Page 54 of Playing for Keeps (Checkmate 4)

I shrug, sniffle, then use my sleeve to swipe over my nose. “We had a fight just before he was hurt. I was mean to him, mentioned how I didn’t want a relationship. I hurt him that night, and now he probably figures my change of mind is out of pity.”

“Well…” She hesitates. “Is it? If he wasn’t hurt, if you never got that call, would you be here right now?”

I study the chain that dangles around Meg’s neck and consider her question. I truly think about it, because it’s not as simple as a shouted “Of course!”If Lindsi never called me, would I be here?

“Yes.” I meet her eyes. “Yes, I’d have come back. The whole time he was in the hospital, before I knew he was hurt, I figured he was ignoring me because I was a jerk. Every night after work, I sat at home and stared at my floor. I called him, time and time again, because I wanted to hear his voice. I wanted to discuss what would happen if maybe I considered moving to town. I was going to discuss a relationship, and tell him how I was scared.” I laugh. “Not just scared – I wasterrified– but I was willing to try anyway. I’ve never been in a relationship before, not the kind where I’d need to check in so they don’t worry, or think about their needs above my own, or share a bed and a bathroom and a home with the same person day after day. People annoy me, Meg. They seriously annoy the shit out of me, so I never considered picking one to spend all my time with, but I want to spend my time with him. I want to explore what it would be like to have someone I need to check in with…” Lowering my eyes, I go back to studying her necklace. “I was going to talk to him about career options in this tiny ass town, since I can’t be an unemployed freeloader. I enjoy my independence, but I missed him so much each night that it made me breathless when he wouldn’t take my call.”

I lie on those rubber mats with Meg for more than an hour, stare at her milk boobs, and wish I could go back in time and fix everything I broke.

Every time my thoughts circle back to Riley – which is every three and a half seconds – all I can think is that the mean outbursts he throws in my face aren’t the real him.

Riley Cruz is a momma’s boy, a chicken soup maker, a cat owner, a police officer, and the sweetest man I know when he’s not trying to dominate me in bed.

His meanness is so out of character, I can’t leave. I can’t give up, because deep inside, he’s sweet and caring, and so fucking good it makes my heart swell.

“Alright.” Meg slaps my thigh to bring me back to reality. “It’s nearly time for Chance to eat and nap. Let’s get up.”

Grunting, I climb to my feet and pat my jeans down. “Where is he? You do realize it’s illegal to leave them in the car now, right?”

“Is it really?” Her eyes widen. “Shit! We better move.” Laughing, she takes my hand and pulls me toward the double doors and into the hall. I don’t have to wonder for long if she truly left her baby in the car, because at the end of the hall, Marcus Macchio stands with his sweet baby in his arms, a beanie pulled low over his eyes – Marcus’, not Chance’s – and his green-eyed gaze zeroed in on his one and only.

Marcus has been on daddy duty, and now he’s ready to reunite mom and baby.

I don’t stop to intrude on their family time, I just continue forward and smile when Marcus shoots me a friendly wink. I glance at the cutest little baby, but I don’t touch, I keep moving and head toward the main room where the blue boxing ring lives.

Grunts and swears ring out the way they did when I arrived, but they’re not Ben and Mac, they’re women’s grunts. Smiling, I stop in the group of onlookers and slide my arm in the crook of Ben’s while he watches Kit and Izzy spar. Surprised, Benny glances down, then throws his arm around my shoulders when he recognizes who’s touching.

“Hey, baby.” Pushing up to my tiptoes, I flinch when Kit’s foot swings up fast and slams into Iz’s ribs. “Are they fighting over something serious, or sparring for funsies?”

“Funsies.” He doesn’t take his eyes off them, but his strong body moves and twitches with theirs. “They’re always sparring for funsies.”

I grit my teeth when Izzy comes back with a one-two-three flurry and lifts Kit off her feet. “Don’t they ever get mad at each other? One of them has to lose.”

“Not mad.” He nibbles on his bottom lip and concentrates. Bobby stands outside the ring, shouting instructions to his wife and calling for aroundhouse kick, only for Jimmy to stand on the opposite side and shout about jabs andtake her down! Family be damned, they’re going for the win. “It’s just for fun, Aunt Andi. The guys sometimes get mad at each other, but that’s when it’s fun for the rest of us to watch.”

“You ever knock anyone out, baby?”

He grins. “One time. I got Mac by accident.”

I lift a brow. “By accident?”

“Well… we were sparring, so not accident exactly, but I meant to pull it back before he took the whole force.” He chuckles. “He kinda ran into my fist and knocked himself out.”

I think of the somewhat scrawny teen and laugh. “You ever been knocked out?”

“Nah.” His left arm twitches, jabs, lifts higher when Kit slams her fist into Izzy’s ribs. “We’re the new wave of Rollers, Aunt Andi, and I’m kinda awesome. Nobody can take me down.”

“And you’re so humble, too.” Laughing, I pat his stomach, then step out of his hold. “I’m glad I saw you today, babe. I’m only five miles away, but I still miss you like crazy.”

“Nobody’s stopping you from moving your ass back into your room at home.” He scowls. “If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t leave. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say you’re a negligent, bordering on crappy aunt.”

“Oh, shut up.” I smack his ribs and turn in search of Evie and Nacho, but a loud crack, a gasped squeak, and then a floor-rattling boom brings me spinning back to the ring as the Rollers mobilize. No longer playing, no one is laughing or heckling, Bobby and Jimmy throw themselves into the ring and surround the girls.

Moving forward with the crowd, my stomach drops at the sight of Kit’s tear-filled eyes and the longest and most colorful stream of expletives I’ve ever heard in my life.

“Baby?” Panicking, Bobby props himself behind his wife and drags hair off her face. “Tell me what I’ve gotta do.”

“Motherfucker-dick-licking-fuck-this-bitch-hurts-somebody-get-me-some-ice.”

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