Page 60 of The Heartbreak List

I hold myself together as I stand on the pavement, and he drives away. Did I really blow up my entire life?

“Are you okay, Indy?” Pez joins me on the footpath. He must have been watching from inside the entrance.

As good as I can get. “I didn’t mean it when I said he was just a bartender. I don’t believe that. I don’t believe that about any of you.”

“I didn’t think anything,” he says. “Emotions were high. It must have been a hard situation for you.”

“It’s over.” And it hurts. It’s still the right decision. I turn toward the club. “Where is Theo?”

He makes a face like I won’t like his answer. “He got his stuff and he left. Took a bottle of Irish whiskey with him. I’d say he’s gone to work some things out.”

So he’s spoiling for a fight. “Do you have any idea where he would go?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Theo

Crack.

The brute in front of me rocks his fist into my chin. My head flies back with the momentum and my body follows. I stumble backwards into the metal cage surrounding the fight.

People scream for him. Others yell encouragement at me with the desperation of more money than they can afford on the line.

He shouldn’t have landed that blow. I should have blocked it easily. I grip onto the honeycombed wire. I’m so fucking distracted tonight. I need to get my head straight. Need to do it or I might as well lay down and hand him the win.

What the fuck does she see in that guy? What does he hold over her that makes her stick to him when he’s not right for her? As if I’d be any better…As if I want to be. But with him in the picture I’m not. And God, I miss her so fucking much.

I can practically see two of her through my blurred vision and the sweat dripping down my face as I turn to face my opponent again. She’s so clear it’s almost like she’s here.

And she brought Pez. That makes sense. He’s the only person she knows who would be able to locate me. They stand side-by-side outside the cage.

Another head-spinning punch has my lights flickering.

Indy’s eyes grow so big. She covers her mouth as though choking back a scream.

Shit. She’s real. Indy is really here. I scramble to get my balance. To refocus on the guy who will knock me out cold if I give him the chance. But having her outside the cage makes my heart bottom out.

She shouldn’t be here amongst the bloodthirsty men and woman crowding the cage. She should be with him…that’s what she wants. So why did Pez bring her here? I catch another fist to the chest, and when she screams, I’m done.

The other guy isn’t prepared for me to turn the tables. I’ve been lethargic in my blocking all night, taking more hits than I needed to. Unable to concentrate with a head full of Indy. I come at him hard. Punch after punch. Until he’s stumbling like a drunk. I don’t stop until there’s no chance that he’s getting up again.

After the fight is declared I leave the cage.

“Theo?” Indy calls out as they try to push through the crowd.

Turning my back on her, I make my way to my bag. I take a minute to remove the perspiration and all visible traces of blood from my face, hands, and torso before tossing the towel back in my bag and pulling out a fresh T-shirt.

“Hey, man,” Pez announces that they’ve joined me.

I tug the cotton over my head and smooth it down my torso. He brought her here. Am I supposed to be grateful or pissed?

“Theo, can we talk?” Her voice is a trembling caress on my skin.

When did this girl with one foot in the grave become more than a way to ease my guilt? I snag the bottle of Jameson and zip up my bag. My plan is to get very drunk, but not until I find out what Indy has to say. “Thanks for looking after her. But you shouldn’t have brought her here.”

“I made Pez bring me.” She sticks out her chin.

“She can be a stubborn one when she wants to be.” He ruffles his hair as he shrugs.

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