Page 33 of Ignite
The whole tone of our girls’ night had soured with talk about my parents. We didn’t speak for a few minutes, and I began to feel awkward. I didn’t like to talk about my past for this very reason. It made other people uncomfortable, notme.
“I think you should look into suing for sexual harassment,” Faye declared. “You can’t let that jerk get away withit.”
“He’s probably lost his job by now, anyway,” I said, thankful for the topic change. “I opened the door, and he still had his filthy little worm hanging out. Half the officesaw.”
Faye snorted, laughing. “Oh, my God! Epic! You should still rake those morons across the coals. Workplace bullying, sexual harassment, years of unpaid overtime… I’m sure you would be able to get a big wad of cash offthem.”
“I’ll look into it,” I said after a moment. “I hate confrontation,so…”
“Speaking about confrontation,” Faye began, turning to faceme.
She was giving me a look that saidspill,and I just knew she was all over what had happened with Liam and me last night. Word spread fast in that warehouse, just like it did around a certain watercooler.
“I was just talking to a guy,” I said with a groan. “Just talking. He was being nice, bought me a drink. Then five seconds later, Liam comes up and pisses all over it. No one’s ever come up to me like that before, let alone a guy. It felt good, you know? It didn’t mean I was going to let it go further thanthat.”
“There are different rules at The Underground,” Faye said. “Guys there expect they’re going to get laid no matter what. It’s bullshit. Who were you talkingto?”
“A fighter,” I repliedabsently.
“Named?”
“Viper.”
Her mouth dropped open, and she started shaking her head, her blonde hair swishing back and forth. “Nooooooo!” shecried.
I made aface.
“Viper is a complete asshole, Ali,” she explained. “If he’s talking to you, then he’s got an ulterior motive. There’s a reason he’s named after asnake.”
I scowled, not liking what she was getting at. Was he bad news like Liam claimed? I hoped not because it meant I’d been duped, and no one wanted to talk to me at all. Itstunk.
“Listen,” she went on. “Viper’s got a bad reputation. Fights dirty, treats women like shit, and will do whatever it takes to get what hewants.”
“And what does hewant?”
“The Championship at all costs. Liam is in his way, and I would say he’s been watching you two hanging out and seen an opportunity. Remember when Liam chased off that guy who was talking to you during one of hisfights?”
How could I forget? He’d stormed right out of the cage post-fight, dripping sweat and blood everywhere, and sent the guy running for his life with the force of a single deathstare.
“Viper pegged aweakness.”
“You’re saying I’m Liam’s weakness?” I snorted. “Unlikely.”
“You need to stay far, far away from him, Ali. It could getnasty.”
“You sound exactly like Liam,” Iexclaimed.
“He was right, youknow.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to listen even though I knew she might be right. I had no reason to doubt Faye. She’d done nothing to make me think otherwise, even though we hadn’t known each otherlong.
“The way you two act around one another, I would swear you had something going,” I said. “I thought you were together when I first met you. Now you’re plotting against me behind myback.”
“Well…” She hesitated, putting down her drink. Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced away. “We do hang out sometimes, but it’s justsex.”
“You do?” I stared at her like she’d just punched me in the stomach. Even with my makeover, she still outshone me, and I began to feel really small…like the mouse Liam had likened me to. Of course, he would turn to her for satisfaction. They looked perfect together. I should’ve seen it.I did seeit.
Shit, and the stuff I’d told her! Only last week I’d confided I was struggling with him, and she was dropping this on me now? Jealousy twisted my heart, and I struggled to contain it. It was such an uglyemotion.
