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  As our eyes meet, he saunters over to me, his arms extended for me to fall into his embrace.

  “Well hello there, beautiful. Are you all packed up and ready to go?” Mike asks.

  “I am. Thanks so much for coming to help me,” I reply, taking a step into his awaiting arms.

  Pulling me in closer to him, I can smell his musky cologne. It’s only been a few days since I last saw him and I guess I missed him more than I thought.

  “I’ll always be here to help you, you know that.”

  Inching away from him, I look up into his black orbs. Those eyes are so intense, like looking into black holes of despair.

  “I know it Mike and I love you for it, you’re always there when I need you.”

  Leaning back into him, he kisses the top of my forehead and allows his lips to linger a bit too long. I don’t want to give him mixed signals, yet he makes me feel at ease. As if he’s my home away from home.

  Silence fills the small space and the feeling of awkwardness begins to grow as I feel his heart beating through his thin shirt.

  Slowly pulling away, I start to look around the small space.

  “Where’s Trenton?”

  Removing his arms from around my waist, he takes a step back brushing loose strands of blonde hair from my face.

  “He’s loading up your boxes in the truck.”

  How nice of him. Poor Trenton getting stuck with all the brunt work while Mike is in here with me.

  “Umm, well, I’m ready, so how about we hit the road. I know Mom and Dad are anxiously waiting for me.”

  “Your father is more than happy to have you back under his roof; it’s all that he’s talked about at the gym for weeks.”

  “Oh yeah,” I reply, a smile spreading across my face. “Has he been taking good care of you at the gym? You’re looking a little scrawny, Mike.”

  Looking down at his firm physique, he catches my eyes with a smirk.

  “I bust my ass to look this good, don’t you dare think otherwise.”

  With a laugh, I take my opportunity to step away from him and lead myself out of the bedroom.

  “Don’t worry. Mike; I’m sure you have all the girls of the neighborhood drooling at your feet. You look great.”

  Gazing around the empty kitchen and living room, I silently say goodbye to my college apartment.

  No words left to say, I make my way through the space and out the door. Mike follows me, carrying the last of my bags, as I lead us out of the building and to Trenton’s truck.

  Standing up against the navy blue Dodge Durango, my eyes meet those same dark eyes of his twin brother. Even though they are fraternal twins and look very different, those eyes are identical. They suck you in and hold you hostage until you can’t breathe. It’s something I’ve had to grow immune to over the years, but from time to time, I still find myself getting lost in them regardless which twin I’m staring back at.

  As he steps forward, he breaks the trance. Feeling a bit awkward for staring at my best friend, I allow him to take the few bags from my arms and watch as he tosses them into the trunk.

  “You ready to be back in Brooklyn again?” Trenton asks shutting the hood of the trunk and moving toward the driver’s side door.

  “You know it,” I reply with a wink. “I know I’ve only been thirty minutes away, but it’s the change in scenery that I miss.”

  As the three of us slide into the truck, I let out a heavy sigh and rest my head against the seat.

  “I have no clue what I’ll do once I’m there. I’m just happy to be coming home.”

  At least I think I am.

  “Well, home is happy to have you back. I’ll be grateful to see you more often and not making this insane drive every week, the traffic build up is nuts.”

  Looking over to him with a pout, I wonder to myself. No one made him make the drive, he and Mike wanted to…they’re the ones that insisted on coming here almost every weekend. Against my father’s will and training schedule, it’s the two of them that forced themselves to remain a constant in my life, not me.

  “I’m not saying that I’m not glad you guys came to visit me so often, but you didn’t have to. I’m sure you had a life in Brooklyn far more exciting than coming to see me.”

  Resting his hand on mine, he gives it a tight squeeze.

  “I don’t know what I need to do to show you how much I care about you Taryn. I’ve made a point to be here with you because I wanted to be. Maybe I misspoke, I didn’t mean anything by what I said, I wanted to be here with you,” he whispers in the space between us.

