Despite the massive anger sitting on Isaac’s throat and choking the life from him, every second without Daniel ticked by, feeling longer than the last. All he had was his work and training. His fight with Jericho was three weeks away. Most likely, he’d get his ass handed to him right before Christmas and days before getting to see Trina again. The sure knowledge he’d lose didn’t stop Isaac from practicing and sparring every free second. Aden stayed later with him each night. Sometimes Remy stayed too. Other times, they were alone. Either way, Isaac felt guilty as hell for cutting into their time together. He wondered now why this had been so important to him. The closer the fight came to reality, the more Isaac wondered if it was worth it. Maybe he should’ve stayed in Vegas. At least he had family there. He was closer to Trina there. Here, he had nothing and what he did have didn’t matter for shit.

Remy crossed the room. Isaac watched it happening with all the detachment he could muster. Today was another day of him going through the motions. He didn’t want to chat.

“Have you read Daniel’s latest article yet?”

Isaac turned his back on Remy at the question. He wished the man would let it drop. “I’ve been busy.”

“You’re not too busy for this,” Remy said, snagging his arm and dragging him toward the office.

Isaac tried getting away. “I need to wipe down the machines.”

“I’m your goddamn boss,” Remy said without slowing. “If anyone knows what you need to be doing, it’s me, and I say you should be coming with me.”

Since Isaac couldn’t argue that logic, he let Remy drag him inside the office and push him down into a chair. He turned away to get something from Aden’s desk, and Isaac eyed the door. There was a real chance he could make it to the front door before Remy caught him.

“Don’t fucking move,” Remy barked as if he had eyes in the back of his head. After finding what he’d been searching for, Remy moved to stand over Isaac. He handed him an iPad. Daniel’s article was already pulled up. Isaac stared at the man’s picture, nestled at the top corner of the words filling the screen. The ache in his chest was crippling. It wasn’t often he let himself care about anyone. He loved Daniel. It wouldn’t die no matter how much the man’s betrayal hurt. When Isaac didn’t take the tablet, Remy shook it at him. “Read the piece,” he said in a tone that let Isaac know he wouldn’t be avoiding this.

With no other choice left to him, Isaac accepted the tablet, and read.

My Secret Life

“Over the years, I’ve written thousands of articles. Not once have I been the subject of one. My freshman year of college, before I was anywhere near earning my degree in journalism, I met William Pettifore while interning for the Daily Sports Report. He saw something in me and took a chance. The rest was history. For fifteen years, I’ve worked for this paper. Back then, we actually were a paper. People subscribed and followed every word. Now, everything is online and ads keep us in business, but the readers—they’re my passion.”

It was odd. So far, the article Daniel had written hadn’t said anything special, but Isaac could feel how much Daniel meant his words. He loved his job. Isaac couldn’t stop reading about it.

“For years, I’ve traveled the country, attending every event imaginable. I’ve met super stars at the height of their careers—done interviews with athletes at their lowest. When Gunnar Samson won the Heavyweight title belt, I was the first interview he gave. When Jai Kelley became the scandal of the hockey season after his sex tapes were leaked to the press, I had the exclusive. I’ve been blessed to not have to spend a second of my time sitting still, alone with my thoughts. No one would want a moment with my mind.”

Isaac wasn’t sure he blinked as he read. He could hear Daniel’s voice saying each word, but Isaac still couldn’t picture Daniel having a single problem.

“You see, I’ve spent years uncovering secrets and sharing them with the world without once shining a light on my own. That ends today. Here’s the story about my life that no one knows. I’m a manic depressive.”

Isaac stared at the words, reading them several times without absorbing them. They didn’t fit the image he had of Daniel. Daniel had never struck him as unhappy. He had to know.

“For me, it’s been easy to embrace the manic side. As long as I keep moving, the depressive side stays at bay—for the most part. Until recently, this secret wasn’t important to anyone other than me. It didn’t matter if I fell into black moods, shutting out anyone who cares about me, because I pushed those people away years ago. No one cared if I disappeared and drank myself into oblivion. That is, until recently. A year and a half ago, I met the most amazing Upstart. For professional purposes, I’ve kept a close eye on his career. It’s been my heart that’s kept me enthralled by the rest of him.”

Each breath Isaac took came harder than the last. Disbelief owned him.

“Recently, I used my position with this paper to betray his trust. I printed a story he’d told me in confidence. At the time, I didn’t see my story for what it was—self-destruction. In the back of my mind, without realizing it, I’d somewhere along line convinced myself he’d be better off without me in his life. Sadly, for people like me, this isn’t uncommon behavior. If he reads this, I’m sorry for hurting you. I was wrong. You deserved better. My love isn’t worth much, but you have it. For everyone else who’s reading this and wondering what this has to do with sports, all I have to say is—everything. Every day, athletes suffer from life-altering head injuries…”

Isaac didn’t see the rest of the article. A haze coated his vision. It was an apology he never expected to see. In the most public way possible. Daniel hadn’t named him, but it wouldn’t be hard for people to figure out who the article was about. They’d been seen together several times by countless people. So, Daniel could tell the world, but not him. That was fine.

He handed the tablet back to Remy and stood. “I’ve got equipment to wipe down.” Remy’s shoulders fell. Isaac couldn’t let the man’s dejection get under his skin. He’d told Daniel he loved him. The man had walked away. All the articles in the world couldn’t fix things if Daniel kept hiding behind his keyboard. They wouldn’t make up for all the unanswered texts and calls. One fucking truth-baring article didn’t make up for Daniel breaking his heart.

