Page 47 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part One

“Not that I don’t appreciate the extra cardio, clearly something is up with you. Seeing as you’re trying to kill me tonight.”

I smirk after I put my bottle in the corner.

“I’ve just got a lot on my mind,” I offer, stalking around the ring to slowly bring my heart rate down.

“That may be true, but I call bullshit,” Riale throws back. He reclines against the ropes and crosses his legs at the ankles.

“Come on,” he drawls, “tell Big Brother what’s happening in Storm World.”

I roll my eyes and stretch my arms straight above my head before folding them to rest on my sweaty hair.

“There’s really nothing new to tell. You know about the shit with Stratos and my dad.” I shrug. “That’s it.”

Riale eyes me down.

“Quit playing. Start talking.” His voice is serious, all playfulness gone like vapor.

“Damn, nigga! You can’t just let me breathe?Fuck,” I shout, still walking in circles.

Walking in circles. If that ain’t a damn good metaphor.

“Some girl giving you problems? She’s not saying she’s got a baby by you, is she? How many times have I told you to wrap that shit up? Damn it, Stor?—”

“There’s no baby and there’s no girl,” I snap. In Riale’s silence, I finally stop stepping around and turn to look at him. He stares at me with his head tilted to the side, his eyes narrowed.

Pensive.

“Naaaah,this is definitely some girl drama. Who is it?”

I groan toward the ceiling. He’s really not gonna let this go until I’m talking about myfeelingslike we’re on a damn episode ofDr.Phil.

“Is it Bambi?” he asks. My head snaps down, and I give him a stank face.

“Bambi?”

He shrugs.

“No.It’s not anything to do with Bambi.”

Even though she’s been calling me more and more lately. I’ve texted her a few times, but the reality is I have so much going on in my life right now, I don’t have time to coddle her.

She has other friends. It’s time she leaned on them.

I release a deep breath. “You know how I told you I was stuck in an elevator earlier?”

His face shifts, understanding coming off him in waves so strong I want to punch him.

“Did you have another panic attack? I keep telling you that keeping at least a few Xanax on you is a good idea. The doctor wouldn’t have prescribed them if they weren’t needed, Storm.”

Even though he’s right about that, I shake my head.

“No, it’s not that. Well, notjustthat.” I scratch the back of my head. “I wasn’t alone in the elevator. I was there with my classmate, Shae.”

He gives me a narrowed-eyed look for several seconds before his mouth twists in a broad smile.

“So itisa girl. And from the sounds of it, you’re a little sweet on her.”

“Wow.Wow,” I throw over my shoulder as I head for the towel hanging in the corner and make quick work of drying my head, neck, and chest.

---