  “Yeah I know, thank you,” I reply, a knot of regret forming in my throat.

  Closing my eyes, I position my head forward. I’d rather pretend that I’m sleeping throughout this drive than deal with what conversation could take place between the two of us. I know that both Mike and Trenton care about me a lot more than I care for them. Once I’m home and settled into things a bit more, it may be best for me to come clean about my feelings for them once and for all.

  I don’t want to break anyone’s hearts, but I don’t want to lose my friends either.

  Pulling into my parent’s driveway, I’m more than ready to get out of this vehicle. Traffic sucked and it took us a lot longer to get here than I imagined.

  As I open the door, I step out of the truck and shut the door behind me. Mike is immediately by my side wrapping his arm around me while he escorts me up to the back porch.

  “No worries, jackass, I’ll get the shit from the car,” Trenton’s voice calls from behind us.

  Turning out of Mike’s arm, I stop in my tracks to face Trenton.

  “We’ll get the stuff later, get your ass up here,” I reply with a wave of my arm.

  A smile spreads across Trenton’s face, his subtle dimples peeking out at me. Watching as he runs up alongside of us, I giggle and the craziness of my best friend.

  Flanked by two of my favorite guys, we walk arm in arm into the kitchen of my family home.

  “Surprise,” voices shout from the darkened space.

  Feeling my body go numb, I flip on the light switch. Surrounding me is my entire family, neighbors and friends I’ve known my entire life.

  “This is so unexpected,” I whisper to no one but myself.

  Laughs and smiles fill the room while Mike and Trenton are forced to move out of the way as people start sharing their happiness of me being home.

  Ma comes up along side of me, wrapping me in her arms.

  “I’m so glad to have you home, princess. I’ve missed you,” she cries, tears of joy running down her beautiful face.

  “Ma, I wasn’t that far away. You act like I moved from across the country.”

  Pulling away she wipes the falling tears from her eyes and kisses me on the cheek.

  “I know Taryn; it’s just good to have you back in the house. I’m so ready to have some down time, just us girls.”

  Knowing very well what she means, I’m happy to be back home too.

  “Me too, Ma; let’s plan a day together soon.”

  With a wink, she pulls me back into her arms.

  “Already done, we have a lot of fun stuff to do this week.”

  Shaking my head at her, I mouth thank you as my dad sweeps me up into his arms.

  “Oh my sweet, Taryn, I’m so glad to have you back here with us.”

  My dad’s strong arms squeeze the life out of me and I can feel the bones along my spine begin to crack.

  “Daddy, you’re killing me, ease up a bit, tough guy,” I say attempting to squirm out of his bear hug.

  Easing up on his grip, he allows my feet to fall back onto the floor and pulls me away from him taking a good look at me.

  “You look beautiful as always, but you didn’t think I’d take it easy on you now…did you?”

  Giggling, I shake my head before placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.

  “I’d never expect you to take it easy on me. Speaking of which, when can I get into the gym to star
t training?”

  With wide eyes he looks down to me, an expression of uncertainty spread across his face.

  “You want to train at the Cage?”

  Nodding, I smile up to him.

  “Yeah, why not? A girl can be a fighter too, ya know.”

  He scrunches his brow as his eyes lock into something behind me.

  “Don’t hoard her away too long, she needs time to visit with everyone here, not just you, Mike.”

  A feeling of weightlessness takes over my body as I’m picked up off the floor and carried backwards into another room.

  What the…

  Chapter 2

  Removing the key from my back pocket, I unlock the large glass doors leading into the Cage. As I walk through the entryway, I flip on the light switches and they begin to illuminate the cold warehouse space.

  The buzzing sound of the lights fills the silence. It’s empty, filled with the peace and quiet I desperately crave today.

