Fighting Love (Love to the Extreme) (21 page)

bag slung over his shoulder.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve got stuff to do,” he said, without even glancing at her. As the front door closed behind him, he

said, “Don’t worry. I called Brody. He’ll help you today. He’s better for you, anyway.”

Then the door closed.

Shocked, her mouth dropped open. He’d
called
Brody? The same man Tommy had told her in no

uncertain terms he wanted her to stay away from? The same one he’d said he didn’t trust with her?

Tommy was now giving her to Brody because he was
better
for her?

For a man she thought she knew inside and out, she was learning she didn’t know her best friend at all.

…

Tommy had spent the day looking at different rental houses and apartments, finding nothing he wanted

to put down a deposit on. Finding a place shouldn’t be this hard. For the most part, all he really did was

sleep and eat there, spending most of his time out.

Hell, he’d found his other place within a couple of hours. It had met his needs, and he had put down the

deposit and started moving in that same day. The search today had been the complete opposite. Each of the

places he looked at had been missing something. What that was, he had no fucking clue. But as he’d looked

around at each new rental, he just wasn’t feeling the walls around him. So he’d gone on to the next. And

then felt the same.

Twelve places, and not a damn one of them suited him.

As he walked down the sidewalk to Mike’s gym, he shook his head in disgust. Maybe he’d been too

distracted because he’d known Julie was with Brody all day. He’d called the man in the heat of anger—at

himself. Having Julie say she wasn’t like everyone else and she deserved better had just reminded him that

he had once again failed her. And he would continue to do so if he didn’t find some way to get their

relationship back to where it used to be. So he’d pushed Brody back at her.

At least
he
would know how to treat her right. If Tommy really cared for Julie, he’d want that for her.

So he
was
being the bigger man. He sure as fuck didn’t feel like it, though. Jealousy had churned in his gut

all day as he thought about what they could be doing. And it had taken a massive amount of willpower to

not go back to her place and kick the ass out. Somehow, he’d managed not to make a total fool of himself

and actually do it.

Now, for the next three hours, Mike would kick
his
ass, and then hopefully he’d be too exhausted to

give a shit.

He yanked open the door, immensely thankful that the first face he saw was Mac’s. As he stepped

inside, the rest of the place seemed to slow, then stilled altogether. God, where were his spurs when he

needed them? It was just like a showdown in some old Western movie. His peers stared at him. Some

openly scowled. Others watched curiously. Tommy had known his first day back wasn’t going to be a piece

of cake, but this was bordering on worse than he’d thought.

Inhaling, he forced a collective smile. “Don’t let me stop you.”

Everyone continued to stare. A muttered, “This is bullshit,” rang loud inside the quieted room.

All righty, then.
Here goes nothing
. Dropping his bag to the floor, he stepped farther inside. “You’re

right. It is bullshit. If I were one of you guys, I’d think the exact same thing. I fucked up. I let everyone in

this building down, including myself. I don’t expect anyone to accept me back with pats on the back and

hearty welcomes. I don’t deserve it. Not after the way I acted, not after many of the choices I made. But I

have changed. I’m going to prove that to each one of you. I’m going to
earn
your respect back. Are we

clear?”

A few mumbles echoed around as the men nodded, and everyone went back to what they’d been doing.

That was as good an agreement as he was going to get, and he’d take it.

As Mac passed behind him, he squeezed his shoulder. Mike strode up to him. “I hope you mean

everything you just said.”

“I do.”

“Then get your butt into that locker room and change. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

…

On edge, Julie stalked around the living room, then climbed up on the end of the couch, bringing her

knees to her chest, and gnawed her thumbnail.

Brody gave an exasperated curse. “Are you going to at least tell me why I’m here, since it looks like

you’re moving around just fine on your own?”

She stopped chewing on her nail and shot a glance at him. He sat on the edge of the cushion with his

elbows braced on his jean-clad knees, studying her. God, she kept forgetting he was here.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not being much company, am I?”

“Yeah. Try
no
company.”

Puffing out a breath, she lowered her legs and sat on the couch like a civilized person and not one

completely agitated by a pain-in-the-ass jerk who’d just handed her over to another man. “I did try to tell

you not to come by.”

“I also didn’t believe you when you said you were fine, since it was
Tommy
who called me.”

The rat bastard. “That one shocked me, too,” she admitted.

When she’d called Brody back after Tommy left this morning, she’d known he wasn’t buying any of

her reassurances. And she couldn’t bring herself to admit what had motivated him to call Brody. That he

just wanted to get away from her.

She had finally convinced Brody she wanted to take a nap because she really wasn’t in the mood for

company. But all it had done was buy her a few hours. Brody had knocked on her front door about an hour

ago, and had pretty much watched her stalk around the house ever since.

“Going to tell me what happened?” he pressed.

Should she? She scrunched her nose, studying him. “We’re friends, right?”

“I’d like to think so.”

All right. Going over this repeatedly in her head all day hadn’t gotten her anywhere. She needed some

outside perspective. And he
had
helped her last time they’d talked.

She shifted toward him on the couch. “Okay. I’ve got a problem.”

“Obviously.”

“Tommy kissed me. And things got…heated.” Her skin warmed as she remembered exactly how heated.

“Then he totally freaked out, and now I’m not sure if I’m regretting what happened and want to leave well

enough alone, or if I want to push him to see what might happen next.”

