Maya And The Tough Guy

Maya And The Tough Guy by Carter Ashby Page B

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Authors: Carter Ashby
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have it anyway. She had children and any man she brought into her life, she was also bringing into theirs. “You’re amazing, Kellen. I’m so sorry for putting you through this conversation.”  
    He stood and kissed the top of her head. “That’s what I’m here for. But I’d really like to go back to the math. It was way less painful of a topic.”
    She chuckled and opened up her laptop while he went to the kitchen for a coffee refill. “Here’s a question for you,” Kellen asked. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
    “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. I just don’t know. I’ve never been in a position where I was in control of my own destiny. Right now I’m just focusing on this HiSET exam and work. I figure if I work really hard and maybe try out some different jobs, I’ll find something I love to do.”
    “You like serving drinks?”
    “Not remotely. But I do like being around people. That’s something I’ve learned about myself. I’ll just gather as much information as I can until I can piece together a career path for myself.”
    “That’s the way to do it.” He sat his coffee on the table and then turned toward the front door. The tell-tale squeak of the mailbox had alerted him. He opened the door, reached round for the mail, and came back. He tossed a few envelopes on the counter, but was frowning down at a small stack of several envelopes. He looked up at her, still frowning, and handed her the envelopes.
    She flipped through them. Five of them. From Damon. He’d been in prison several weeks and not contacted her. He’d violated a protection order by breaking and entering and was doing at least a year for his crimes. She’d assumed he wanted nothing to do with her. Now it appeared that the prison had simply delayed mailing his letters.  
    “Would you like me to read them for you?” Kellen asked. “I can let you know if there’s anything that’s going to interfere with the divorce, or your life.”
    Maya wanted to let him. It would be so much easier to let him. But she was tired of being a coward. Tired of living in fear of Damon’s words. “No, thank you,” she said. “I’ll deal with it.”
    Kellen studied her for a long moment. “You let me know if you change your mind.”
    She nodded and managed to smile. “Thanks. I’ve got this.”
    #
    Jayce pounded the punching bag like it was his worst enemy. His teeth gritted, loud breaths expelling with each punch, and sweat flying everywhere.
    “Okay, come on, man, take a break,” Kellen said.  
    Jayce slammed his fists into the bag, barely hearing. Jab, jab, right cross, upper cut…pound, pound, pound.
    “Jayce!”
    The voice finally got through. Jayce stopped and then he realized he’d gone too far. He was breathing too hard; his vision blurring at the edges. He fell to his knees and felt a straw at his lips. He drank the water and then fell forward on his hands. He felt his stomach tightening; the nausea growing. There was a cool cloth on his neck and back.  
    “Christ, Jayce,” Kellen said. “Why do you do this to yourself?”
    “Feels good,” he said, his voice barely more than a breath.
    “Vomiting and bloody knuckles feels good?”
    “Yep.”
    Kellen had come in the bar a couple of times since coming home, but this was the first time they’d had a chance to hang out. It was Sunday morning. Norris was standing back, leaning on the boxing ring, heckling him. “You gonna be sick, Jayce? You want me to find your mommy for you?”
    Jayce ignored him.
    “Come on,” Kellen said. “Get cleaned up. We gotta get to Zoey’s.”
    The nausea subsided. Jayce sat back on his ankles. He took another drink of water and then stood. “Gotta shower,” he said.
    Kellen tossed him a towel to wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Jayce showered, the whole time thinking how he could probably curl up and sleep right there under the hot spray.  
    He dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and met Kellen at the

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