what it was. I don’t like that I feel indebted to you, and even more so I fucking hate that she changed with your help but not mine.” I lean against the wall with my head down, hating that I just admitted that to him but it’s the truth. I think that’s what pisses me off the most. How many times did I try to get her into rehab only to have her refuse? Sure I couldn’t afford where Jaxson probably sent her but she wouldn’t even consider the idea.
“Do you really think your home life skewed my perception in some way?” he asks. “You have no fucking clue where I come from. I’m not saying your life was sunshine and rainbows but believe me when I say I come from my own hell. Your mom fucked up and she knows it, but she didn’t change for me, she changed for you. I just helped get her there. As for your debt, you owe me shit. I didn’t just do it for you, I did it for Anna.” My head snaps up at the mention of her, the sound of her name burning like salt to an open wound. Jaxson leans against the wall next to me, matching my stance. “I did whatever she asked for. I did anything and everything I could to help her stop hurting so much. She was fucked up for a long time when you sent her away like that.”
The image of her that day at the prison flashes through my mind and I grind my teeth against the memory. “Are you saying that I did the wrong thing?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all. I think you did the right thing. I would have done the same. Actually, I did something similar with Julia and it was hard, but I stand behind my decision. Sometimes doing the right thing fucking sucks.”
He’s got that right.
“Well whatever your reasons were for helping, thank you. I’m glad to know my sister wasn’t suffering the entire time I was gone.”
We both don’t miss the fact that I leave my mom out of the equation, but thankfully he lets it go. “You’re welcome. Now about Anna showing up at the fight.”
I hold my hand up to ward off whatever he’s about to say. “Look, it wasn’t my place to tell you and I figured she would eventually. But I will say that she is not ever stepping foot in that place again.”
“Damn straight. I told her the same thing.”
I grunt. “Well hopefully she took it from you better than she did me.”
He shrugs. “Probably the same, but she did agree that she wouldn’t go back. Apparently it was her first time, all I care about is that it’s her last.” I nod, agreeing with him. “Listen, why don’t you go shower and we’ll call it a day. We can start fresh tomorrow. I want to hit it hard over the next week before the fight. I’ve talked to someone I know in the industry and he’s agreed to come in and help.”
“Who?”
“Kolan Slade,” he says the name as if I should know who that is. “Right, I guess you wouldn’t know. He’s Katelyn’s brother, and one of the best MMA fighters in the industry right now.”
“Why do you feel like we need him?”
“Because he will be able to offer you pointers that we can’t. We’re trained in combative and him MMA; together we should be able to make you unbeatable. Ricketts postponing shit is making me nervous, and I want to make sure you come out on top.”
“I can handle him,” I reply confidently, before pushing off the wall and heading to the locker room.
“Don’t get too cocky, no one is invincible,” he shouts to my retreating back.
“Except me!” Sawyer bellows from across the gym, clearly eavesdropping.
Shaking my head I hit the shower, appreciating that the stalls are separate or I wouldn’t fucking have one here. I stand under the hot spray for longer than usual, the heat feeling good on my tight muscles.
After I finish and start changing I hear the most beautiful laugh erupt from the gym, the familiar sound washing over me and making my chest pull tight. “Sawyer, put me down or I’ll have Bandit sic you.” Anna threatens with a giggle.
Shit! I’m not ready to see her again. Oh
“Do you really think your home life skewed my perception in some way?” he asks. “You have no fucking clue where I come from. I’m not saying your life was sunshine and rainbows but believe me when I say I come from my own hell. Your mom fucked up and she knows it, but she didn’t change for me, she changed for you. I just helped get her there. As for your debt, you owe me shit. I didn’t just do it for you, I did it for Anna.” My head snaps up at the mention of her, the sound of her name burning like salt to an open wound. Jaxson leans against the wall next to me, matching my stance. “I did whatever she asked for. I did anything and everything I could to help her stop hurting so much. She was fucked up for a long time when you sent her away like that.”
The image of her that day at the prison flashes through my mind and I grind my teeth against the memory. “Are you saying that I did the wrong thing?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all. I think you did the right thing. I would have done the same. Actually, I did something similar with Julia and it was hard, but I stand behind my decision. Sometimes doing the right thing fucking sucks.”
He’s got that right.
“Well whatever your reasons were for helping, thank you. I’m glad to know my sister wasn’t suffering the entire time I was gone.”
We both don’t miss the fact that I leave my mom out of the equation, but thankfully he lets it go. “You’re welcome. Now about Anna showing up at the fight.”
I hold my hand up to ward off whatever he’s about to say. “Look, it wasn’t my place to tell you and I figured she would eventually. But I will say that she is not ever stepping foot in that place again.”
“Damn straight. I told her the same thing.”
I grunt. “Well hopefully she took it from you better than she did me.”
He shrugs. “Probably the same, but she did agree that she wouldn’t go back. Apparently it was her first time, all I care about is that it’s her last.” I nod, agreeing with him. “Listen, why don’t you go shower and we’ll call it a day. We can start fresh tomorrow. I want to hit it hard over the next week before the fight. I’ve talked to someone I know in the industry and he’s agreed to come in and help.”
“Who?”
“Kolan Slade,” he says the name as if I should know who that is. “Right, I guess you wouldn’t know. He’s Katelyn’s brother, and one of the best MMA fighters in the industry right now.”
“Why do you feel like we need him?”
“Because he will be able to offer you pointers that we can’t. We’re trained in combative and him MMA; together we should be able to make you unbeatable. Ricketts postponing shit is making me nervous, and I want to make sure you come out on top.”
“I can handle him,” I reply confidently, before pushing off the wall and heading to the locker room.
“Don’t get too cocky, no one is invincible,” he shouts to my retreating back.
“Except me!” Sawyer bellows from across the gym, clearly eavesdropping.
Shaking my head I hit the shower, appreciating that the stalls are separate or I wouldn’t fucking have one here. I stand under the hot spray for longer than usual, the heat feeling good on my tight muscles.
After I finish and start changing I hear the most beautiful laugh erupt from the gym, the familiar sound washing over me and making my chest pull tight. “Sawyer, put me down or I’ll have Bandit sic you.” Anna threatens with a giggle.
Shit! I’m not ready to see her again. Oh
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