His head tilted slightly to the side. “Why would you regret it, Jules? Haven’t you been in love with the

man most of your life?”

“Yes. But I’ve also been very rational when it comes to him. And that rational part is blaring an air raid

siren, telling me to leave it alone.”

“Why?”

“If we do this, everything changes, and there is no going back.”

“Isn’t that the way it already is?”

“I thought so when I believed the attraction was mutual. Then he kissed me, and…and everything else

happened…and I realized I must be wrong. He ran practically screaming from the room, Brody. So I’m

pretty sure I can still escape this intact, if I do it now. But if we go any further and we really can’t make it

work…I lose him. If that happens, it may destroy me.” She held up her hands. “I’m worried about
me
. Is

that selfish?”

He was silent for a moment. “No. It’s not selfish. You and Tommy have been a part of each other’s

lives for a very long time. I think it’s natural for both of you to be scared to change that. But there’s a

problem with your rational thinking.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re in
love
with him. And no matter what, or how rational you believe you are, there will always

be what-ifs. And
this
what-if will eventually eat you alive. If you don’t see this through, you’re going to

look back on this moment and always wander how it would have been different, if you’d just taken the

chance.”

Lord, she had never thought of it like that. She’d thought only of
losing
Tommy, and had never looked

at the possible consequences from the other side of the coin. To be honest, it was still hard to let go of that

thinking.

“What if we do go ahead, and it ends up being something I look back on and regret? He’s my best

friend, Brody. I can’t see my life without him in it.”

“All right, the counterargument to that is, what if you and Tommy are
supposed
to be together as a

couple? What if this is the
start
of your relationship together? What if you don’t try, and the two of you

never find anyone else?” When she opened her mouth to voice a rebuttal, he held up his hand. “I’m not

making light of your worries. They are real, and could very well be the outcome. But there
is
another side

of this scenario. And that side could possibly bring a lifetime of happiness.”

She peered at him, letting his words sink in for a long moment.

He was right. She didn’t necessarily like it, but he was right. “And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll at least

finally know for sure, right?”

“Right.”

She let out a breath. This was a terrifying road she was about to venture down. She could very well end

up with her heart shattered in a million pieces. Even worse, she could lose her best friend forever. But she

had to stop thinking that way, stop looking at only the negative. Because if this went in the opposite

direction from her worries, a whole lot of positive would happen.

“So you think I should just go for it?”

“I would. But you said Tommy freaked out. Did he say anything?”

“No. He honestly just jerked away from me as though he suddenly realized who I was, and then bolted

from the room. Didn’t really say anything to me this morning, either, other than he called you to help me

and that you would be better for me anyway.”

“Did he?” There was a slow, interested edge to Brody’s tone. “Hmm.”

“What?”

“Just seems Tommy is going to need a little more prodding than I realized.”

She leaned closer. “Any ideas?”

Amusement lit his eyes as he laughed softly. “Give me a little time, but I’m sure I can come up with

something before he gets back.”

Julie nodded. Nervous energy gripped her. While part of her was ready to go for broke, she wasn’t sure

what would happen when she came face-to-face with Tommy. A part of her was worried she’d chicken out

in fear of him storming off again. She didn’t know if she could handle him winding her up so tight, and

then just leaving. As secure as she was with herself and her body, having a man jump off her and bolt from

the room in horror was a blow to the self-confidence.

“I’m getting thirsty. You mind if I grab a drink?” Brody asked.

“Oh my God. I’m being a terrible hostess. What would you like?”

When she started to rise, he shook his head and stood. “No. I’ll get it. Want anything while I’m up?”

“Water would be nice. Thank you.”

He smiled and went into the kitchen.

She sat back against the cushions. If she wanted to push Tommy, what would be the best way to go

about it? He seemed freaked out about touching her, or even being near her at this point. How would she be

able to start anything if he refused to get close? She’d just have to play it by ear. Not her usual method of

doing things, and definitely outside her comfort zone, but she did need to learn to relax and go with the

flow.

Brody returned, carrying two glasses of Merlot. As he handed her one, he said, “For some liquid

courage.”

Chuckling, she smiled. “Good idea.”

As Julie took a long swallow of the drink, Brody sat next to her on the couch and placed his glass on

the coffee table. “How’s the back feeling?”

“Much better. A little sore, but I can feel like this from raking leaves.”

“So you’re moving okay now? No catches or anything?”

“Nope.”

“Absolutely sure?”

“Yeah. Why—”

A key jingled in the door.

Brody met her gaze with a wink. “Okay, now don’t get pissed.”

She frowned. “What are you—”

As the door opened, Brody lunged on top of her, pushing her back against the cushions, his chest

pressed against hers, lips latched onto hers. She was so stunned she froze, hands on his shoulder, vaguely

aware of the roar that came from the background. One moment Brody was laying on top of her, the next

Tommy had hurled him across the room by the back of the shirt. He advanced on the man, all raged out,

hands clenched at his sides.

“I told you if you laid another fucking hand on her, I’d make sure you’d never enter the cage again.”

Brody pushed to his feet. “And I said you’d better claim her quick, then, didn’t I? Since
you
called
me
,

I figured that was you telling me she was free for the taking.”

Julie gaped. When had
this
conversation happened? Really, she should get up and stop this nonsense,

but she was completely captivated by what was unfolding in front of her. No man had ever been this