Page 91 of Only You
August 1946
Demir struck the punching bag, darting around as he worked on his speed. He’d been lagging in his last few fights and was tired of getting hit when it could be avoided. Stepping back from the bag, he practised several different combinations.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Selene talking on the gym’s phone. He couldn’t hear her, but hand on her hip, she kept gesturing the same way she always did when she argued with Jack. Clearly, they weren’t having a good day. Shaking his head, he focused on the punching bag. With another fight around the corner, this wasn’t the time to be distracted.
The sun sank lower as he practised, arm aching, throat parched. Sweat dropped off him as he went to get his water bottle. Selene was sitting next to his bag, but he said nothing while taking off his gloves.
Much like their first month together, they didn’t really speak anymore. He wished he could go back to when their silence was to avoid agitation. Now, it was chock-full of questions he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Digging into his bag, he found the bottle and took a long gulp before wiping his mouth.
He ignored the way Selene’s eyes lingered on him.
‘Jack can’t make it today. He’s checking out some new fighter Mackie told him about, an Italian he’s been doing business with. He’s trying to get in good with the coaches to see if they rig fights.’
‘Jack the Spy,’ Demir replied dryly. ‘Go figure.’
‘Yep. He also said he found a sparring guy that should be here tomorrow to help.’
Demir nodded as he started to pack his things. She slid off the seat, following suit. ‘You can, um, drop me off at Jack’s.’
He opened his mouth to agree when Selene’s stomach growled. Her eyes widened as she covered her face in embarrassment. ‘I skipped lunch,’ she explained, refusing to look at him.
Chuckling, he closed his bag. ‘Then, we’ll go get something to eat before I drop you off.’ ‘Demir… we don’t have to—’
‘Jack would kill me if he knew I let you starve,’ Demir reasoned. ‘Besides I’m hungry too, and this makes things easier.’
‘Right. Guess easy won’t be so bad,’ she said reluctantly.
‘Good.’ He nodded towards her stuff. ‘Get your books and let’s go.’
They found a diner around the corner from Jack’s place. The food was good and the coffee decent, so they didn’t have much to complain about. Or at least, Demir didn’t; Selene always found something to fuss over. As to why it no longer bothered him anymore, he chalked it up as part of her charm.
‘You shouldn’t eat so fast,’ she chastised.
‘You just like telling people what to do,’ he told her around a bite of food, wiping his mouth with a napkin before continuing. ‘You must have a bunch of brothers and sisters.’
‘Just two,’ she said, picking at what was left on her plate. ‘Two sisters. Dad works all the time, and my mum used to wash clothes. Now, she stays home to watch my sisters since I’m not there and I send money home.’
‘She knows what you do?’
‘Hell no. She thinks I’m getting it from Jack to “stay pretty.”.’ Selene rolled her eyes before taking another bite.
‘So, she likes Jack.’
‘She adores him.’ Selene sighed. ‘Meanwhile, my dad can’t stand him. He would drag me out of school if he knew that I was staying at his place.’ Demir grimaced before continuing to eat and Selene let out a short laugh. ‘Dramatic, I know, but it is what it is. No use in trying to change it now.’
‘So… you and Jack have always been tied at the hip?’
‘More or less,’ she said, taking a sip of coffee. ‘He was just… there. I can’t remember a time he wasn’t. I miss those days sometimes. Now…’ She shook her head. ‘I shouldn’t be telling you all this.’
For a moment, the air became thick with the same tension they had at the party. Demir pushed past it; it was a momentary lapse in judgement. It shouldn’t have so much sway over them. They just had to get over the awkwardness.
‘You might as well finish the story,’ he said, trying his best to sound like a supportive friend.
Selene stared at her plate with a frown. ‘There’s just been space between us lately,’ she murmured.
‘You’re worried about him going out on his own.’
