The Fighting For Love Series

Chapter 15

“Jesus Christ, Mia," Katie exploded the second that she saw her friend on Monday afternoon. "You said it wasn’t that bad!”

“It’s not. Really. It looks way worse than it feels.”

“I’m very glad to hear that because it looks pretty f*****g bad.”

Mia closed her eyes, and called on her deep reserves of patience and genuine affection. She knew that Katie was scared and freaked out by what had happened to her and – in typical Katie fashion – it was coming out as anger and aggression. Despite knowing that, it was still a bit wearing and wearying. Mia smiled, though, since she was in actual fact, just fine.

Katie studied her friend’s face. God, Mia looked terrible. That bruise was black and purple, and she was favoring her shoulder a bit.

When Mia had called her the day before and told her what had happened to her, Katie had been nothing short of terrified, and had damn near run to the airport to take an earlier flight back to Denver. Thank God for that guy Nick; Katie was totally sure that he had saved Mia from something unimaginably horrible. She took a deep breath.

OK, dial it down a notch, Katie. No need to upset her any more than she has been.

“I’m sorry, Mia. I didn’t mean to shout.”

“It’s OK. I know that the shouting is coming from a place of love.”

Katie huffed a tiny laugh. “OK, OK... got it. But are you sure that you want to come with me? I mean, I can handle things at the club on my own.”

“No, I’m fine. I promise.”

“You sure?”

“Totally.”

“OK, well. Let’s get going then. I told Nick that we’d be there around three o’clock.”

“I’m ready.”

As they drove through the streets of the city in Katie’s car, Mia tried to decide how she felt about seeing Nick again. Their goodbye the day before had been rushed and weird, as Nick just put her into a taxi and sent her on her way. She shouldn’t have been surprised it was awkward, she supposed: despite the fact that he had stayed with her, and she had slept in his bed, and cried in his arms while they were both half-naked, Nick was still a stranger. She didn’t know one single damn thing about him. Not really.

Well, maybe that would change a bit. They were at the building now, and Mia looked up at The Rock Fighting Club with interest. So this was where Nick spent his days.

They entered The Rock, and a large man sitting at the front desk smiled at them. He had sandy-blond hair and very green eyes, and Mia thought he could probably crush her with his baby finger.

“Hi. Are you Mia and Katie?”

They nodded.

“I’m Gavin Meyers, the club manager. Adam and Nick are in the gym… you want to follow me, ladies?”

They walked into a massive room filled with noise and activity. Two men were in a ring with boxing gloves, there were a bunch of women doing what looked like a kickboxing class, and other people were spinning and kicking on a large mat. From across the room, Mia spotted Nick, and she felt her breath catch.

He had his back to them and he was doing pull-ups on a bar; he was wearing a pair of loose white pants and nothing else. His back and arm muscles rippled as he lifted and lowered himself with what looked like no effort at all. He had a massive tattoo across his upper back, she saw now, and she wondered how she had missed it the day before. Every woman in the place was watching him and practically drooling, and Mia didn’t blame them in the slightest.

Katie nudged her and hissed, “That’s Nick?”

Mia tore her eyes from his amazing body and nodded. “That’s him.”

“Wait. You got into bed with this guy – this guy! – and you didn’t have s*x with him? Have you got a pulse, girl?”

“Well, in my defense, I was passed out cold most of the time.”

Katie shook her head. “No goddamn excuse… I mean, look at him.”