlier. I’m not a friend with benefits because we aren’t having sex. In fact, we aren’t doing anything sexual or romantic. He hasn’t even kissed me. What do you call a man and woman getting to know each other who aren’t kissing or screwing? Oh, my God. We’re … just friends.

We walk to a large table in front of the dance floor where the rest of the group is already seated, including Tucker. Battle has a small bruise on the side of his jaw, but Tucker’s face is covered in bruises and there’s a large gash above his right eye.

To avoid the uncomfortable task of sitting with the group, I ask Battle to buy me a drink. On the way to the bar, he stops and talks to a man he introduces as Jim. He works for the tour and Battle asks me for a minute to speak with him. On my way back to the table, I’m pulled onto the dance floor by Marty and Ginger.

The song ends, transitioning into a slow dance. JT takes Ginger’s hand, and Marty pulls Austin from the table. That leaves me to stand on the dance floor, looking like a desperate groupie, or sit at the table with Cooper and Tucker. Only Cooper isn’t at the table anymore, which means I’ll have to be alone with Tucker. I sit down across from Tucker, avoiding him staring right at me and scan the crowd for Battle. Despite my obvious aversion, Tucker gets up, rounds the table, and sits next to me.

“I’m sorry you had to hear that earlier,” he says.

I stare at him for a moment, wondering if his wife is worth the bruises on his face, the loss of a friend who was like a brother to him, and the near end of his riding career. It’s quite sad actually. Tucker portrays a confidence he clearly doesn’t have if he let a woman come between him and Battle. I’m sure he thinks she’s a damn good woman, worth all of his losses, but a good woman would never come between friends. And if he were ever Battle’s friend, he wouldn’t have believed her lies.

“You aren’t sorry. I heard everything Battle said, and I’m only sorry you didn’t.”

“Me?” he asks, faking shock. “What did I need to hear?”

I pat his hand because I do feel sorry for him. “The part where Battle told you he didn’t fuck your wife.”

“Just ‘cause he don’t admit to it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. You don’t know him like I do.”

Tucker touches the one button that causes doubt to surface. Insecurity snakes its way into my thoughts. I truly don’t know Battle. He guards who he really is from me. However, he doesn’t hide behind a mask, pretending to be someone he

’s not. He merely chooses what he wants to show people and does so when he’s ready. The one thing he’s always shown me, is honesty.

I stare directly at Tucker who wears a grin of superiority. He thinks he’s convinced me, but I’m not finished with him just yet. “Apparently I know him a hell of a lot better than you do.”

His grin disappears before he chugs back a huge swallow of beer. He leans forward, holding the bottle between his legs. “What do you see in him, darlin’? Don’t you know he’s been around a bit?”

“So have you from what I understand,” I counter immediately, realizing his game is to make me fold up and go home—to hurt Battle.

“I’m nothin’ like Battle!” he shouts, slamming his bottle of beer onto the table.

“You’re right. You aren’t. Battle’s loyal to those he cares about, especially his friends, even his…female friends.”

I can practically see the gears turning in his stubborn thoughts. He meets my gaze as the truth settles between us. “Fuck … Stacy asked him if I was cheatin’, didn’t she?”

I nod. “You shouldn’t have put Battle in the middle.”

He shakes his head. “Fuckin’ woman lied to me.”

“She wanted to hurt you, but he was your friend. He warned you.”

“All right, now. I know I fucked up,” he admits, hanging his head.

“It’s not too late to do the right thing.”

He leans back in the chair with a small smile. “I’m sorry for what I said to you.” His eyes crease as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “What actually happened with them?”

I glance up to Battle, striding to the table with purpose. “Why don’t you find out,” I say and stand up.

Battle pulls me close, his gaze moving slowly over my face. “Are you okay?”

“Tucker knows the truth.” I send him a soft smile. “You two should talk.”

Tucker stands and asks Battle to go outside. Cooper returns to the table as they’re leaving. “Ah, shit… Help me find the guys,” he says to me. “They’re gonna kill each other.”