Page 39 of Dare to Dance
Her mouth fell open briefly. “I’m not sure I believe you.” She studied me with caution.
“Okay, then pick a spot, and we’ll sleep there tonight. On one condition, though.”
“Ha, I knew it. What is it with deals? First Tommy and now you.”
I clenched my jaw. “Is he making you fight?”
“I’m fighting because I want to. So what’s your angle?”
It was my turn to study her and the trepidation glued to her face. It might have been too much to ask her to spend the afternoon with me. I had to take baby steps or else I would lose any chance of getting answers or building a friendship—two things I needed and wanted. More importantly, I had to give her some space. Hell, I had to give myself time to regroup. I’d been sick to my stomach during the last two weeks. I also had to trust that if there was a child, he was safe. Ruby didn’t strike me as a person who would be an irresponsible mother.
“I’d like for you to come down to the gym this week so I can show you some boxing moves. If you insist on fighting, then let me teach you a move or two.”
She pressed a finger to her lip. “Okay, but I’m there to learn, not for you to give me the third degree about my past.” She steeled her shoulders.
Another step in the right direction. “Do we shake on it?”Or maybe kiss on it.
She edged back. “No touching.”
“Earlier, you had your arms around me,” I said playfully.
She gave me one of her shy looks that turned me on.Fuck me.She was making it hard for me to be a gentleman.
12
Ruby
Normaand I were on our way to Crandall’s Gym. I’d filled her in on my conversation with Kross. I’d asked her to accompany me because I didn’t want to go alone. It wasn’t that I was afraid of Kross. I was more afraid that I would run the moment I walked through the gym doors. For the last three days, I’d been a nervous wreck, dropping drinks, biting my nails, tossing and turning at night. I’d replayed the conversation with Kross over and over again. I couldn’t get past his admission of how beautiful I was or how he still got butterflies when he was around me. Yet I had to guard my heart. I couldn’t let his charm, his blue eyes, or anything about him woo me into a spell that would lead to hurt and heartache. Until I knew what would happen when he learned about Raven, I wasn’t risking her heart, particularly if he got cold feet and ran again. Or worse, took Raven from me.
“I can’t stay long. I picked up a shift tonight,” Norma said in a tone cold enough to match the weather.
“You’re still mad because I’m fighting on Saturday.” It was more of a statement than a question. I promised her I wouldn’t fight—desperate times and all that. “I’m sorry I broke my promise, but we could use two thousand dollars.” If I didn’t fight, I could also lose my waitressing job.
She pulled her knitted hat down over her ears. “You’re not going to win, Ruby. You have no idea what the hell you’re doing. That girl you fought last time knocked you out. I can’t handle that.”
We drew to a stop in front of a pawnshop across the street from Crandall’s Gym.
“I was scared out of my mind when you didn’t wake up. Frankly, Kross shouldn’t let you do this.”
I mashed my lips together so hard it hurt. “First, I’m here to learn a few moves from a guy who boxes for a living,” I said as nicely as I could. She was worried. I got that. I didn’t want to fuel her fire. The more she got upset, the more I got upset, and I needed my head clear so I could put all my energy into winning the fight on Saturday. “Second, you’ve said yourself that women shouldn’t let men boss them around. You hated when your pimp told you what to do.”
“Kross isn’t a pimp,” she yelled above the brisk wind.
I tugged on my scarf. “He doesn’t own me. This is my life.” As screwed up as it was, I had to make my own decisions. For too long, my mom had made all the decisions while I took care of Raven. It was time for me to take control. Whether I made good or bad decisions, they were mine to own up to. While fighting might not have been the best decision, it was an opportunity to make money. “You’re supposed to be my friend.”
“I am your friend. Friends tell each other when they don’t agree with something. Damn it, Ruby. Think. Think about Raven. Not only could you get hurt badly, but Tommy’s fights are illegal. Do you want to do jail time like your parents?”
Screw trying to keep my anger at bay. I narrowed my eyes into slits so small, I could barely see her. “I am thinking about my daughter. I am trying everything I can to get a steady job so I can find a place to live.” Norma was right, which was why I was so darn angry at myself more than I was at her. “I’m fighting. End of story.” I had to go through with the fight. I’d committed to it. Tommy said I could be good. More importantly, if I won, then I wouldn’t lose my job, which meant we could get an apartment, and in turn, I could get Raven back. Alex’s hospitality would only go so far.
“If you fight, I’ll tell Kross about Raven.”
My jaw came unhinged. “Why are you so insistent on Kross knowing about Raven? Why? Tell me now.” We’d only been friends for two months, and I didn’t know everything about Norma. I knew she ran away from home. I knew she’d been a hooker. She rarely talked about her family. When I’d asked her why she ran away, she’d said her parents were too strict.
A teardrop slid down her wind-burned cheek as she moved to lean against the pawnshop. Then she bent over to hold her stomach.
“What’s going on?” I asked gently. Norma hardly got emotional. She was the strong one in our friendship.
She straightened, sweeping her blond bangs to the side. Tears rushed out. “I ran away from home at fifteen because I was pregnant. I didn’t want anyone to know. I didn’t want my parents to look at me and be disappointed.” She sucked in her lip ring. “I lost the baby, Ruby. I was running from some creep who was chasing me one night. I turned down a dark street, and I didn’t see the stairs. I fell head first. Next thing I knew, I was bleeding.” She sobbed, crouching down until her butt met the pavement. “To this day, I haven’t told my parents.”
