Page 95 of B-ry
Then he gave me a nod like he understood all the reasons that I needed this.
Without a word, he turned and walked off.
Bryan pulled me to one of the corners where we had a little bit of privacy. After we stretched out and warmed up, he began to teach me the basics. Like how to ball up my fist. And how to make sure I had my face protected. And how to throw a punch so I wouldn’t break my hand.
I asked him where he learned all of this.
That was when he told me about his dad and growing up in the club in Tennessee.
“I was a skinny kid that liked to read. As if that wasn’t enough, kids thought I was trash because my dad belonged to a motorcycle club. I think I was in the fourth grade when I came home with a bloody nose for the third time and my dad was at a loss. He did everything he could think of. Talked to the teachers and the principal, but nothing was done about it.”
He stopped to give me some directions and he had me working on my jab next. I had to say, I didn’t think I was half bad.
“Anyway,” he went on. “My dad had a buddy that owned a gym and trained guys how to box. A lot of the club members trained there too. So he took me there one afternoon after school and the guys there kind of took me in. Taught me just about everything I know. It wasn’t that my dad wanted me to get in fights, I think. It was more of like a confidence booster. It didn’t help right away, but eventually, I started to hold myself up and people eventually stopped fucking with me.”
“So did you ever get into a fight with those mean people?” I asked.
“No,” he said with a smile. “And maybe that was the best part. I didn’t lose myself. I was still that kid that was a little bit nerdy, only I was super cool too.”
He laughed and flashed me that cocky smirk of his. I paused as the smile spread across my face.
Something inside me warmed right then. I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted more moments like this with him. I knew that to love him I had to let go. I had to release the anger I was holding onto. I had to set the pain free. And I needed to focus on the wonderful future we could have together.
Sure, it wasn’t a simple thing to do though it sounded like I had it all figured out.
Maybe, Blade had been right.
I wasn’t going to hate Bryan and I wasn’t going to walk away.
So right there in that super stinky gym, I made my decision.
“Hands up,” he commanded, effectively snapping me out of my thoughts.
Then we got to work again and I gave it my all.
He didn’t go easy on me and I was grateful. He pushed me until I was dripping with sweat, panting, and ready to collapse from exhaustion.
Then he took me back to the compound and made us dinner.
Which surprised me.
The baked chicken and wilted greens tasted amazing. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was so hungry or he was a pretty good cook.
We showered together and then I told him I was ready for bed. After he checked in with Iron, he crawled in right beside me. This was the way I wanted it, him here with me, and I realized that I never wanted to give that up.
