Fighting Love (Love to the Extreme) (33 page)

down the highway, she realized she wasn’t sure where to go. Should she go to Mac’s, where

Tommy’d been staying? Or Mike’s, where he was training?

The gym would be the best bet. If he wasn’t there yet, she’d wait for him.

After she found a place to park, she ran down the sidewalk. She spotted Tommy with his head

down, shoulders hunched, just as he was pulling the gym door open.

“Tommy!”

He froze, his head slowly turning in her direction. then he spun and started walking toward her.

“What are you doing here?”

“You can’t do this.”

“Fucking Mac.” Tommy thrust a hand through his hair, his jaw clenching. “What’d he do? Wait

until I was asleep and come to you?”

“He contacted Brody.”

“Brody?” A forced laugh came from Tommy’s mouth as he placed his hands on his hips and

looked skyward. “Shouldn’t be surprised, should I? That asshole has stuck his nose in my business

from day one.”

“You can’t cancel the fight.”

“You won’t talk to me. It was the only thing I could think of to get your attention enough to

know I’m serious.”

“Fine. We can talk now,” she said, crossing her arms.

“Okay.” He reached for her hand, but she couldn’t bring herself to touch him, fearing if she did,

she’d lose herself in him again. Right now, she had to stay focused on herself, on what was best

for her…and that wasn’t Tommy.

When he realized she wasn’t going to take his hand, hurt shone in his eyes and he dropped it.

“How”—he cleared his throat—“how about we find a place to sit?”

“Lead the way.” She followed him down the sidewalk, thankful he’d gone in the opposite

direction of “their” bench. About half a block down, he finally found another bench under a tree,

and sat.

Neither of them spoke, the silence between them tense, thick. Finally, Tommy whispered, “I’m

sorry.”

The sincerity in his voice caused tears to sting the backs of her eyes. Julie dropped her head to

hide them. “I know.”

“I did get caught up in the moment. I was Tommy ‘Lightning’ Sparks again. The superstar. It

felt good.” He paused as he shifted on the bench.

She’d known this, but hearing him confirm it sent another shot of hurt winging through her.

She’d been scared to death of this outcome, had tried to protect herself from it. But the man had

made her believe. Believe in them…only to turn around and jump right back into the lifestyle the

second he stepped foot in it again.

“But you were wrong about one thing,” he continued. “I did think of you…looked for you. All it

took was for me to see you, and I was at ease. But when I couldn’t find you—” He pinched the

bridge of his nose. “Julie, I felt lost. I was filled with so much panic. Nothing means more to me

than you. My life is with you.” He shifted again, taking her hands, squeezing. “Julie. I love you.”

It was the second time he’d said those words in a way she’d waited a lifetime to hear. And a

flare of hope budded in her chest, but it quickly wilted as she remembered how happy he’d been.

The grin on his face. The twinkle in his eye. And no matter how much he said he loved her,

wanted to believe he’d never do it again, had looked for her, he had forgotten her. He hadn’t

noticed her absence for an hour and a half.

She tugged her hand from his.

“Julie—”

“Let me speak now.” A sad smile came to her lips. “You’ve been my best friend for so long. But

you’ve also been so much more to me than that. The other night, I was immediately back in the

past, watching from the sidelines, reliving all those years when you never noticed I’d left a party

because you were too busy with the party…too busy with your women to realize that I was no

longer there.”

“Oh, God, Julie,” he said, voice hoarse, his eyes stricken. “I swear, I didn’t know.”

She waved his words away. “No you didn’t, because I didn’t want you to. I never once thought

we could ever work. Besides, all you’d ever seen me as was your best friend…until you didn’t.” She

paused, the thickening in her throat making it difficult to speak. She swallowed. “We had a great

time these last few weeks. It was more than I’d ever imagined it would be. But you forgot me,

Tommy, when all I wanted was to be by your side. I wanted to be introduced as Tommy Sparks’s

girlfriend. Not kissed on the cheek, then pushed aside…just like you did when you thought of me

as your sister.”

“We were doing great until the Boot Scoot—”

She shook her head. “No, Tommy, we weren’t. It’s been building for a few weeks now. First at

the aquarium, then the reporter, and now this.”

“I don’t have to go back. I can cancel the fight. Get a desk job. Prove to you that it’s you I

want.”

“And then what? You’ll grow to resent me because you’re no longer doing what you love? I

can’t risk that, either.”

He gazed at her, his eyes filled with apprehension. “What are you saying?”

She clasped his hand in hers and met his gaze, no longer caring if he saw her tears or how

hard this was for her to say. Letting Tommy go was the hardest thing she’d ever done. “I want you

to go into that cage on Saturday and kick Moon’s ass. I want you to get everything you’ve fought

so hard for. But I can’t go down that road again, Tommy. I can’t go back.”

“So…this is it?” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat, glancing away as he swallowed.

“Yeah, this is it.”

Before she broke down, she placed a light kiss on his cheek and walked away. Each step harder

than the last, but this was the right thing to do.

He was free now. She was free.

So, why did she feel more bound to him than ever?

…

As Julie waited for the popcorn popping in the microwave, she puttered aimlessly around the

kitchen, opening cabinets, straightening the silverware, restacking the bowls. Anything to keep her

busy.

The house seemed too quiet. Empty.

It had been two days since she’d left Tommy sitting on that bench. Two days of trying to get

through the day as if there weren’t a gaping hole in her life. Tommy had been such a constant for

so long, it was like a piece of her was missing now.

After she’d kicked him out, and she’d had her anger to hang onto, it had been easy to ignore

his absence. But now…now with all her feelings spilled to him and her anger gone, she was faced

with how big a mark Tommy had left in every nook and cranny of her home.

