26
Luke
Fucking fucker.
Me: Eth. Get Avery to check on Liv NOW. Even better go to her. She’s got her location sharing with Aves so you can find her if she won’t answer her phone.
Text sent, I threw my phone as hard as I could, watching detachedly as it smashed against the wall. Picking it up, uncaring that the screen was shattered beyond repair, I shoved it carelessly into the pocket of my jeans.
What have I done?
It was for the best.
Anger and pain coursed through me, filling me so that there was no room for anything else.
I had to do something.
I started running.
Raging at myself, breathless from my run, I pushed open the heavy door and entered Savage Boxing Gym. The first person I laid eyes on was Jake Savage, talking to another guy. He caught my eye and his jaw dropped, and he said something to the other guy before striding over to me.
“You okay, mate?” he asked, his tone cautious.
“No, I’m fucking not,” I gritted out. “Are you up for sparring with me?”
“Easy now, Davenport. You shouldn’t be going up against anyone in this frame of mind. Have a go at the punch bag, yeah?”
“I guess,” I muttered. “Do you have anything I can change into? I didn’t plan on coming here.”
“Yeah, course. Let me grab you some stuff.” He jogged over to the front desk and came back with a bundle of clothes. “Here ya go. These should be the right size; if not, swap them. All new, official SBG branded. You mind paying for them?”
“Whatever. Take my bank card and sort it out while I change.” I thrust my debit card at him and jogged into the changing rooms.
I went at the punch bag with all the fury and misery that burned through me, shouting as I pounded it into oblivion. My throat hoarse and my energy spent, I sank to the ground, resting my head on my knees.
The anger had been replaced by emptiness. I felt nothing but numbness, the voices in my head silent.
“Luke?”
“Alex? What’re you doing here?” I raised my head to see my friend eyeing me warily.
“Jake phoned me. You wanna tell me what’s going on? Or I can get Ethan. Or something…” He trailed off, unsure.
“Thanks, mate, but there’s nothing to say.”
“Luke.” He crouched down next to me, his face sombre. “Jake wouldn’t have phoned me without good reason. He said you came running in here looking all wild and shit, like you were about to fucking murder someone. If you don’t wanna talk about it, then don’t, but I’m not leaving you. I turned down a guaranteed shag to come here.” He stood, stretching. “Wanna come over to mine and play Xbox?”
“As long as you promise not to talk.” I sighed in defeat. He had that stubborn look on his face that meant he’d made his mind up.
“Deal. I’m no Ethan. I’m no good at all that talking stuff. I’m your man if you want Xbox and beer, though.” He inclined his head towards the door. “Come on. My car’s outside and I don’t wanna get clamped. Or keyed.” He frowned worriedly. “I’d better wait in the car. Go and shower, then meet me out the front.”
“Alright,” I acquiesced grudgingly. Clambering to my feet, I pulled off my boxing gloves, unwinding the wraps from my hands. Flexing my stiff knuckles, I made my way to the changing rooms.
Alex was uncharacteristically silent during the drive back to his house. Fine by me. If he’d tried to talk, I would have lost my shit. As it was, I was hanging on by a thread. This day had been a fuck-up of epic proportions. I settled back against the cool leather seat of the Range Rover, identical to mine and Ethan’s, and closed my eyes.
The TV screen blurred in front of me. Throwing the game controller down onto the sofa, I massaged my temples furiously, trying to ease my pounding headache.
“I can’t take any more.” Alex’s voice was pained. “Mate, what’s going on?”