There was a loud buzzing sound coming from beside my head. I cracked open one eye and lifted my hand to stop the alarm on my phone from further causing this nagging headache to ruin my day. Rolling over onto my back, I threw my arm over my eyes to shield myself from the sunlight coming through the bedroom window. Sammy, my needy cat, meowed and climbed onto my chest. “Well, good morning to you.” I gave what he always requested of me in the morning: his favorite scratch session under the chin.

There was a loud knock on my door that startled everyone on the bed. Lucky flew off like a bolt of lightning and ran into my closet. Sammy jumped off the bed and followed me, probably curious to see who was interrupting our morning routine. I was hesitant to pull back the small curtain that covered the window beside my front door.

“Zoe, I can hear you.” The voice was familiar because it was the man who had invaded every thought I had for the last several days. “I need to talk to you.”

I threw my back against the door and stood there frozen. If I opened the door, there was a sixty percent, no, more like eighty percent chance I would force him down the hall to my bedroom. On the other hand, if I left him begging outside, the neighbors would become nosey and start asking questions. So basically I was the very definition of damned if I do and damned if I don’t.

Finally after more inner battles, I pulled the door open. “What?” I said a little too exasperated.

“Can we talk?” He was holding his phone in one hand and leaning on the door frame with his other.

“You do know it’s seven a.m., right?”

“Yeah, and we’ve practiced this early.”

I stepped back to let him in. “So you decided I always get up early?”

“Maybe.” He only took two steps in and stopped. “I—”

Tyler was the one who had the ability to look calm even when under pressure. At the moment, he looked like he was about to crack at the seams. I lightly touched his arm only because I needed the contact. “Want some coffee?”

“Um, sure.”

This visit went from awkward to weird in just a matter of seconds. Right as I was about to say something, Sammy meowed and batted at Tyler’s leg as he passed by. “Right, sorry about him. He’s just mad because you interrupted our morning scratch session.”

“Should I plan to come later next time?”

“Or call,” I said over my shoulder and reached in the cupboard to grab the coffee filters. “Need it extra strong?”

“Is there any other way?” he teased and sat down in the chair next to the kitchen island.

I stayed silent as I prepared the coffee. It had been five days since that night at the club with Stephen and Tyler. Five very long days that required several cold showers and extra training sessions on the mat. During those five days, I never once saw Tyler. Actually, not running into the man on my mind was on purpose. I checked the schedule and found when Tyler would most likely be at the gym. Julian had no clue I had planned our training times around his brother’s schedule.

Right as I reached up to grab a coffee mug, Tyler’s hand wrapped around my bicep. He probably had enough of my silent treatment. I let out a heavy sigh and rested my hands on the counter. My eyes were facing the coffee pot because I knew the moment I looked up into his eyes that would be it. “Ty, why are you at my place at seven in the morning?”

“Why have you been avoiding me?” He removed his hand and leaned his hip against the counter.

“Avoiding?”

Finally I gave in to my need and looked up at him. I watched as he rolled his eyes. “Your schedule has been opposite mine. I know you’re avoiding me.”

“Did you ever think this situation wasn’t about you? I have a new puppy and other things going on. The times set for training worked for me personally.” He had to know I was lying. I knew my face was red. My body was on fire with the little distance between the two of us.

He reached his hand forward and lifted my chin. “You suck at lying just like Lily and Charlie.”

I struggled to hold in my laugh. He was right; my friends really did suck at lying. Normally I was the best secret keeper, but today something was different. “Maybe.”

“Five days is a long time.”

I sucked in a breath at his words. “Tyler, what do you want from me?”

Right at the moment he would normally get the opportunity to answer, my phone let off this horrible buzzing. I ran over to the kitchen table to retrieve the annoying device and noticed an incoming alert. After the death of Lucky’s veterinarian, I set my phone to receive all notifications from the local news app. I was probably overreacting or maybe just way too curious.

The message flashed Missing Person and shared the man’s name. “You know this person?” I turned my phone screen so Tyler could see the alert.

“No. Should I?”

“Just curious. This is the second person who has gone missing. The first one was found dead.” I glanced his way and noticed he was scowling. “No, I didn’t suddenly become an investigator. I met the woman they found dead. That’s all.”

