Page 50 of Wicked Oath
“No, it’s ok. I want to stay. But yeah, if you could refrain from talking about Owen, that would be great.”
She zips her lips. “I can do that.”
My lips tug into a smile. She says she can, but I know Lucy. It won’t take her long before she’s gushing about Owen all over again.
Once the current fight is done, it’s finally time for James’ fight. I sit up in anticipation as he strolls onto the stage like he doesn’t have a care in the world. His opponent is a man much bulkier and taller than him, but I know my husband. James is smart and knows how to use his strengths against his opponent.
I lean forward, my body practically bouncing as the announcer states their names. James looks across the room and meets my eyes. Like a dork, I give him a thumbs up. His lips crack a small smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Normally James is more open with his smiles, but tonight, he’s holding back. I wonder if he’s also still thinking about the incident with Finian.
The fight begins.
Many people cheer on James as he gets a punch in on his opponent. The bulkier man doesn’t waste time, though, and he lands a solid jab to James’ side.
I gasp, gripping the table. Lucy saddles up closer to me. Both of us watch the fight intensely.
As the fight continues, I’m expecting James to get the upper hand, but his opponent keeps getting hits and kicks in. James is slowing down, struggling. What is happening to him? The first time I saw him fight, he did it so effortlessly, like he was breathing. And when he took down Finian, he didn’t even break a sweat.
But now, for some reason, he’s losing this fight.
“I don’t understand …” I murmur. Lucy squeezes my arm.
“Maybe he’s just distracted tonight.”
“Maybe.” I lean forward even more until my stomach is pressed into the table and watch as James keeps fumbling.
He’s getting more tired by the second.
His opponent lands a blow to his head, which sends James falling back onto the mat. I gasp as I stand, pressing my hands over my mouth. James looks in my direction and meets my eyes. I nod, encouraging him to get back up, and James turns back to his opponent.
The bulky man smiles as he leans over James to finish the fight when James lands a swift kick to his face. He stumbles back as James jumps up.
I smile and let out a holler as James lands a punch to the bulky man’s face. Then another and another. He keeps hitting the man until his opponent is bloody. Finally, the bulky man falls to the floor.
There’s a moment of silence in the crowd.
When he doesn’t get back up, the ref comes over and announces that James won the fight. I clap hard as the ref lifts James’ arm into the air.
His eyes connect with mine before he rips his arm away from the ref and stalks out of the ring and toward the locker rooms.
As I walk out of the booth, Lucy asks, “Where are you going?”
“I need to check on him. Something isn’t right. Will you be ok by yourself?”
“I’m a big girl. I can handle myself. Go.”
I give her a smile before I run off after James. A few guys give me strange looks as I enter the men’s locker room, and my face warms. I give them a tentative smile as I look for James.
He’s near the back, sitting on a bench, his head in his hands.
“Sorry,” I tell the men. One guy is naked, and I quickly look away before seeing something I don’t want to see. “I’m just here to see my husband.”
James lifts his head and looks over at me. “Olivia?”
I hurry over to him, resting a hand on his bare shoulder. “Are you ok?”
He turns to the other men in the room. “Everyone, get the fuck out.”
Some men comply immediately while others grumble, but eventually, we’re the only two left in the locker room.
