My hair was a tangled mess from all the friction in bed with Zach, so I bundled it up into a messy bun before leaving his apartment with him, Travis and Bailey. I kept at least one arm covering my chest, afraid the chilly morning might reveal the lack of bra underneath Zach's shirt.

Travis had a massive grin on his face, which Zach pleaded for me to ignore. I couldn't. It might not even have had anything to do with Zach and me coming out of his bedroom all mussed up. It could very well be because of the girl beside him, whose head, even though she wore with five-inch heels, only reached up to his shoulders. But they did make such a cute couple.

"So, are you guys partying tonight?" Bailey broke the slightly awkward silence in the elevator.

Travis answered first, "Rick invited us to his house for a pool party. I don't know about this one." He hooked a thumb toward Zach.

Zach looked at me and squeezed the hand I let drop beside me. "I forgot to tell you we were approved to stay for two more days. Do you want to hang out?"

"Yeah," I said, peering through my lashes, "I'd love that." I wanted to say more. I wanted to say I was thrilled to hear he was able to stay longer, but I couldn't shake off the disappointment when I thought of him leaving. How could I have not considered this before getting in too deep with Zach?

"You guys have fun. I'm jealous. We all have to go back to Vegas, and back to work." Bailey pursed her lips.

Travis swung an arm around her and wrapped her in an embrace. "I'm going to see you as soon as we get back," he said to her. Then he picked her up, pushed Bailey against the wall and kissed her. She had her legs around his waist in an instant and made mewling noises.

I glanced away, uncomfortable at the sight of the two of them making out in the tight space. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Zach lick his lips. He couldn't possibly be thinking of doing the same, was he? His hand moved up my arm and goose bumps crawled on my skin. But all he could get was a quick peck on the lips when the elevator doors opened.

When we got to where my car was parked, the guys gave her a wolf whistle. Travis ran his fingers over the shiny hood, and Zach stood in awe with his arms crossed over his chest.

"That is a beautiful piece of machinery," Zach said, nodding his head.

Bailey and I exchanged glances. I knew next to nothing about cars. I didn't even own one in Fresno. My travels consisted mainly in Mom's car, June's car or public transportation or on my bike.

"It's just a car, guys. Hop in, and I'll show you how it works," I joked and only got a small laugh from Bailey. Zach and Travis muttered mechanical and technical mumbo jumbo about the car I drove, none of which meant anything to me.

Twenty minutes later, I stopped in front of Rick's gym and immediately found out how much attention the car garnered. Almost all of the guys who passed us had that longing look on their faces. I must remember to ask Nica if she had a more normal car for me to borrow, and not one that men seemed to want to drool over and hump.

Travis tapped me on the shoulder and thanked me before unfolding his large body out of the vehicle. Bailey followed out after him, and they exchanged more saliva right beside the passenger door. Zach leaned one hand on my leg and ran his fingers over my cheeks before he tilted my chin and pressed his lips on mine. I was numb all over once he was done.

"I'll text you about later as soon as I get the chance, okay? We'll do whatever you want, Maggie. Anything and everything you want." Zach winked and gave me one last kiss before exiting the car. 

Warmth spread up my neck and on my cheeks. I touched my lips and wondered at the remnants of electricity on them. Then promptly gripped the steering wheel again when Bailey took over Zach's seat.

"Where’s your hotel?" I asked her, my fingers set to enter information on the GPS panel.

"It's in Union Square," she answered, and then proceeded to give me the address.

We sat in silence only for a few minutes before Bailey couldn't hold it any longer. She fiddled with the short hem of her black sequinned dress before angling her body to me. "You and Zach, huh?"

I glanced at her and smiled politely. "I assume you're asking if we’re dating." I let out a heavy sigh. How would I reply to a question I wasn't certain what the answer should be? "I'm not sure. We'll have to figure things out together...soon." And returned the question to her, "You and Travis?"

From my peripheral vision, Bailey looked down and played with the chain of her necklace. It had a swan pendant dangling from it. "Yeah, he's really sweet. I didn't think he liked me at all because he often avoided me, and you know...the height thing." She rolled her eyes and flicked a hand in the air. "We had such a great time last night, but..." Bailey left her words hanging. We were at a stop. I encouraged her to continue, but all she said was, "Never mind. I'm sure it won't matter later on."