“I’m sorry,” he said and sounded genuinely concerned. “You know what, I need to go.”

Now it was my turn to grab his arm. “Why the rush?” I lifted the coffee pot now full of happy liquid. “Have some with me.”

He seemed to be strategizing his next move. “Fine. One cup.”

I poured us each a mugful and handed his over. “Cream? Sugar?”

“Black is fine.”

When I first arrived in Las Vegas, the city overwhelmed me. I was from a small town and had never experienced the feeling that a big city offered. I had read about the gym Fight It Out and knew I planned to work out there. The gym gave me the confidence to plow through the uncomfortable emotions, and it also gave me that family I craved. Tyler never offered any comfort but everyone else at the gym was amazing.

Now this same man who avoided me, yelled at me, and so perfectly distanced himself, now he wanted to talk. He seemed different, too. I noticed how his voice was gentle and his words were kind. What happened the other night at the bar that possibly changed this man? This new Tyler I could get used to.

“So, you never answered my question. What do you want from me?”

He shook his head and took a sip of his coffee. “Getting right down to business, eh?” I didn’t respond. “Right, well.” It was funny to see how uncomfortable he looked. He ran his hand through his hair and started to mess with a crumb on the counter. “I’m sorry.”

Okay, if you would have told me two years ago that Tyler would apologize for being such an asshole, honest to God, I would have burst out laughing. Of course, I had no plans to laugh at the moment. His face looked solemn as he spoke, so I stayed neutral.

It took me a moment to process and a few more moments to get the words out. “Ty, why are you really here? What is it about me that has you shifting gears?”

“I’ve been watching you at the nightclub.”

“That’s called stalking. You know that, right?” I was kidding of course. “No, seriously, that doesn’t make sense.”

He let out a heavy sigh. “I’m trying to say it.”

“Say what?” Now I was completely confused.

“Zoe, you don’t just hit on males, I also see you with females.”

“Yeah, because I’m bi-sexual.” As the words fell from my lips I’m sure my eyes went wide at the same time. “Wait, let me see if I have this right. You treated me like shit because you didn’t know my sexual preference? That seems ridiculous.” I stood up and walked over to the coffee pot to refill my mug. “Help me understand. Fill in the gaps here.”

“My family doesn’t know.” Then he stopped talking. I could tell what he wanted to say was difficult so I gave him time. “Can you image if the other fighters found out I liked men, too?”

“I’m still not seeing how I fit into this picture.”

“I’ve cared about you since the moment you walked through the gym doors.”

“And so you decided being a dick was a good idea. Way to woo a woman.” Now I laughed.

He chuckled, too. “I couldn’t just be with you, Zoe.”

Then the other night flooded through my mind. I remembered his words and repeated them. “Because you need more than just me in your life.”

“Yeah.”

“But you didn’t know my sexual preference?”

“Exactly.”

I plopped down in the chair next to him. “Well shit, Ty, you could’ve just asked.” I placed my hand over his. “Just ask my family, I’m a damn open book.” We locked our hands together. “My parents have known about my personal life since I was twelve.”

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle. “I didn’t realize what I wanted until the gym. So I found an outlet at the nightclub.”

“Could you ever tell your parents or your brothers?”

“No,” he said a little too quickly and stood up. “Can I trust that you won’t say anything?”

“You’re asking me that now?” I had a smile on my face as I said the words in hopes he would know I was joking.

“Fuck, I don’t know what I was thinking coming here.” He stormed out of the room and down the hall toward the front door.

“Tyler, wait,” I said, trying to catch up to him. “Ty, stop.” He had his hand on the door handle, ready to turn. “Ty.” I turned his body to face me. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t joke like that.” He dropped his head, and that was the first time I noticed the real Tyler. The man who was hidden by the world. Afraid to be himself. Angry instead of happy. “Hey”—I smiled and turned my body to be eye-to-eye—“you can trust me. I promise.”

I felt him relax and a single tear fell from the corner of his eye. This fighter, someone who was supposed to be strong, was cracking right before my eyes.

He trusted me with his secret.

I planned to keep it hidden for as long as he needed.