CHAPTER 11
Kyle
“I can’t believe she fucking annihilated that guy’s dick yet here we are sitting in a jail cell.”
“Was I supposed to let the mother of my child take the fall?” I question.
“The mother of your child who kneed that guy so hard in the nads that he threw up? Gee, you’re right. We should definitely be in here.”
“I don’t know what you’re complaining about Josh, I’m probably gonna get my fight cancelled and kicked out of the league over this.”
“Any regrets?” He eyes me skeptically and I’m trying to figure out how he got a black eye.
“None.”
And ain’t it the truth. I could lose everything over Soph’s lack of listening to stay in the backyard yet she still made me proud today. Sure, we had everything handled before she came flying through the yard like an Olympic sprinter and nailed the guy with a flying knee to the nuts. Damn, I’m still experiencing phantom pains in my dick.
“That was fucking awesome. Damn she’s a bad ass.”
“She is. I can tell you I won’t be messing with her at all.” He cringes and I know he’s feeling the phantom pain too.
“Josh, how the hell did you get a black eye?” Zander laughs and takes a seat next to me.
“After she got him good and took out the hose to spray him like he was a blazing fire…” He waits a second as if debating to tell us. “I slipped in a puddle and took the bird bath to my eye.”
Me and Z start cracking up as Josh tries not to laugh with us. “Who the fuck has a bird bath in this century? Christ.” He loses his fight and starts laughing.
“Preston will handle this, hopefully it hasn’t gotten out yet.”
“That’s a long ass flight, I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
“He’s in Boston, hopefully on his way. I told Mom to call him and fill him in on the situation.”
A door creaks open and we all turn towards the cell door. Preston comes into view with a look of malice, I don’t know why. He’s not the one in jail right now.
“You’re all free. I sweet talked the arresting officer into seeing this was all a big misunderstanding.”
“Thanks Pres.”
“Kyle, what the fuck? You’re supposed to be staying out of the spot light. You could lose your career over this!”
“If there’s no charges then I don’t see how that’s going to happen.”
“I knew this kid was going to fuck everything up.”
“Watch your mouth Preston, have some respect.” Zander growls like a papa bear.
“I don’t know, maybe I should leave you guys in there for the night to think things over.”
I storm to the cell door and grab his shirt collar. “Let’s not forget who pays who here Preston. Get the officer and get me the fuck out of here.” I let him go with a little throw and he looks dumbfounded.
“Okay, I’ll go find him.”
“Motherfucker!” I really have the urge to punch something but refrain because Josh already has a black eye.
“He shouldn’t have brought up Gabe.” Josh defends me and they all nod in agreement.
“I’ll talk to him about it. He’s either gonna have to get on board or I’ll find another manager. My relationship with Gabe trumps my friendship with Preston. What the hell’s gotten into him? First the paternity test and now this?”
“Paternity test?” Zander questions and I shake my head not wanting to drudge into that right now. “Is he always like this with you?”
“Not this bad and only when it comes to my career.”
“Oh, you mean his money?” Zander questions and I nod my head. “Sounds like a great friend.” He adds.
“Whatever, let’s get out of here, I’m starving.”
I opt to ride back to the house with Pres as our Mom drives my brothers. I need to have a few words with him and set some shit straight.
“What was that back there? You’ve never put your hands on me before man.”
“If I hear you say another negative thing about Gabe you’re fired.”
“What? I can’t believe that! After all we’ve been through?”
“Yes, no question he wins every time. Do you even know me Pres? If you did, you’d know I would want to be in my child’s life.”
“Really? Because when she showed up all those years ago saying she was pregnant you sent her packing real fast.”
“You knew about that?” He must know from my tone how fucked he is.
“Listen, we were young and stupid. I was respecting your wishes when you told her to leave. You can’t fault me for that.”
“Preston…”
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again and I’ll respect your relationship with your kid.”
“And Sophie.”
“Fuck, are you hitting that again?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a few deep breaths. Once we get to my house I quickly exit without waiting for him. Hopefully he’ll just leave.
Sophie comes running outside and freezes when her eyes connect with something behind me. And I know exactly what that something is.
“Soph, what’s happening girl?”
“Why the hell is he here?” She questions.
“You know I’m friends with Preston and…”
“I’m his manager. He called me to bail him out of jail.”
She nods her head and goes back into the house. I know they hate each other but it feels to me like something else is going on.
“Can you tone it down for five seconds man?”
“Yeah, of course. Let’s go meet your offspring.”
“Please, just act normal.”
“Once upon a time you didn’t have a problem with my personality. What the hell’s happened to you over the last few months?”
“A lot Pres, a lot.”
I’m met in the front foyer with Gabe crashing into me with a bear hug. “Hey little man, what’s going on?”
