With a nod of his head, he uses my arm to pull me closer and we walk out the front door together.
Chapter Fifteen
Christy
Stepping out of the gym, the night air is cool, crisp, and immediately goes straight to my head.
I didn’t realize how smothered I was inside there, surrounded by a group of guys reeking of testosterone, B.O. and sweat.
Alex opens my door for me, and still buzzing from all the oxygen, I slide into his car without really thinking about it.
It’s not until we’re roaring down the street, taking a sharp turn at a high speed, that everything that just happened really sinks in.
The pain, the humiliation, and shame of it all is more than I can withstand.
Alex is staring forward, his hands gripping the steering wheel like he wants to crush it in his grip.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he says without even looking over at me.
I wish I could believe that. I wish I could feel blameless but the guilt of it all is squeezing my chest in a vise grip.
“It’s all my fault,” I choke, unable to hold the tears back.
Now that I’ve been kicked out of the gym, my life has truly gone to shit. All because some asshole grabbed my breasts.
“The fuck it is,” Alex growls, glancing over at me.
“I’ve gotten you kicked out of the gym and now you’re going to lose your match,” I sob like a pathetic wimp and turn away from him.
“You didn’t—“ Alex starts to argue then suddenly stops. There’s a pause and then he’s cursing softly, “Shit.”
I hold my breath and pull my knees up, but nothing will keep the sobs back. I feel the car starting to slow and wrap my arms around my head.
I don’t want to break down in front of him. I don’t want him to see how weak I truly am, but I can’t help it.
I’m utterly pathetic. I’m a complete sham.
I should have known this would happen. I’m such a selfish bitch. I shouldn’t have let him help me. I knew sooner or later I’d bring about disaster—it’s the story of my life.
The car comes to a complete stop and then my seatbelt clicks.
“Christy,” Alex groans, pulling me across the space between our seats and hugging me to his chest. “Don’t cry. Nothing that happened tonight is your fault.”
His arms around me are more than I deserve but I can’t stop myself from reaching out and clinging to him.
“It’s all my fault,” I insist again through my sobs. “I’m cursed. Everything I touch turns to shit.”
“No, don’t say that,” he says, sounding tortured.
“But it’s true. I destroy everything I come in contact with. My mom, my step-dad, my stepbrother, and now you…”
“What are you saying?” he asks, tipping my chin up to look at him.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have never dragged you into my mess.”
“I haven’t done anything I didn’t want to do.”
“You’ve been so good to me; you don’t deserve this.”
“Stop fucking talking like that,” he says with some anger. “You’re fucking wonderful, and you haven’t destroyed me. We’ll find another gym.”
“But your fight is in less than two weeks…”
“And I’m going to fucking win,” he says so adamantly I instantly believe him.
His hands come up and his fingers start brushing my tears away. I look down at my lap, unable to meet his intense gaze. I know he says none of this is my fault but I can’t stop feeling like it is. Like I’ve done something, even unintentionally, to cause all of this to happen.
“And you’re going to win, too,” he says after a moment.
I start to shake my head. His hands tighten around my face to stop me. “You are. Because you’re fucking awesome.”
He tips my head back up and I have nowhere to look but at his face. “You’re the strongest, most capable woman I’ve ever met, and you’re going to crush your opponent.”
My heart skips a beat at his compliment.
“You’re smart,” he says, his voice deepening as his eyes capture my eyes, holding me. “And resilient. And beautiful. And sexy.”
All at once my emotions veer off in another direction. Sadness becomes confusion. Then confusion swells into hope.
“You’re not a fucking curse,” he says huskily, his face looming closer, bigger. “You’re a blessing.”
“Alex…” I start to say but I’m cut off as his mouth covers my mouth.
A jolt of electrical sensation shoots through me, traveling directly to my belly as soon as our lips meet.
The sensation is so strong, so overwhelming, I jerk a little in surprise.
He drags me closer, nearly crushing me in his embrace. But it’s not uncomfortable. No, there’s something about the way his arms tighten around me that feels just right. Like I know he will hold me, he will protect me.
I’m safe inside the cage he has made with his body.