We spent the rest of the drive with her talking all about her dreams of being in the fashion industry, and I told her I had once thought I would also be in fashion, but sadly, I lacked any sort of creative skills. I admitted I often had to consult an App, which May had shown me a while ago whenever I had to pair clothes with shoes. Bailey was nice enough to invite me to look her up if ever I found myself in Vegas, and she hugged me before getting out of the car.

* * *

While I drove to Nica's, I contemplated on Bailey's question about Zach and me and my current situation. Was it too soon to be seeing another guy after June? I didn't really know. Having had my heart broken once, the rules of relationships weren't clear to me. I'd have to go with my gut. Many people might suspect that Zach was just a rebound guy. Never in a million years would I ever treat him as such.

I'd never had a chance to tell May about Zach. I couldn't. Or didn't want to. She may or may not tell June. And who could say how June would react to it even though he shouldn't have the right to feel anything about me anymore. Although, if May found out, she might tell Delaney too. I would love to be a fly on the wall just to see her expression. The idea almost sounded vengeful. Was I after revenge? Was I that kind of person?

I didn't know if they would remember Zach. He'd mostly hung out with me, and not with other kids because of his father. But they all had interacted with him at some point. Delaney had been particularly mean to him and even made fun of his clothes, of which Zach had no recollection. He'd claimed he'd never met a Delaney when we'd been younger. Even then, she'd been a bitch. I should have really seen the signs. Had I turned a blind eye all this time? If she could see him now, I bet every last dollar in my savings account Delaney would have the audacity to flirt with Zach.

"Over my dead body," I muttered to myself as I drove into the garage and parked where the car had previously been.

I swiped my key fob onto the flat screen on the elevator panel and pressed the button for the penthouse. Not too long after the doors opened right into Levi and Nica's place.

"Hello?" I called out to the bright space.

"In the kitchen." I heard Levi's voice somewhere deep in the penthouse.

As I neared the kitchen, I found a shirtless Levi pressing Nica against the edge of the countertop. "Oh my god, I'm sorry." I covered my eyes, but I was glued to the threshold of the kitchen.

"It's fine. We're not doing anything," Levi explained.

"Are you sure because I can run to my room and come back when you're done," I offered, keeping my eyes hidden behind my hand.

"Well, in that case, give us twenty minutes," Levi said, and then followed it with a laugh.

I heard a slap against skin. "Stop it," Nica chastised her husband. "It's fine Maggie. You can uncover your eyes now."

I held out my other hand and walked backward. "I really don't mind. I mean you guys are married and all."

"See, my love, she understands."

"Go away, Levi. I'm still upset at you," Nica said. Then a hand pulled mine away from my face. My eyes stayed screwed shut just in case Levi didn't want to listen to Nica, but she laughed while she wrapped her arms around me. "We weren't doing anything."

Taking a risk, I opened one eye and peeked. Levi leaned against the counter, with one arm crossed over his chest, and eating an apple. He waved at me with the apple. I sighed and opened the other eye.

Nica smiled widely. "How's Zach?"

Here we go. I tried not to blush, but I had no control over that. "He's good. How did you know I was with him?" My only concession was that Nica blushed more than I did.

"We were out on the balcony when you ran out of here." Nica bit her bottom lip before continuing, "Then we tracked your phone and realized you probably left it here. So, we tracked the car through its GPS." She reached out to me and held my hands. "Sorry, we didn't mean to intrude, but I was worried."

I shook my head. "No, it's my fault. I should have told you guys where I was going, and I didn't even realize I left my phone until this morning when I woke up."

"Just be careful, Maggie." I could see the slight panic in her eyes and waited for the big sister talk, but instead, she asked me to get changed so that we could have breakfast together. Before I left the kitchen, Nica added, "You should ask him to come for dinner tonight. I'd love to see him again."

"Yeah, sure, Nica. I think that's a great idea. I'll text him now." I ran to my bedroom and picked up the phone off the floor where I'd dropped it last night.

May had called me several times and sent me a dozen text messages to call her back. She'd be none too happy if I texted her back now since it wasn't even seven in the morning. After my quick message to Zach, he immediately replied with a:

Dinner sounds great, Beanie and followed by, I miss you already.

