- It's just a day full of unwanted people. - I thought to myself. First Mira, now this jerk. We’ve had a complicated relationship since the first day we met. A rich kid who’s used to winning because of his dad’s status. But he couldn’t accept that I was better than him in the ring because here, his daddy's money doesn’t matter.
- Alone? I thought you’d come with your princess. - just hearing that goat’s voice made me want to beat someone up.
- That doesn’t concern you. - if he dares to even glance in her direction, I’ll break every bone in his body.
- Afraid she’ll choose a better option? - my nerves start to fray, and I clench my fists.
- When did you become a better option? Do you want me to remind you of our fight? - at my last words, the smile disappears from his face, which makes me want to smile too.
- Believe me, I remember quite well. But the next victory will be mine. And it’s not a fact that it will be in the ring. - Nazar vanishes just as the coach appears.
- Adam, congratulations. I never doubted you. - Viktor fatherly pats me on the shoulder, but I barely react to him. All my thoughts are occupied by Nazar's words and what he's scheming. That bastard can do anything he wants, and when it involves Kitten, I don't want to wait for something to happen.
- Thank you, coach. - I smile and step out into the street. I really don’t like any of this. I shouldn’t have brought her here. There are too many bad people, and Kitten isn’t prepared for that at all. I don’t want her to have problems because of me. And while my thoughts race, I don’t notice when I find myself in front of Amanda's house. Two hours ago, I dropped her off, and she’s probably already asleep. Still, I dial her number. Two long rings later, I was about to hang up when I hear her sleepy voice:
- Is something wrong? - that simple question warms me from the inside.
- I missed you, and didn’t even notice how I ended up at your house. - I want to see her so badly, although I will understand if she doesn’t come out. In just four hours, she needs to go to class.
- Just a moment. - she brushes me off, and I just stand there, watching the entrance, where Amanda appears five minutes later in a huge hoodie, probably thrown over her pajamas, and with a funny bun. She approaches me and hugs me.
- Let’s go to the sea. - she takes my hand, and we walk toward the seafront. Right now, I would go with her to the ends of the earth.
I sit on the sand and pull her so that she ends up on my lap. The girl looks at me, running her hand over my still fresh wound on my eyebrow.
- Does it hurt a lot? - another familiar question, but my heart starts beating a hundred times faster.
- Kiss it and it’ll stop hurting. - I smile, and she kisses me. First my eyebrow, then my cheek, my nose, and after lingering on my eyes for a second, she kisses my lips. So tender, so shy, but in this kiss, there’s more desire, more passion than in hundreds of others. I pull her closer with both arms, responding slowly to the kiss. I don’t know how much time passes, but when she releases my lips and presses her forehead against mine, I see something completely different in her gaze. She’s looking at me not the way she always does. Her green eyes shine as if the sun is reflecting off a thousand crystals. Then, Amanda says something that makes me forget how to breathe:
- I think I love you. - she drops her gaze, and her whole body tenses up. Kitten isn’t looking at me, but I know exactly what she's thinking, so without hesitation, I pull her to me:
- I think I love you too. - finally, she looks me in the eyes, and a smile appears on her face...
Damn it... lost in thought, I nearly crashed into a tree. Or maybe it’s because of the two glasses of whiskey.
- Why the hell did I get behind the wheel? - I hit my hands on it and exhale.
- Something needs to be done about this. - and I can’t come up with a better idea than to go to the place I promised not to go. Just to see her. Even if she doesn’t let me in. I got there quickly, walking into the entrance was also no problem, but right in front of her apartment, I felt paralyzed.
One step separated me from the woman I love.
Or was it seven years?
- Just knock. - I force myself to approach the door because if I’ve come, there’s no sense in backing down. But I don’t get to raise my fist to the door before a quiet shot rings out from behind it, and my heart drops to my feet. I knock, loudly, although I’m not sure if it even makes sense right now. I need to break down the door. I don’t know what happened inside, but the suspicions aren’t good. But I don’t have time to figure out what to do when my phone vibrates in my pocket.
- Who the hell can’t sleep? - I take it out and see a number I definitely wasn’t expecting. I instantly answer:
- I’m listening. - but all I hear on the other end is heavy breathing. Blood boils. I’m afraid to even imagine what’s happening there.
- Are you knocking? - Amanda speaks calmly, but I can hear something isn’t right in her voice.
- Yes. Are you okay? - I don’t care what she thinks, as if I’m stalking her. The main thing is that my suspicions don’t turn out to be reality.
- Somewhat yes and somewhat no. I’ll open now. - she hangs up, and all I want is for Kitten to be safe and sound.
Or maybe I imagined it all, and there wasn't any shot. Maybe I just need to sleep more and drink less, so I wouldn’t hear things.
But when the door opens, I see what I’m ready to destroy the whole world for. I don’t know who did this, but I’ll kill him with my own hands without a second thought. She looks at me with an empty gaze, and all I can do is ask:
- Are you hurt?