Mason
Not much could make this day any sweeter. After getting home last night and texting Drake that I ran his little-bitch errand, I pushed all thoughts of my brother’s problems aside and thought about Trix.
After Santos escorted me out and explained that I’d usually be blackballed from ever returning but that Trix would have his balls if he refused me, I felt like an Olympic champion.
I lay in bed all night, thinking about the talk we’re going to have on our date. I’m sure she’ll toss out a million reasons why she can’t date me, but she’s insane if she thinks I’ll agree to any of them. There’s not an athlete in the world that is as competitive as a fighter, and I’ll be dipped in dog shit before I’ll give her up.
I’ll have to convince her to quit her job, which will be the hardest part. Hopefully, I can convince her I’m worth the risk rather than having to live through the crushing jealousy of her exploiting her body—a body I’m determined to have as mine—for money.
“Come on, Baywatch, you still have to spar.” Rex knocks me in the back of the head, and I lie back down on the weight bench, bracing myself to lift the bar. “Fucking, Peter Pan.” He’s sweating and grinning down at me.
“Since when did I get the stupid fucking nickname award?” I push up the weight and grind through a few reps.
“You earned it,” he says as if it’s an easy connection to make.
I growl through a few more reps before my chest starts to burn and my arms quake. “Shit.” I slam the bar back on the rack. “You trying to kill me?”
“Not with three hundred. Stop being a pussy.”
The door to the weight room swings open. “Where’s my welcome home party, motherfuckers?”
“Holy shit.” I sit up and stare as Blake struts into the room, now with a black band around his ring finger, and an obnoxious grin on his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He shrugs then moves in for a fist bump. “Cut the honeymoon short. Jack got sick and Layla lost her shit, thinking he had some island fever or some crap. Came home to find out the kid had a cold. Now he’s healthy as a horse.”
“That’s too bad.” I run a towel over my sweaty forehead. “I know how much chicks dig honeymoons.”
He flashes a crooked grin. “Every day is a honeymoon in my bed, Baywatch. My woman isn’t missin’ shit, trust me.”
Rex slaps Blake on the back. “You got here just in time for sparring.” He jerks his head to me. “Baywatch is all primed for an ass-kicking. Need to knock his little-bitch ass outta the clouds.”
“Is that right?” Blake cracks his knuckles and rolls his head on his shoulders. “Fuckin’ A, I’m ready.”
Great.
“Fuck, old man.” I dodge Blake’s left hook. “Fatherhood made you lazy.” He lunges for my legs. I jump back, just out of reach.
“Lazy’s still kickin’ your ass.” He steps in and lands a body shot.
“Baywatch, concentrate!” Rex’s command is laced with irritation.
I swing my left and Blake spins away. Shit.
My muscles are loose with fatigue. I move around Blake and focus on his hands, waiting for my opening. Fuck, this guy is a damn machine. Never off his game.
“You looking to fight me or fuck me, Baywatch? Stop flirting and take a shot.” His taunts roll off my back as I zone in, ready to put forth all my energy to end this little dance we’ve been doing.
If he’d just drop his guard . . .
I swing. He ducks and lunges for my legs. I jump back. Not fast enough. His arms lock around my thigh. Shit! I’m airborne. My back hits the mat with a whoosh of air escaping my lungs.
“Fuck!” I pound the mat with my fists.
He shoves my jaw in a mock punch. “Nah . . . but thanks for the offer.”
Asshole.
He pushes to stand, and Rex shows up at his side, glaring down at me with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What?” I avoid their eyes, knowing the lecture that’s sure to pour from their stupid mouths.
“Where’s your head at, Baywatch?” Rex digs the ball of his foot into my ribs. “And I swear to shit if you say it’s in the fight I’ll sweep your leg Karate-Kid style.” He holds out his arms and lifts a knee as if he’s Danielson, and Blake chokes on a laugh.
I roll away from them and hop to my feet. “I don’t know what you want from me. I’m training my ass off.”
Rex’s teasing expression sobers. “No . . . you were on fire a few weeks ago. Now you’re, I don’t know”—he taps his temple with two fingers—“not here.”
Blake’s squinting at me or, wait . . . just over my shoulder. I turn to see a grinning Layla headed toward us with a little bundle of baby wrapped in a blanket and cradled in her arms.
He grips the chain link. “Mouse, what the hell are you doing here?” A proud smile splits his face as he takes in his woman and their son.
Layla tilts her head and presses a kiss to his lips through the cage. “I wanted to bring Jack by so he could watch Daddy work.” She smiles down at her baby, and I don’t miss Blake’s hands flex on the metal link like he’s itching to touch his kid.
“Yeah? Or were you bored and wanted to come shoot the shit with Eve?” He takes two steps back and hops up and over the octagon fence.
She giggles. “That too.” Her gaze swings from Blake to Rex and me. “Hey, you guys should meet us out tonight.”
“Whoa, what?” Blake plucks Jack from his mother’s arms, dwarfing the infant with the size of his arms. “Tonight?”
“Yeah, I was talking to Eve, and we thought it would be fun to go out for happy hour tonight. Ya know, get caught up.” She shrugs and waits for Rex and me to answer.
“Oh, um . . . I can’t tonight.”
Blake glares at me. “Why not?”
“I uh . . .” I shift on my feet and avoid their eyes. “It’s, um, I have a date.”
“Aha . . . so that’s where your head’s at.” Rex knocks me in the back of the skull.
“Ow! Fucking cut that shit out!” I rub the back of my head.
Rex shakes his head and then answers Layla. “Gia and I will be there. What time?”
Layla grins. “Six o’clock at The Bacon Bar.” She swings her gaze to Mason. “Bring her with, Mase, just for one drink.”
“Oh, sure. Yeah, okay.” I can’t think of a single reason to say no other than to tell the truth, which is that I don’t want to share Trix with anyone tonight, but I suppose a drink before dinner would be alright.
After all, if she agrees to date me exclusively, she’ll have to meet my UFL family. She seemed to get along great with Eve, and she’s already tight with Gia. What could possibly go wrong?