* * *

At the breakfast table, I informed Nica of Zach's reply to our dinner invitation, "He's excited to come for dinner."

"It’ll be great to see him again. Chase has shown me pictures and videos of his fights," Nica said.

"Yeah..." That was another thing Zach and I should talk about. His fighting. How many fights had he done? Would he ever stop? What if he got severely injured?

"Oh, by the way, May called me," Nica interrupted my thoughts. "She said she tried texting and calling you. I told her you went out."

"Oh, I'll call her later. Did you tell her I was out with Zach?" Somehow, I wasn't too comfortable with anyone else telling May about him. Nica shook her head. "Thanks." I continued to focus on my food and didn't speak until my plate was almost empty. "Ahm, where's Aimee?"

"She's still sleeping," Levi answered. "She looked for you last night. I think you have that magic touch."

"Aw, I'm sorry I wasn’t here for her. Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she has a mild fever. It's her teeth again. It will be over soon enough. I hope." Nica worried.

Levi placed his fork on his plate and shimmied toward my sister, wrapping a hand around her belly. "It will be, darling." He reassured her. She reached up to cup his face, and I took that as my cue to leave, bringing my coffee mug with me.

"I'm going back to my room." They didn’t answer me, but I was fine with it. They were in their own love cocoon.

I walked into Aimee's room and checked on her. She had fallen asleep on her belly with her little butt up in the air. Such a cutie. I watched her breath for a while. The silence soothed me. It brought me peace and happiness. Yes, I was happy. I might not be at the same level as Nica and Levi, but I was truly at peace right now, and Zach brought me there.

I sent May a quick text. She was probably about to wake up to head to work and would not check her phone if June or Delaney were around. In my message, I said that I had just returned home, and let her wonder about the rest. I even promised myself not to be too petty if she ever replied back to tell me June might have found out I was seeing someone else. Because I was...seeing someone. I could deny it as much as I wanted, but what I had with Zach was special.

Before I could return to my bedroom, my phone rang in my hand. Mom's photo popped up on my screen. It was about time I faced her. I left Aimee's room and answered the call.

"Hi, Mom," I greeted and held my phone a foot away from my ears before she shouted on the other line. But no shouting came. Instead, it was my mother's quiet voice asking me how much I was liking San Francisco, and that she had missed me a lot.

Our chat didn't take too long, and it was surprisingly pleasant. I promised to call her every night from now on. She apologized that she wouldn't be able to make it to my birthday since they were short-staffed at work. I told her it was not a big deal and that I'd made other plans. It wasn't until after I hung up on her that that plan had become clear in my mind. For the rest of the morning, I had a smile plastered on my face while I researched information about a trip to Las Vegas, hopefully with Zach.

* * *

My phone dinged on the table beside me, signaling that Zach had arrived. I read his text confirming this and walked to the elevator with my keys. "Zach is here," I told the group milling about the living room.

"Ah sweet!" Chase bounced on her seat. I’d never seen her this excited for...well, just about anything. Chase was often closed off and a little intimidating at times. "I can't wait to ask him questions."

She'd shown me compiled videos of Zach's previous matches. I had no idea MMA could be so vicious. By the end of the third video, nausea was swimming in my stomach. Why would he ever get into that type of sport? Alex, her boyfriend and Levi's brother, came with her and had explained to me what the rules were in MMA fights. He'd even mentioned his one and only underground Thai boxing match in Bangkok many years ago, and proudly showed me the scar on his left elbow from the radial fracture, which ended that possible career.

"Now, now, we agreed you’ll calm down," Alex reminded Chase, tapping her hands on her lap. Chase rolled her eyes at him, and Alex let out a hearty laugh.

I pressed the elevator button with a shaky finger, and calmed my breathing down while I rode it down. When the doors opened, Zach stood in the middle of the large opulent lobby, with his head tilted up, looking at the seemingly floating glass structures hanging from the ceiling. He wore a light gray suit, which molded over his muscular body, with a white shirt and a black tie. My mouth became parched. He looked yummy. Stick a straw and a mini umbrella on him, because I could just drink him up.

"Zach!" I called out, with my hands on the doors to keep the elevator open.

He removed his hands from his pockets and gave me a sexy grin before strutting to me. "Hey, gorgeous," he greeted, and before I could say anything back, he had my bottom lip captured between his.