  I know I’ll be one of the only guys in here this morning, after all, everyone is preparing for the welcome home party for Taryn. Rolling my eyes at the thought of her, I toss my bag onto the nearest bench and remove my sweatshirt. The idea of Taryn being back in Brooklyn has anxiety coursing through my body.

  Honestly I don’t know why I let her aggravate me so much…she just does. An image of her face flashes through my mind. Those taunting, dark eyes haunt me; I can’t get her out of my mind. She’s consumed my every thought knowing I can never have her…she’s never been mine to have.

  No matter how hard I try and what I attempt to tell my subconscious, she’s nothing to me.

  It’s been four years since I last laid eyes on her, our high school graduation to be exact. Seeing her again, after all this time, isn’t something on my bucket list of things to accomplish in my life. I need to rid my mind of her for good. There’s nothing to think about, nothing to dwell on, and certainly nothing that involves either one of us in our futures. I made the decision all those years ago to stay away from her, no use making myself crazy over a girl that means nothing to me…right?

  So instead of partaking in the celebration, I’m here at the gym. Hell, this place is more so my home than my actual apartment, I spend enough time here. I don’t have time for that “happy go lucky” party shit, I have to train. In less than six months, the fights will be starting and I’m determined to make it all the way to the championship round. I don’t need to be around the ice princess when there are much more important things to be doing.

  Making my way through the gym, I push my ear buds into my lobes. Cranking my music, I pull my gloves onto each of my hands while I approach the punching bag. Aggression now running through my veins, I stretch my limbs before heaving my fists at the giant red target.

  For the past four years, while all my high school friends were off at college, I created a plan of my own. Well, not really my own since my brother and best friend decided to follow in my footsteps. None the less, the three of us started training with Birch, Taryn’s dad here at the Cage.

  He’s owned this gym for as long as I can remember. Before my pa passed away he’d bring the three of us here to watch the men sweat, grunt, and train for the fights of their lives. The rush that surrounded the intense air inspired me as I grew through my adolescent years. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through the wires of the metal cage and knew one day I wanted to fill their shoes.

  I may have been a little more anxious and exited than Mike and Trenton, but still it was something to do with Pa. It was our getaway and I never would have traded that time with him for the world. Even as a kid, I wanted to be here, needed to see the action, and imagined it was me in the cage as the fighters fought. Not knowing where to start, I continued to watch. Pa brought me here every weekend, even when Mike and Trenton didn’t want to come. All I’d do was sit and watch. The throws, punches, and sounds of skin hitting the mat; it was so much more to me than two men fighting for the win. It was a battle of skill, intensity and power. I wanted to harness that power and conquer everything…I wanted to be a champion.

  Pa saw the expression on my face, the excitement in my eyes and he knew as well as I did…I was going to be a fighter. He was my biggest supporter, the one that encouraged me to do anything I put my mind to. I just wish he was here now with me to see the contender I’ve become.

  I may not be the best at much, but, damn it to hell, I know how to throw a punch and take down my opponent like the best of them. I’ve worked hard, trained for hours and fought to be where I am. There’s no strength for the weak, we have to earn what we want. It’s taken me a long time to get where I am right now, it didn’t come easy and without sacrifice. While my friends were out living their lives, I was in here busting my ass.

  After Pa died and left me, I needed…

  Somewhere to go and hide from my thoughts.

  Something to help me take away the pain of my loss.

  Someone to help me focus on a bigger target.

  Some way to prove to myself that I could make him proud.

  I continued to go to the Cage day in and day out, never forgetting the ways in which the fight made me feel. It was time for me to stand tall and take a jump off the cliff of fear. I wanted something so badly there was no point in waiting any longer. One night before Birch closed up the gym, I cornered him as he was shutting down the lights. With panic coursing through my veins, I told him what I wanted to do. I was scared as hell that he’d laugh in my face, but he didn’t. Instead, a look of pride filled his light brown eyes as determination poured from the grasp of his firm hand shake.