Isaac headed for the back, intent on grabbing some paper towels. Remy was hot on his heels. “You’re not alone, Isaac.”

Aden stepped into his path, leaving him no choice but to stop running. Isaac snapped. “Look. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Aden held up a pair of boxing gloves. His expression remained blank. “Let’s get you into these gloves. You have a lot of work to do before your fight.”

Without a word, Isaac dipped his chin in a sharp nod. Hitting something sounded great.

* * *

The days leading up to his fight with Jericho crept by. They should’ve flown. Isaac hadn’t gotten to sit still for even a moment. He’d worked his ass off in the ring and to avoid reporters. Everyone had questions. Isaac still didn’t want to talk to anyone about anything. It was as if Daniel had walked away, taking Isaac’s voice with him. Now that he was here, standing in the center of a Vegas boxing ring, listening to the rules being read and tuning out the crowd, Isaac realized he had a lot to say. There were millions of unspoken words inside his head. All of them were screaming Daniel’s name. Unadulterated fury filled Isaac. He fucking loved Daniel. It was all Daniel’s fault too. He’d been the one who gave Isaac everything and then expected Isaac not to feel. Fuck that. Isaac wasn’t a robot. If Daniel hadn’t wanted Isaac to feel anything, the man should’ve bought a goddamn blowup doll, because now he had Isaac’s heart. It didn’t matter if he didn’t want it.

The bell rang. Isaac bounced forward and landed a solid blow to the side of Jericho’s head. The crowd roared. Jericho’s expression was priceless. It was obvious he hadn’t expected Isaac to be much of a challenge or to come out swinging. In truth, Isaac wasn’t even thinking. There’d been no style to the move. He was just so goddamn angry. Isaac didn’t know where to go with it. He’d held his tongue. Kept himself in check. He’d submitted and let Daniel control him. All he’d wanted was one fucking thing from the man—his heart. Daniel couldn’t even give him that. The fucker. Isaac swung again with enough force Jericho couldn’t block him. This time, Isaac’s glove connected with Jericho’s left eye.

Isaac wasn’t avoiding hits. Jericho had gotten a couple in as well. They weren’t fazing Isaac. He wasn’t feeling a thing past the rage in his chest. It didn’t matter his anger wasn’t directed at Jericho. The man was simply in his way when Isaac finally broke. Another bell rang, signaling the end of the round. Isaac went to his corner. Aden was working as his cornerman. He spoke. Isaac didn’t hear any of it. His gaze remained locked on Jericho. It was a threat. Life had been kicking Isaac his whole goddamn life. Now this man stood between Isaac and seeing Daniel again. He would win this fight. Daniel would interview him. The man would fucking love him if it was the last thing Isaac did.

* * *

Daniel stared at his TV in disbelief. Isaac’s fury rolled off him in waves for anyone to see. The bell rang, starting the second round. Isaac headed for Jericho. Daniel came to his feet. He didn’t know if Isaac’s intent was obvious to everyone or if Daniel knew the man better than anyone else. Either way, Daniel held his breath while refusing to blink. He wasn’t disappointed. There was zero style in Isaac’s next move. He crossed the ring, eating up the space between Jericho and him. In a single swing, he knocked the man out cold. Even once it was over, Daniel couldn’t blink. Jericho didn’t move. The count was read even though it was pointless. They’d be carrying Jericho from the ring.

Isaac’s arm was raised in victory. Daniel sat and turned the TV off. His mind wouldn’t slow. That hadn’t been Isaac. Maybe it was him in body, but that was all. No one had pushed Isaac like Daniel had, and he’d never seen that angry version of Isaac. Was that his fault? Was this what he’d done to the man he loved? Daniel wasn’t surprised he’d ruined someone, but then again, he was. He’d stupidly believed Isaac couldn’t be damaged. Isaac was better than everyone else in every way.

Daniel’s cellphone rang. He answered without thought. “Hello?”

“When can I expect that exclusive on my desk?”

Daniel stared at the now blank TV screen, searching his memories. It wasn’t like him to forget something that important. “What exclusive?”

“That Isaac Jones guy who just beat Jericho Williams,” Phil explained. “He just told Chris Knight with The Boxing Network that he promised the exclusive to you. Good job. When can I expect it? It needs to go live before everything he has to say is old news.”

“I just need to book a flight,” Daniel said, hoping he didn’t sound as dead inside as he felt. He’d bared the secret he’d sworn to never reveal, and he’d done it in front of the whole damn world—for Isaac. It had been for nothing. The man never even called. Now Isaac was giving Daniel the exclusive. How magnanimous. Daniel barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes at his own sarcasm.

“Get whatever they have ASAP. I’ve already spoken to his trainer. Aden gave me the man’s hotel room number in Vegas. I’ll text you the details. And, Daniel, I want that article by tomorrow night.”

After releasing a slow breath, hoping to temper his reaction, Daniel managed to sound halfway normal. “Yes, sir. I’m on it.”

“Good,” Phil said before hanging up without saying goodbye. Daniel was used to it.

He tried damn hard to clear his mind as he searched flight times on his phone. There was one he could make before the end of the night. Since it took six hours to get from New York to Vegas, Daniel could sleep on the plane and be with Isaac by the morning. Daniel shook his head. Being with Isaac wasn’t what this was about. This was just an interview. It had to be about nothing more than doing his job. Anything else might kill him.