My hands traveled on their own up the nape of his neck, bringing him much closer to me and getting drunk off his scent. Just clean, soapy smell and Pure Zachary. The elevator doors closed behind him, and as soon as they did, he had me pushed up against the wall.

"I missed you so much," he managed to say between heated kisses and moans.

When his tongue danced inside my mouth, I basked in this crazy feeling of lust and desire. I wanted him, and I wanted him bad. It had only been nine hours since we last saw each other but I couldn't help the way my body responded to him.

I heard a buzz coming from the panel, and I realized I'd forgotten to press the button for the penthouse. "Wait." I pulled away from Zach, took the key fob out of my pocket and tried to reach for the panel.

"I'll do it." Zach grabbed the key from me and reached behind him with one hand. His other hand remained grasping my left hip. He faced me again and handed me the key. "I love that dress. Wow, Maggie."

He took my whole appearance in, running his hands over my curves. Nica had brought me out shopping with Chase, which I belatedly found out was a bad combination for shopping partners. After five stores and a hundred dresses later, I picked up a cobalt blue fit and flare scuba dress, with hidden pockets. The shoe shopping was a whole other nightmare, and after all that, I still ended up with my trusty sandals.

Throughout the day, we had texted each other. I sent him accounts of my horrifying, and never happening again shopping trip, and he messaged me about his training and promotion campaign, which went on at Rick's gym. His day had appealed to me more than mine had. Other than that, we had flirted back and forth, which I suppose added to the heat between us. Zach rubbed the fabric, pressing his lips into a flat line, and then groaned. I laughed as he brazenly adjusted himself under his pants.

It was my turn to do the touching. His shoulders and chest felt hard under the suit fabric. Zach unbuttoned his jacket so that I could keep my hands roaming over his upper body.

"I love this suit on you," I said, playing with the ends of his tie.

He brushed the top of his hair back and clicked his tongue. "Thanks. I do clean up nice if I say so myself."

"Hmmm, that you do, Zachy boy, that you do. We’re almost at the top, so you better calm that down." I nodded at his erection, and ignored the way my cheeks burned by my own comment.

"Not my fault," he said, with an arched brow and that sly grin.

The elevator dinged as we reached the penthouse. Zach mouthed the word, "Wow" before stepping into the entryway, where Nica greeted us and gave Zach a hug.

"Look at you. Last time I saw you I think you were ten?" she said.

"Eleven," Zach corrected her.

"Wow, it's been that long?" Nica looked at me, and then back at Zach. I could tell she had tons of questions in her head. I hadn't given her much more information about Zach. Those were his stories to tell, not mine. "Well, welcome. Come on in."

We followed her into the living room. I delighted in the way he held my hand. Firm, yet soft, enough to let me know he was there for me. He tightened slightly when he saw the group gathered in the room. If I didn't know any better, Zach was nervous. Not that I could blame him. Chase and Alex could be quite intimidating as individuals, but they were the type of couple who people noticed and gawked at. Levi had Aimee in his arms, and it made him seem more approachable.

Nica began introductions "This is my husband, Levi, and our little girl, Aimee." She shook one of Aimee's little fingers.

“Hi,” my little niece greeted and buried her head in her dad’s shoulder.

Levi adjusted Aimee in one arm and offered his hand to Zach. "Pleasure. Welcome to our humble abode."

"Humble is not what I would call it," Zach told him. "I'm Zach." Zach tickled Aimee's cheek, and she cooed at him. "Hello, you. Such a cute little girl. Your auntie has talked nonstop about you. May I?"

Nica was shocked when Zach stretched his arms toward Aimee. Levi transferred her over to Zach who seemed quite comfortable with a child in his arms. Aimee looked just as comfortable with him, smiling up at her new friend. Then she pinched his cheeks and nose and tugged.

"Ow," Zach said quietly.

"Oh my god." I laughed at the whole scene.

"Oh, Aimee, that is not nice to our guest," Nica said. Aimee simply glanced at her mother, let go of Zach and giggled some more. "I'll have to take her to bed now."

Zach handed her to Nica. "Okay, nice to meet you, young lady."

Nica walked to the hallway with Aimee yammering her usual toddler speak, which only Nica could understand most days.

"These guys are Chase and Alex." I wrapped my hand around Zach's arm and led him the couple.

