Page 24 of The Fight

Four… Five… Six…

He’s using everything he has left to thrash weakly beneath me, but it’s no use.

Seven… Eight… Nine…Ten! The bell rings, and I jump off him like he’s made of fucking fire.

I look down at him and shrug with a smirk before blowing him a kiss.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

BLAIR

As soon as Shay’s off the mat, he blows a mocking kiss to the guy on the ground, and then his eyes start searching the crowd. When his gaze finally locks on me, I feel a strange flutter in my chest. It’s almost like he’s looking for me.

Before I have a chance to process what that means, Hannah is at my side, tapping my ass and placing the “winner” card in my hand. “Go on. Announce our champ!”

I take a deep breath and step into the ring with my heart pounding. Shay is moving toward me, his expression arrogant and intense. Just as we’re about shoulder to shoulder, the guy on the mat stirs and slowly gets to his feet.

I barely have time to react when he starts shouting, slurred and angry. “That was a bullshit call! Ref, you’re blind!” he yells.

No one has a chance to stop him before he’s lunging toward Shay with a clenched fist.

Everything happens in a split second. Shay moves to the side, and the guy’s punch misses its mark. Instead of connecting with Shay, his fist slams into my face with brutal force. Pain explodes across my cheek, and I stumble backward, disoriented, my vision blurred with sudden tears, before I fall to my ass.

Then, chaos.

Shay all but roars and slams into the guy, tackling him back to the mat. His fists fly in a blur, pummeling the poor bastard who hit me. Blood starts to splatter with every hit, and the crowd’s cheers turn into shocked gasps.

Austin slides into the ring, desperately trying to pull Shay off, shouting for him to stop, but Shay is lost to his rage. A primal force that can’t be contained. Next, I feel Hannah’s hands on me, checking my face, but I barely register it. My focus is solely on Shay.

“Shay, stop!” I cry out, my voice shaky from the pain in my face.

He doesn’t even hear me, doesn’t even seem to see me. It’s like he’s somewhere else, completely consumed by anger.

I force myself back to my feet and stagger over to him, grabbing his arm. “Shay! Enough!”

Finally, my voice breaks through. He pauses, his chest heaving, his fists still raised. He turns and looks at me, then reaches out and swipes his finger under my lip, smearing the moisture I didn’t even realize was there. His hands and tape are bloody, so I can’t tell if it’s my blood or the guy when he pulls away. But by the way his eyes darken, I have my answer.

Fear flashes across his blue orbs, and suddenly, without a word, he stands up. Shoving Austin away, he grabs my hand and pulls me to the ropes. Quickly, he steps out, then holds them open for me. I don’t even get a moment to fully step down before his hands are on me again. Only this time, he lifts me gently and starts carrying me through the crowd bridal-style. The whole gym is staring, whispers and murmurs following us as Shay pushes through them, but I can’t even make out the words.

The only thing I can focus on is his face above me and why he’s acting this way.

Once we’re inside the locker room, he sets me on my feet and starts shoving his stuff into a bag with quick, jerky movements. I can feel the anger radiating off him in waves.

“Get your things,” he orders.

I hesitate, still dazed, then start moving toward Hannah’s locker to grab my phone and my mom’s keys.

“Shay, I’m fine,” I say, but I don’t even believe my own lie.

“Just get your stuff, Blair,” he snaps, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Holding up my hands, I show him my keys and phone. “This is all I brought.”

He gives me a curt nod, then jacks his gym bag over his shoulder and steps back to me. Grabbing my hand, he leads me out of the locker room. He doesn’t even glance at all the people still milling around. The crowd parts as we walk through, and I can feel their eyes on us, but my eyes are still on him.

When we finally push through the gym doors and into the parking lot, I instinctively move toward my mom’s car, thinking I’ll just drive myself home. But Shay’s hand tightens around mine, pulling me back to him.

“No,” he says firmly. “You’re riding with me. I’ll come get your car tomorrow.”

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