He looks up at me and smiles. “How was the slammer?”
I look around and glare at Sophie.
“Sorry, he overheard me talking to Ash about how we were gonna get you out.”
For the next hour I explain to Gabe that no I didn’t kill anyone and that yes, I’m still one of the good guys. Apparently Soph had a long and drawn out talk about stranger danger, bad guys and the cops. It’s not exactly working in my favor right now.
Preston’s phone rings and he looks at the screen then looks at me with a smirk. “Well hello Maggie. Why yes, he’s right here.”
“Wipe that smile off your face asshole.” I whisper before placing the phone to my ear.
“Mags…”
“Why the hell am I staring at your mug shot and a picture of you and two of your brothers in handcuffs?”
“Listen, everything was dropped and no one’s pressing charges.”
“I don’t care, the league is still going to hear about this!”
“Then tell them what happened. There were no prostitutes and not one drug around. This should make them happy that I was doing something admirable.”
“I’m sure that’s exactly how they’ll see it. And about the kid… is it true?”
“Fuck, the photographer leaked that?”
“It’s everywhere Kyle. You and your baby mama are front and center as breaking news. She’s lucky she looks hot in that bathing suit because it’s going to be on the front of every tabloid tomorrow morning.”
“Shit. Okay.” I hang up and look at Preston.
“You need to call Stevie and get his team down here as fast as possible.”
“Why would you need a guard down here?”
“Because it’s out. Everyone knows I have a son.”
“For crying out loud, what the hell else could go wrong today?”
“Yes, because this has all impacted your life.” Sophie whisper yells when she steps up to him.
Preston looks like he wants to say more but Sophie’s looking for an opportunity to lay into him. Smart man, keeps his mouth shut.
“I’ll take care of it.” He excuses himself then walks outside already dialing someone’s number.
“What are we going to do? Is it gonna get bad?”
“Do you want me to lie?”
She looks around and sees Gabe within earshot so she grabs my arm and pulls me from the room. With purpose in her step she barrels down a hallway and decides on the first door we come upon. I laugh when she pulls me inside.
“If you wanted to make out in the laundry room all you had to do was ask.”
She smacks my chest and gets as far from me as she can. It’s not far, we are in a laundry room.
“I don’t want Gabe hearing about any of this. So, what’s the plan? How bad will this get?”
“It’s gonna be a shitshow. You know how they portray me in the tabloids.”
“Portray is a bit of a stretch don’t you think? I’m pretty sure the stories are fairly accurate.”
“Fine, I’ll give you that. But I’m MMA’s golden boy, one of the most sought-after bachelors in the world. People will go crazy that I’m off the market.”
“Getting pretty full of yourself aren’t ya.”
“I’m stating the facts so you know what we’re dealing with. I’m used to the spotlight; you and Gabe are not.”
“Okay, sorry. I’m just freaking out.” Then she narrows her eyes at me. “And you aren’t taken. You can still live as the most beloved bachelor in the world.”
She’s biting her bottom lip and driving me fucking crazy! I reach with my hand and release her lip with my fingers.
“I can’t explain anything while you’re doing that. It’s too distracting.” Her face goes red and I know I should explain before I lose all of my resolve.
“We’ll discuss that topic more in depth a little later when you’re ready. Okay, so the media is going to go crazy over this. I have a kid and a woman that could mean something to me. That’s how they see it anyway. They’re all gonna be flocking here to see who gets the first picture of Gabe, you, of the three of us together. I won’t lie to you or down play it, it’s gonna be bad. For Gabe’s safety I can’t sugar coat this.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.” She walks over to the dryer and hoists herself on top of it. “Okay, I can pull Gabe from preschool, it’s not a necessity. It’s the summer anyways and it’s just camp. I can work at Mom’s place either early in the morning or late at night.”
“Soph…”
“I can call and get my groceries delivered so I don’t have to leave the house. Maybe we can make a tunnel going under all our houses for easy access.”
“Soph.” I walk over and step between her now opened legs. My fingers lace through her red locks as I stare into her eyes. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise. No quitting camp, no becoming a hermit. I won’t let anything bad happen to you guys.”
“How can you ensure that? You can’t be with us every second of the day.”
“I can talk to the school about their security measures and make sure a guard is posted on him at all times. The security detail will be on you at all times now, where you go they go and it will be doubled up when you’re together. You’ll each have your own set of guards.”
“Christ.” She looks down so I tip her chin up with my fingers.
“Babe, trust me.”
“I don’t know if I can.” She whispers.
“I swear on everything that I’ll never let you down again. Please, just let me in. Give me a chance.”
“But…”
“Give us a chance.”
“We can be friends, I already told you that.”
“Fuck friends.”
Then I crash my lips to her unsuspecting ones.