They matched with their dark hairs and black clothes and big personalities. Chase molded her usual scowl into a smile, and Alex stood beside her, entertained by how uncanny his girlfriend was acting.

"I am such a huge fan of yours," Chase confessed to him, placing a hand on her chest while shaking Zach's hand. “I’m Chase.”

"Your name is Chase? I thought that was a guy's name." Zach knitted his brows together but kept a smile on his face.

Chase barked a laugh. "I get that a lot. You have no idea, but it's better than my real name."

"She is all woman, mate," Alex added, "I checked plenty of times."

Chase wiggled her eyebrows at Zach, but I ended up blushing at Alex's comment.

"It's always great to meet a fan, man or woman," Zach said. He looked over to me and wriggled his arm around my waist. "Maggie told me you showed her some of my fights?"

"Yes!" Chase said. I could tell she was excited by the prospect of analyzing the videos with him later. She began talking about one of his matches when Levi swooped in for a save.

"Drinks, Zach? Wine, Champagne? Scotch? Whiskey?" Levi offered.

Zach turned around to face him. "Whiskey neat would be great."

"Ah, good choice," Levi said, taking a short glass from the liquor cart, the kind that existed in the 1940's, and poured a golden-brown liquid in it. He handed it to Zach.

"Thanks."

"Cheers." Levi lifted his own glass to him. "A bit of champagne, Maggie?" Levi asked me. Normally I wouldn't have any, but in a way, this was sort of a celebration. Officially, for me, Zach had acquired a place in my life.

"Yeah, I'll have some. Thanks, Levi." My brother in law handed me a flute from a tray.

"She's out," Nica announced when she returned to join us. "Oh, I will have some champagne please." She took the glass and the kiss that Levi offered her. "Well, dinner won't start for a few more minutes. Why don't you give Zach a tour of the place, Maggie?"

"Oh, yeah, would you like that?" I asked Zach.

"Yeah, that would be great actually." Zach knocked back the last of his drink and Levi extended his hand for the empty glass.

"I'll have another one ready for you when you get back," Levi promised.

Zach and I walked into the kitchen where just an hour or so ago, Levi, Alex and I had prepared dinner for our guests. They'd marveled over my knife skills. Levi had asked where I learned to cook, and my succinct reply had been, "Not from my mother or sister." We'd all had a good laugh.

I waved my hand around. "Pretty self-explanatory. Kitchen." And I pointed at a glass door at the far end of the wall. "Over there is the wine cellar. I don't have the code, but it's pretty boring. Just a room with a bunch of wine." I shrugged.

I kept my hand intertwined with his, while we made our way around the main floor. We opened the doors as we passed the library, Levi and Nica's home offices, a gym (and he whistled as he took note of all the equipment) and the theater room.

"The maids' quarters are through those doors. They have a housekeeper and a nanny for Aimee, and the laundry room is back there too. But you don't need to see that." Somehow, I felt a little embarrassed, like I was flaunting Levi and Nica's wealth. Zach and I had grown up in more humble homes. I wasn't sure what his thoughts were on the matter. "Let’s go upstairs."

"Are you going to show me your room?" His eyes flirted. His wide smile said it all.

"Maybe. If you think you've been good." I placed a hand on his chest and kissed him before continuing.

"Hmmm. Sorry, Beanie. I've been very naughty." His reply to my little tease caused a tingle to my extremities.

We made our way through the living room and up the stairs, passing a study, a bathroom, and Aimee's room, which I opened slightly to see her sleeping soundly. Then we stopped in front of the door to my room.

"Over there is the master. We don't have to see that either. Nica and Levi spend a lot of time in there." I laughed at my own joke as I pointed further down the hallway. "And this is my room."

Zach stepped in with me, glancing around the large room. It was probably bigger than the place he was staying at, complete with a king-size four poster bed with an open canopy, a makeup dresser, a sitting area and a flat screen that sat on top of a fireplace. Beside the bathroom was the walk-in closet. And between the large windows was a door that went out to a balcony where I could sit and watch the stars, not that I had had the chance to.

"Pretty cool. This is fantastic, Beanie." He pointed at the bed and jumped on it, clasping his hands behind the back of his neck. "Is this where you think of me every night and wish that I’m here beside you?"

