Page 51 of Whiskey Sour
I can barely contain my grin as I show him the check. “More than alright. We have our funding!”
“That’s amazing. I knew you could do it, sunshine.” Beaming, he looks far too handsome for his own good. “Sadie is going to freak.”
“I know, right?” I laugh as I drop my head onto his shoulder, then I suddenly remember. “Wait, where’s Max? Davis wants pie.”
“He wants what?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Cassius
“You okay, man?”
As I roll my shoulder, the joint screams in protest. I nod at Knox, who hands me a water bottle, and do my best to shrug. “It’s fine.”
“It doesn’t look fine,” Rhys comments as he cocks his head to get a better look. “That was a hard hit.”
I wave away their concern. Yes, it does hurt like a motherfucker, but I’ve experienced worse. I was distracted that last minute of the fight and let that guy get the upper hand. I recovered quickly, though. Now, he’s lying flat on his back in the middle of the makeshift ring. Probably won’t wake up for a hot second, but that’s not my problem.
Somehow, Knox and Rhys have put aside their differences to become my makeshift cornermen. They come to every one of my fights now. I know Knox just like the bloodshed, while Rhys must keep coming to make sure I don’t get killed. It’s funny, though, because it’s given them a reason to realize that they’re more similar than they’d care to think. If they actually stopped andtalked, they could be pretty good friends.
“Great job tonight!” the commissioner says as he approaches us, a big wad of bills in his outstretched hand. “Thought you were going to disappoint me for a second there.”
I grunt. He’s seen enough of my fights by now to know that I don’t lose. I haven’t yet. Call it luck or pure-born skill, but I’ve won every challenge I’ve faced. It’s done nothing to cool the itch for more blood, more fights, more power. I’m becoming addicted to it. That feeling when I’m in the ring, it’s only second compared to?—
“We should head out, man,” Knox says, slapping the shoulder that isn’t injured.
Rhys nods and grabs the bag at my feet. “What are you going to tell Skylar when you get home?”
I snort as I unwrap my knuckles. “Nothing. He doesn’t need to know.”
Rhys and Knox share a look as we leave the abandoned warehouse to Knox’s car. They silently bicker for another moment before Rhys clears his throat. “So, you still don’t plan on telling him?”
“Nope.” I punctuate with a shake of my head.
“What have you told him when you come home beat to hell, then?” Knox questions, as if I’m an idiot. “Skylar might be…”
When I growl, he raises his hands in surrender.
“I was just going to say unobservant. He’s not an idiot. How do you explain this?”
I look down at where he’s gesturing. Still shirtless, I can see that there’s a nasty bruise that’s going to cover most of my torso in the next few days. My knuckles were taped, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t blistered by the punches I threw. I think my face is okay tonight, for the most part, with the only obvious injury being a little cut to my upper lip.
Once we reach Knox’s car, I take my bag from Rhys so I can put on a clean shirt. “He thinks I’m boxing.” When I pop my head out of the shirt, I see their blank stares. “What?”
“You’re lying to him,” Rhys deadpans, appearing almost pissed.
I scoff. “It’s not a?—”
“Yeah, it is, man,” Knox cuts in, curling his lip in disgust. “How can you lie to him about this? How can you lie to him at all?”
Irritation burns in my gut. They just don’t understand. I’m only lying to protect Skylar’s feelings. If he knew what I was really up to, he’d freak the fuck out. He’d constantly be on me, worrying and fussing, and I don’t need that. I don’t need him agonizing over whether I’m too hurt. And…I’ve come to realize that Ilikefighting. I like the violence, and Skylar would want no part in that. But instead of explaining myself, I do something much worse.
“You want to talk about lying? Who’s the one who fucked Elton’s little brother and lied about it formonths?”
Knox’s eyes widen, and his head rears back as if he’s been slapped. Rhys’s brow furrows on a wince. “Not cool, Cass.”
My face pales.Fuck. I open my mouth to apologize, but Knox beats me to it.