  Since then, the rest is history or as I stand here punching the life out of this bag, my present. Birch taught me everything I know, he took the time to be the man I could look up to and wanted to be. He could never replace my father, but growing up having him around as Pa’s best friend, he was the next thing I knew to a dad. He watched over both me and Trenton, making sure we listened to Ma and did well in school. We knew better than to mess around with trouble, Birch would have had our asses and then handed us over to Ma.

  Training me hard, he knew my goals and wanted to ensure that I was able to accomplish them. I wasn’t a scrawny kid walking into the Cage, but today, as I stand here continuing to slam my fists into the punching bag, I’m a stronger, more defensive fighter and a man that would make my father proud.

  Lost in thought, my punches begin to slow as a shadow crosses my peripheral vision. I take a moment to step away from the bag, sweat pouring down my face. Looking to my left I see one of the trainers, Gus standing with his arms crossed along his chest.

  Pulling off my gloves, I tear my ear buds out and give him a nod.

  “What’s up Gus?” I ask wiping the sweat from my brow with the hem of my tee-shirt.

  “Got something on your mind, kid?” he asks leaning up against the wall.

  Unsure as to what he’s talking about, I shrug my shoulders and scrunch my brows.

  “You were killing the bag, more so than normal. I called your name a few times, but got no response. Just figured you were pissed off about something. Either that or some broad left without providing the happy ending you had hoped for last night.”

  Shaking my head, I let out a laugh.

  “Nah, Coach, I was just working it hard this morning. Nothing more than normal, so no worries. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be on your way to Birch’s house by now?”

  Taking a step away from the wall, he lurks toward me.

  “I drew the short straw and was sent here to bring your ass over to the house. You can’t keep hiding from her kid, it’s been years. You know the two of you will wind up bumping into one another now that she’s back in town.”

  Taken aback by his words, I instantly become irate.

  What is he talking about, how does he know how I feel about her. Hell, I don’t even know how I feel about her. All I know is that she makes my blood boil and not in a good way.

  “What the fuck, Gus,�
� I shout. “I don’t have a clue what you’re referring to with me and Taryn. I chose to not go to the party and no matter who’s drawing straws, I’m still not going.”

  Raising his hands in the air, he defends himself from my outburst.

  “Look, I’m just speaking to what I’ve witnessed for the past six or more years. I’ve known you since you were a tike and that girl has got something over you. No use trying to hide it, especially from me.”

  Turning away from him I slam my fist into the bag.

  “Fuck!” I scream clenching my aching fist with the palm of my other hand.

  “Seriously, Hank, you’re a smart kid. Next time hit the bag with the gloves on your fists. I’ll leave you be and tell Birch you were training, but I’m telling you now, don’t let that girl cloud your judgment. I know as well as you do that you’re prepping for the fight of your life. Don’t screw it up over her.”

  With that, he walks away from me, my mouth now hanging wide open. I watch as he exits the gym and leaves me to think about his last words.

  Looking down at my throbbing knuckles, I need a moment to relax. I take a few steps over to the bench, grabbing the water bottle out of my bag and chug it down within a few gulps.

  What the hell was Gus talking about, there’s nothing and hasn’t been anything going down with me and Taryn…not now, not ever.

  That girl gets under my skin. She’s done nothing but turn her back on me and whenever I’ve been with another girl she’s given me attitude.

  What the hell?

  After the last two years of high school and us completely hating on each other, four years of her being away at school were a godsend. My brother and Mike may be up her ass in more ways than one, but for me I’d rather her remain a distant stranger in my life.

  The day she ran away from me after the intrusion with Monica was the last day I said a word to her. We were never close friends, more so two people that were brought together through our families’ bond. Something about her always irked me; her stuck up personality, the way she walked into a room and everyone stared…she just pisses the fuck out of me. I don’t need someone like her in my life; I have plenty of willing girls at my feet so there’s no need to give her a second thought.