I laughed at his audacity. "You really are Mr. Humble today, aren't you?" I joined him on the bed. Zach had me on top of him with a quick pull on my arm, and I instantly felt his hardness underneath. "You have to get that under control." I shook my head against his chest, giggling.

"Sorry I can't. You broke me. I’m always going to be in this state around you." He looked pointedly at the closed door. "Your sister says it will take a few minutes before dinner starts. Any suggestions as to what we can do?" With this, he pushed his groin up, and his erection hit me where I was most sensitive.

My lower abdomen contracted, and warmth pooled between my legs. I bit down on my lip, suppressing a moan. "Zach..." My voice was a mixture of want and warning.

Zach laughed, and it reverberated on my chest. "Relax, Maggie, I'm just kidding. We better get up and go back before she starts thinking something is happening."

"Okay." Before I got to push off, Zach nibbled on my bottom lip, and then he took my breath away with a mind-numbing kiss.

"Wait, I have something to tell you," I grabbed his arm before he could open the door. Before I ran out of courage, I told him about the trip I had planned, "I think I'd like to go to Las Vegas with you. I want to see where you live, and visit your Mom."

Zach's eyes lit up. His smile widened. "That would be amazing! I'll show you all the great spots, and we'll eat at my favorite restaurants. We'll go out dancing. There are a few parties I've been invited to. Oh, and I'll show you the gym I used to train at..." His rapid response thrilled me even more. The only times I'd ever gone on a trip with anyone had always been here in San Francisco or Napa Valley to visit my sister.

Which reminded me... "One thing though, I haven't told my sister yet. Let's keep it on the down low for a bit?"

Zach held both my hands and kissed the tops of my knuckles. "It's going to be great, Maggie. Ma will be so happy to see you."

We left my room after I checked my appearance twice in the mirror. Our little make out session didn't take too long, but the signs were there. Good thing my dress didn’t wrinkle. Zach on the other hand...

My thoughts of what else I could have done to him stopped when we passed the upstairs bathroom and heard a thump on the door, followed by a loud moan.

"Oh...more, Alex." It wasn't hard to guess or know that it was Chase who uttered those words. Were they really doing it in the bathroom?

My cheeks reddened as the thumping continued against the door, faster and louder. Then we heard two people moan. Zach sniggered beside me, and shook his head.

"Lucky bastard," he said as he stared at the door.

I led him by the hand, dragged him down the stairs and back to the living room. Nica and Levi were seated on one of the couches, with drinks in their hands.

"What's wrong, Maggie?" Nica asked as Levi strode to the liquor cart to grab Zach and my drinks.

"Nothing," I muttered, but even I did not believe it.

Nica narrowed her eyes then at Zach. He wore a huge grin on his face. Then Nica's eyes traveled up the stairs and widened. "Dammit, Chase! I warned her already."

Levi understood immediately and laughed. "I don't know why you try to stop her. Alex has been away for a week. You know how they get."

"I don't try. I ask. I'm going to knock her on the head." Nica fumed.

"Knock who on the head?" Chase asked while she descended the stairs with Alex following right behind.

Oh yeah, they certainly were going at it in the bathroom. I placed my hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing. Zach leaned to me and snickered against my neck.

"Chase, I told you!" Nica chastised her.

Chase just shrugged and sat directly right across from Zach and me. She was wearing a short black leather dress and wickedly high heels. Her hair had that just-fucked messy look. Alex took the place right beside her with a straight face. He matched Chase with sharp looking black jeans and black shirt, which I could swear was tucked in earlier. They looked like they just stepped out of a Vogue magazine.

"Relax, Nica. We weren't gone that long. I could have certainly taken five minutes more." Alex and Levi laughed at Chase's comment while Nica and I blushed.

* * *

I was seated between Zach and Nica and right across from Chase, Alex, and Levi. Chase and Alex were entertaining to watch. They fed each other everything. And every time they did it, I felt like I was watching the beginning of a porn movie. As far as I knew, they'd been together a little over a year, and they went through some tumultuous experiences before staying together.

"Where do you train?" Chase asked Zach during the main course.

"While I'm here, I’m at Wild Fire Gym. My friend, Rick owns the franchise," Zach answered.

Chase leaned forward. "Oh, nice. I've been there a few times. He has some great fighters. Is he still single?"

