Page 96 of Dare to Dance
“I’m sorry for everything. I’ll clean out my locker.” It was futile to grovel. When Jay gave anyone a warning, he always stuck to his guns.
Jay diverted his gaze to Gail, who was watching us. She nodded at Jay or me. I couldn’t tell which. I also couldn’t decipher what was going through her head.
“Get your ass in my office,” Jay said in a brusque tone.
“But—”
“Kross, I don’t have any patience with you.” He pinched the bridge of his hooknose.
I held up my hands. “I’m going.”
“Oh, and don’t stop to talk to anyone,” he said. “Liam, make sure Kross goes straight to my office. Also, if you cover for him again, you will not have a shot at boxing for me.”
Liam’s brown eyes went wide. “Yes, sir.”
Liam and I hopped out of the ring on the backside. Jay’s office was behind the bleachers, completely opposite from where Ruby and Raven were.
On our way, Penelope swaggered toward us with a huge smile plastered on her face.
Liam swatted my arm. “You’re not supposed to talk to anyone.”
I didn’t want to be rude to her. I also didn’t want to jeopardize Liam’s chances with Jay.
Penelope settled in front of us, losing her smile. “I’m sorry about your daughter. I’m also sorry about that night in the gym. I don’t usually do coke, and with the two drinks I had, the combination did a number on me.”
“Come on, man,” Liam said rather nervously.
“No need to apologize,” I said. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
Her red lips split into a smile. “Always the gentleman, worrying about everyone. Anyway, my dad will be pleased to hear that Trent Baker got arrested.”
“I’m sure he will. Look, I’ve got to run. I’ll see you next week for training, right?” I wasn’t so sure I would be training her anymore, especially if Jay fired my ass.
“Sure,” she said then made her way to the exit.
Once in Jay’s meticulous office, Liam whipped out a towel from his back pocket then threw it at me. “You have blood on your lip.”
I had blood on my eyebrow, and pain seared my jaw. I didn’t mind. In fact, adrenaline had helped me grow accustomed to the pain. Still, over-the-counter pain meds were essential after a fight. “You didn’t have to cover for me with Jay before the fight.” I dried the sweat and blood from my face.
He folded his young body into a metal chair. “I wanted to. So I overheard your brothers telling Dillon that you were going to throw the fight. Why?”
“Actually, I didn’t. I’d planned on it, but I got distracted before I could follow through. In any case, to answer your question, family was the reason.”
He swiped a hand over his brown hair. “That’s your little girl out there. She looks just like you.”
All I could do was smile. “She looks more like my mom than me.”
“She’s going to be a knockout. I pity her boyfriends when she gets older.”
I did too, but I didn’t want to think that far ahead. I could only think as far as the paternity test at the moment. Even that thought sizzled out when the door flung open. Jay, Gail, and Detective Rayburn ambled in.
I should have said that Jay stomped in. “Liam, out.”
Liam scurried out as if someone was chasing him.
When the door closed with a thud, I set my gaze on Gail. She had her hands in her coatdress pockets, her expression unreadable.
“I was distracted, and it cost me the fight,” I said. There was no sense in delaying the inevitable. “However, I really appreciate the opportunity you gave me. I’m sorry that I disappointed you.”
