Page 56

“Most likely,” I tell her as I slip my feet into the boots.
“He’d be fine if he didn’t have that chip on his shoulder,” she calls out over her shoulder.
“I think that chip is always being on duty.”
“True,” she yells out as she opens the door. “Hey, Dempsey,” she says, her voice bright and enthusiastic.
“Jasmine. Is Colleen here?”
“In here,” I call out. “I’m almost ready.”
I take one last look at myself in the mirror, run my hands through my hair, and walk out. Dempsey, the huge Dragon, has taken sentry near the door. “Thanks for coming,” I tell him. “I’m sure you have better things to do.”
“Nothing better than making sure Cole’s sister is safe,” he says, lip tilting up in the corner.
“A man after my own heart,” Jaz sighs dramatically.
She steps out the door, and I follow after with Dempsey taking up the rear.
We take the short, brisk walk to the Ring a few blocks down. The same funnel of excited spectators line up around the block. I frown, wishing I could just go in the side door like I used to with Finn and Jax, but I think better of it. Jared joins us a few moments later, raising his brows at seeing Dempsey’s hulking form. “You got a shadow today?” he jokes, but it lands a little flat when his forehead pinches.
I shrug. “It could be worse.”
He leans down, greeting Jaz with a peck on the lips. They stay glued to each other’s side as the line crawls forward. It takes us twenty minutes to get to the guy manning the door. Inside, we can already hear the first fight being announced over the music.
Despite myself, shivers run up my arms as soon as I step in. A blast of excitement hits, making me smile. I’m glad I came, and a happy buzz settles in my gut with a contented sigh. I was worried it would remind me of Finn too much, and even though I am reminded of him, it’s in a good way.
Jared takes the lead, showing us around the open walkway and then up the metal set of stairs again. This time, we don’t have seats right next to the square opening in the middle of the room. We’re a couple of rows back but still on the aisle. We sit like normal, and I glance over my shoulder to find Dempsey standing guard by the wooden bar table directly behind us. He nods at me, and I return the gesture.
So far, having him here is fine. He really isn’t intruding like I thought he might when my brother first suggested I take a guard with me when I go places.
Jaz elbows me, grabbing my attention. “Happy?”
Her hopeful face shoves a blade into my ribcage. I’ve been a shitty friend lately, moping around like an ass. She’s been doing nothing but trying to make me feel better, and I haven’t thanked her for it.
I place my arms around her shoulders and pull her in. “Really happy,” I tell her.
She pats my back. “Ugh. Thank God.”
When we pull away, Jared leans forward. He shifts his gaze over his shoulder and then back at me. He has terrible bags under his eyes that are almost a little concerning. I make a note to ask Jaz if he’s okay. “Is he staying with you all the time now?” he asks, flicking his gaze back to the big man.
“No, my brother just wants him with me when I go out.”
His brow furrows. “How do you feel about that?”
I shrug. “It could be worse. He could make him stay with me all the time.”
“Or you could be back at the tower again,” Jaz grumbles.
It’s hard for me to resent all of the time at the tower. I did spend a couple of hours there in pure bliss. But, I have to agree with her about that. There are people constantly around that place. Mean, scary looking people who draw guns on innocent girls. I can’t forget that.
The next round in the fight begins, and Jared tells us he’s sparred with the guy in the white trunks before. Automatically, my gaze drifts cageside. Jax is there. Like Finn used to, he’s yelling things rapid-fire as his guy faces off with his opponent. Another figure stands next to him, and I recognize him from the gym. He seemed to always be there. I can’t quite place his name, but it looks as if he’s taken Finn’s spot for the time being because he also puts his two cents in, cupping his hands around his mouth to call out advice.
I close my eyes briefly, telling myself not to look ringside. I need to keep my eyes on the fight. Focus on the energy I loved so much before Finn came into my life.
Miraculously, it works. I get caught up in the brutality, the fierceness. But now, I even search for the strategy between the two fighters. Everything Jax and Finn have called out while I was at the gym must have taken root somewhere inside my thick head because I keep thinking things Finn would be wanting his guys to do.
The fights come one after the other. Every guy that is in Jax’s corner, I recognize from Elite Boxing. It’s actually pretty awesome because I’m even more invested in what’s going on. It takes my mind off the last few days, and I can just let go with the crowd, cheering on the fighters I know like they’re my friends, too.