"He might be, my darling, but you are not," Alex reminded her, although, he didn’t sound too serious.

Chase squeezed his cheeks together and made his lips pucker. "I'm asking for a friend."

"You do not have friends, you only have me," Nica added.

Chase rolled her eyes at her. "Fine. I'm asking for Jewel."

"Jewel?" Nica and I asked in unison.

"Yeah, she's single," Chase continued, "She's a nice girl, and she’s looking for love or whatever."

Zach gave her a half shrug. "I don't know if Rick is looking for love right now. He has his hands full with his three kids."

"Jewel loves kids."

"Chase stop it," Nica said.

"What? I'm just saying she hasn't had a boyfriend in..." She paused. "I don't know how long but it’s long enough. She needs a good lay."

Alex added to the conversation, "A good lay is far from love, Chase."

"Not in my case." Chase winked at Zach and me.

"Forgive my darling Chase. We don't let her have too many friends for this very reason." Alex should retract those words by the way Chase sent daggers at him. But he was clearly teasing. He turned to Zach. "Tell me, have you ever been to the UK? There’s a great gym there called JJ's."

Zach offered a quick reply, "JJ's? I've heard of it. I‘ve heard of Jimmy the owner. I met one of his guys, Lee Belmont, a while back. Scary guy. Too serious."

"And a bit on the cocky side. From what I heard, Jimmy's daughter knocked him out during a sparring."

"I heard that too. I didn't know that was real," Levi added.

Alex nodded at his brother. "Oh yeah. That knocked him down a notch or two. He was getting rather cocky. Jimmy thought it would teach him a lesson."

"I'd like to meet Jimmy one day, and maybe his daughter too," Zach said.

Alex stretched his hand to grab his drink and swirled the contents of the glass before taking a sip. "Not sure about the daughter, but if you’re ever interested, I can arrange a meeting with Jimmy whenever you want."

"I thought you're a photographer? What are you doing in an MMA gym?" I asked Alex.

Chase answered for him, "He’s been around the world. And he photographs different things and people. I'm sure he was there chasing the daughter's tail." Chase sneered.

Alex shook his head at us, while Chase looked on, challenging him. "Not very likely. She wasn't around much when I was there."

"Otherwise, you would."

"Probably."

"There you go," Chase said, and she smiled at him.

I watched the two of them the whole night as well as how Nica was with Levi and vice versa. These two couples were completely enamored with their partners in different ways. But it was always sweet to see. I had that once before, and it turned into a big fat lie. I looked at Zach and wondered, could we ever be that much in love if we gave it a chance? Was my heart ready to risk that again?

As desserts, which I made out of a recipe I had created, were being passed, Zach added another bit to the conversation, "I was just telling Maggie that I'm going to show her the gym I first trained at when we go to Vegas."

It was an innocent conversation, but not everyone received it well. Nica dropped her spoon, and it clattered against the plate. "When you what?" She stared at me. "You didn't tell me about this. When do you plan on going?"

I hesitated. Right away, Zach knew what a mistake it was to say it out loud even though I'd warned him earlier. "I'd like to go with him in two days when he leaves San Francisco."

Nica exploded, "You can't do that!"

Levi reached across the table and touched her hand, but she didn't look away from me. "Nica..."

She finally turned to him, but her tone didn't change. "No, Levi. What if something happens?"

"What if something happens?" I repeated her words. "What do you mean by that, Nica?"

"I'm just... You've only known Zach for how long...and..."

I stood, shaky on my legs. "I've known Zach since we were little, Nica. And I've made my decision. When will you ever stop babying me?"

She matched my tone, but stayed seated. "I'm not babying you. I just want you to be careful. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I already got hurt, Nica, in case you forgot, my ex-boyfriend left me at the altar. He screwed my best friend and got her pregnant." I pushed the chair behind me, clearing the way for my escape. "I came here, to you, to stay away from all that. I needed your help, Nica, but I don't always want your opinions."

And just like that, our nice dinner turned into a spat between us sisters. I walked away from the table with Nica asking me to come back. Zach followed after me, but he didn't say anything. I was fine with it. I'd had enough of people telling me what I didn't want to hear or what they thought I should do. Just the night before, I'd promised myself I would take the reins in my own life. It was time I showed everyone I could do it.