Page 112 of Only You
‘What are you—’
‘Why didn’t you believe in me?’
Selene stilled as their eyes met, hers full of remorse. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
His grip loosened as his heart dropped to his stomach. ‘You should have told me you didn’t.’
‘Of course, I believed in you,’ she said quickly, pulling him back. ‘You’re an amazing fighter. But Jack was lining up wild cards and, after that fight with Johnny, I couldn’t watch you get hurt like that again. I figured if I arranged easier fights between the official ones, it would help. That’s all.’
‘You should have trusted me to get better.’ ‘It wasn’t you,’ she whispered.
A shadow fell over her face, one he had seen too many times when she didn’t think anyone was watching. How much longer did she plan on carrying the weight of the world? With her determination, it could be forever. For a moment, all he could do was sympathise for the woman in front of him, someone who spent all her time protecting everyone but herself until it was too late.
And he couldn’t save her. All he could do was hope she would do it herself.
‘You can’t fix his mistakes, Sel,’ he told her. ‘And we both know you don’t want to.’
Selene bit her lip, and he had a feeling that the habit came from keeping in all the things she never said.
‘One day, when you do share your words, you’ll be great,’ she told him, but he knew what she really meant.
I won’t be there.
He took back the envelope, running his fingers through her hair as he placed a kiss on her forehead, her hand resting comfortably on his chest, right over his heart.
‘I know,’ he whispered.
Selene didn’t look at him as she slipped out of his arms and Demir didn’t watch her go. Instead, he went back to work, arranging the tables and checking inventory. He didn’t linger on the thought of what could’ve been, choosing to look ahead.
‘I’m telling you this is it,’ Haze said as he scribbled Demir’s name on the setlist. He’d wanted to put Demir last, but the former boxer convinced Haze to put him in the middle. It was his first performance after all; he didn’t think his confidence would last the whole night.
‘Let’s just get this over with,’ he said, feeling the sudden urge to stretch like he did during a fight. He kept flexing his hands, so they didn’t become fists; the last thing he was in the mood for was another pep talk from Haze about rivers and letting things flow.
If life was a river, Demir was a rock.
‘You know what, let’s get a drink to celebrate. You don’t look like you can stay on your feet much longer,’ Haze teased.
He scowled in his direction, but Haze wasn’t looking at him. Instead, his friend’s gaze was locked on a beauty at the bar. She wore a lavish, purple dress that was dangerously short under her winter coat, hair pinned in tight curls, her smile wide as she threw her head back in laughter. She was stunning but Demir didn’t expect much less from Nora.
He followed Haze, staying in his shadow as she greeted him with a flirtatious smile and a kiss on the cheek. Haze smiled at her, his dimples showing, and Nora’s eyes softened.
Oh.
‘I got an old friend here, for ya,’ Haze said, motioning to Demir. Her eyes widened in surprise as he nodded to her. It wasn’t their first time seeing each other since their break-up months ago – they saw each other at Mackie’s all the time – but this was the first time they had to say more than a quick hi.
‘Good to see you,’ she said.
‘You, too.’ Demir’s voice was reserved, making Nora purse her lips in displeasure. He waited for Haze to say something, but someone yelled his name from across the room.
‘Ah, fuck,’ Haze said. ‘I’ll be back. Get me an old fashioned, will you?’ Before Demir could respond, Haze was walking away.
‘I’ll do it.’ Nora beckoned the bartender over and ordered a round of old fashioneds for the trio.
Demir shifted on his feet, unable to remain still in the awkwardness. Times like this he missed boxing; no one there expected him to socialise. It wasn’t until he started hanging out with Haze, who seemed to know someone everywhere he went, that he noticed how bad he was at it.
‘Mackie misses you,’ Nora said suddenly. ‘Jack’s new fighter is fine enough, but he lacks your confidence. And record.’
‘Oh,’ he responded as the bartender dropped off their drinks.