The couch was the center point of so many memories, she was going to have to burn it.

Who was she kidding? She could burn down the entire house, and just seeing a couch would

still trigger thoughts of their first real kiss, and of where he’d shown her how much he’d wanted

her, and of him taking her for the first time bent over the arm of it, or of how he’d tug her down to

lie beside him after a long day.

The most needed piece of furniture in a home—a constant reminder.

Even her dog, who also seemed to be grieving, reminded her of him.

Lucy moped around the house, sending Julie accusing looks, as if she’d been the one to send

her best friend away.

And she had.

Sighing, she returned to the microwave when it beeped. As she poured the popped kernels into

a bowl, a knock came on the door.

“It’s unlocked,” she called. “Come on in.”

A few seconds later, Brody appeared in the kitchen doorway. “You really shouldn’t do that, you

know.”

“I knew it was you by the way you knocked.” She frowned. “Why are you wet?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “It’s raining.”

She listened, and sure enough she heard drops hitting the roof. Funny how she hadn’t heard

that before. Only the silence in the house.

Brody studied her. “You okay?”

She sent him a strained smile. “Wonderful.”

“We don’t have to do this.”

“Yeah. I do, actually.” She passed him the popcorn. Brody had forgone going down to the

arena with his team to instead curl up on the couch here with her. Even though she tried to

convince him she’d be fine, he’d refused to leave her alone tonight.

Tommy would be fighting any minute. Here in Georgia. And she wouldn’t be there.

She’d missed his fights in the past, but now she knew she’d never be ringside again. God, why

did that hurt so badly?

Brody sat on the couch while Julie grabbed the TV remote and turned it on. She normally didn’t

miss a fight in the lineup, but tonight she hadn’t had it in her to watch the hours of matches

preceding the main event. As it was, both men were already in the cage as the announcer

introduced the headline fighters. Tommy and Ricky Moon.

She couldn’t tear her eyes off of Tommy. Black and teal boxing shorts rode low on his hips, and

his chest was bare. He had his gloved hands resting on his hips as he slowly scanned the arena.

What was going through his head right now?

Was he worried? Energized? Normally, she could tell, but not tonight. He just kept looking.

Then it hit her. It was the deafening roar of the stadium. The chanting of his name she could hear

among the screams of Moon’s fans. It had to be a special moment for him.

No matter how things had ended with them, pride expanded her chest. He’d worked so hard

for this return—so deserved this moment.

“How much of a chance does he have?” she asked.

“From what I’ve heard, a pretty damn good one. A lot of it will depend on if Moon takes control

in the beginning.”

“I want him to win, Brody. I really do.”

Brody leaned forward and grasped her hand. “I know you do. You never would’ve gone after

him, convinced him not to cancel, if you didn’t.”

She squeezed his hand as she turned her attention back to the TV. Tommy and Moon tapped

gloves, signaling the start of the fight.

As the men circled each other, a vise tightened on Julie’s chest, making it difficult to breathe.

She took a shaky inhale, trying to calm the nerves attacking her body. Releasing Brody’s hand, she

settled on the couch with her feet tucked up under her, and pressed her laced fingers to her

mouth, muttering, “Please. Please. Please.”

Moon wasted no time charging Tommy, grabbing him around the waist and driving him into the

cage. Moon landed multiple body shots. Each fist that hit Tommy’s torso made her body tenser,

until she felt as though she’d explode from the pressure.

Brody sat forward, a vehement “Shit” spewing from his mouth.

Shit was right. Moon had taken control and had Tommy against the cage within seconds—the

exact same way he’d beaten him the first time.

“He’s got to get out of the clinch!” She shifted on the couch until she was perched on her

knees. “Get out of the clinch, Tommy!”

When Moon grabbed the back of Tommy’s head and yanked it down to meet his knee, Julie

screamed, “No!”

It was like watching history repeat itself. At any moment, Tommy would crumble. The match

would be lost. And his chance at reclaiming his title would be gone for good.

But unlike before, the knee to the face didn’t take him down. Tommy came up with an

uppercut and caught Moon square on the chin. His opponent stumbled back, and Tommy

straightened, chest puffed out. He advanced, not giving Moon a moment to recover, landing

punch after punch.

Brody was on his feet, yelling at the TV. Julie was standing on the couch, jumping up and

down. “Come on, baby. Come on!”

Now Tommy had Moon up against the cage with relentless jabs, making continuous

connections with his sides and head. All Moon could do was bend over and protect his chin with

his gloved hands. One blow to the temple stunned Moon and his hands dropped down a few

inches, exposing his chin. Tommy brought his arm back, and with one right hand, Moon was on

the mat, the umpire covering him, waving his hand.

And the fight was over.

In less than two minutes. Just as that article had predicted…but with a totally different

outcome.

Screaming, Julie jumped around and cheered, then launched herself at Brody, hugging him.

“He won! He won!”

Brody laughed, and he was about to say something when the announcer interrupted with,

“Ladies and gentlemen.”

She waved at Brody. “Shhhh! Here it comes.”

Tommy and a now recovered Moon stood on either side of the announcer. “This fight has

ended one minute and forty-two seconds into the first round by knockout, declaring the winner

and new Middleweight Champion of the World Tommy ‘Lightning’ Sparks.”

The referee lifted one of Tommy’s arms into the air. The belt came out, and her happy grin

started to fade. She stepped away from Brody and moved closer to the TV, gazing longingly at

Tommy.

She wasn’t there with him.

Her eyes were drawn to the photo hanging on her wall from a couple of years ago, where

Tommy held the belt over his head, sweat coating his body, just as he was right now. The only

difference was, in the picture she was beside him, smiling up at him.

“You love him, Jules.”