***
Sophie
The breath rushes from my lungs when our mouths meet. I have half a mind to push him away but I’m taken back to our first kiss. It just feels… right.
I’m expecting Kyle to start slow, almost hesitant. This kiss is anything but. There’s no hesitation to the way he works his lips, devouring mine as he thrusts his tongue deep into the depths of my mouth. My tongue adds to the madness as we get reacquainted. It’s been so long since I’ve had this feeling and I don’t ever want it to stop. It’s a feeling I’ve only ever gotten with Kyle Cage and it brings me back to our brief relationship all those years ago.
Kyle moves his hand from my face and traces along my collar bone before dipping a little lower. Teasing me. His feather light touch massages just above my breasts and I feel my panties dampen in anticipation. Finally, his hand moves lower to cup my breast through my shirt and I gasp.
“Kyle…” I moan and arch my back, thrusting my chest further towards him as his hand loses its gentle caress.
“Fuck Soph, I want you so bad it hurts.”
Then that night in Vegas slams into me like a brick wall with vivid detail and I’m disgusted.
“Kyle stop.”
But he keeps kissing me and massaging my chest. My hands come up between us and I give him a hard shove making him take a few steps away from me.
Without him next to me I’m able to think a little more clearly. What the hell am I doing? This is a huge mistake. I jump down from the dryer and head for the door but Kyle catches my forearm. I stop and look at the ground as traitorous tears form in my eyes.
“Sophie, babe… what’s the matter?”
I whirl on him and let him have it. “Everything, everything’s wrong! My son’s safety is compromised, I got you arrested earlier and I almost just made the biggest mistake right now.”
“That wasn’t a mistake.” He growls.
“Yes, it was. I keep hearing it over and over in my head. It’s not something I’ll ever be able to get past!”
“Hear what?” He looks confused so I decide to put him out of his misery.
“You, the women… when you just said you wanted me so bad it hurts…”
He stares at me trying to figure out what I’m about to say and I’m not sure I have it in me to say anything else.
“You know what, never mind. I’m gonna grab Gabe and head home. I’ll talk to you when I’ve calmed down.”
“I don’t know what I have to do to make you understand I’m here now. For Gabe and for you. I’m not going anywhere!”
“Yeah, NOW! But what happens when your fight comes up? It’s been me and Gabe for five years Kyle.”
“Are you saying you don’t want me in my son’s life?” He looks hurt and that’s the last thing I wanted to happen.
“Yes… no. No. This is just really hard for me and I’m trying to keep his best interest in mind.”
“Tell me what I said that night. We can’t get past it if we don’t communicate. If it’s bothering you enough to pop into your head when we’re kissing you need to be honest with me.”
“I told you about wanting to drag me towards the bed. You kept making little remarks and making the girls do stuff to each other to entice me. Then as a last-ditch effort I had to watch a girl suck your dick as you came in her mouth. I don’t know why I watched and didn’t just run out of the room. I think deep down I knew I had to stay there. It would give me something to feel that was stronger than the love I had in my heart for you.”
He staggers back like I’ve punched him but my hands haven’t moved an inch.
“You love me?”
“Loved. I told you already, we had our chance and I’m not going there again.”
“That’s where you’re wrong babe.” Kyle invades my space again. “We aren’t over and that kiss proved it. I’ll give you time to get used to this but I’m not the same Kyle I was all those years ago. I’ve learned in life you need to take what you want and fight for it. And Sophie… you will be mine again.” He places a chaste kiss to my lips before pulling back leaving me panting and so utterly confused I don’t know which end is up.
“We’ll start with this friend bullshit and I’ll prove myself to you. Are you with me?”
I nod my head.
“Good. There’s a lot more we need to talk about but that can happen another time.”
I nod again.
“You aren’t going to like this but you and Gabe are going to have to stay here until the security detail gets into town which should be first thing tomorrow morning.”
“No way! Gabe doesn’t have anything here, I don’t have anything here!”
“Shit, you’re right. Okay, I’ll pack a bag and stay at your place. You’re far enough off the road that the paparazzi shouldn’t be able to see anything if we have all the blinds closed.”
“Do I have any other option?” I whine.
“Not when it comes to your safety, yours and Gabe’s.”
“Fine, I can do anything for him.”
“Geez, don’t act like me staying over’s like getting a root canal.” He laughs.
“Root canals aren’t that bad.” I shrug my shoulders causing Kyle to laugh, a deep one from his gut.
“I missed that.” I whisper.
“What?”
“Your laugh. Believe it or not, I’ve missed you so much over the years Kyle. I’m glad you’re back in my life.”
“And you’ll never get rid of me again.” He pulls me towards him and places a kiss on my forehead. “It’s you and me against the world.”
“See, you’re still the same old sappy Kyle Cage I know.”
“Only for you.”