Page 42 of Only You

Detroit

‘The deal is done so, tonight, we celebrate, champ,’ Jack announced as he entered Demir’s apartment. The boxer took Jack’s excitement in stride as he closed the door and the curtains over dirty windows before pulling out a bottle of brown liquor. ‘Bourbon straight from Kentucky,’

Jack said. ‘A little gift from Mackie. He says we’re good to start fighting next Tuesday, and I already got us a spot at the gym nearby. The best part: I found a garage that is closer so no more traipsing across town. It’s all finally working out!’

Jack cracked open the bottle and took a long swig, making a face as he swallowed before holding out the bottle.

Demir took it and followed suit, his own face contorting at the burn; it was stronger than he’d expected.

‘Cheers to us,’ he forced out. He gave the bottle back to Jack and went to sit on his bed.

‘Thanks to you,’ Jack said, taking another drink. He stared at Demir’s ceiling for a long moment before speaking again ‘Sel says I should apologise for the shit I said the other day.’

‘It’s fine.’ Demir shrugged. ‘It was just a bad day.’

‘Still, I owe you.’ He held out the bottle, an unspoken olive branch. Demir accepted it and after a beat, asked, ‘You and Sel doing okay?’

‘Yeah,’ he answered. ‘She’s been more sensitive than usual though. I think school’s starting to get to her.’

Demir’s mind flashed back to the gym, Selene pinned against the wall, the fury on her face after hitting the guy, and how she had hidden behind him, eyes closed. He forced himself to shrug. ‘Life’s tough,’ he said. ‘She’ll be okay.’

‘Oh yeah,’ Jack agreed, chuckling. ‘But I wouldn’t be surprised if she burned the whole place down at this point.’ He took another drink. ‘You catch the baseball game the other day?’

They talked sports and other useless shit for the rest of the night, the noisiest Demir’s apartment had been in a while. There was a small part of him that wished he didn’t enjoy it as much as he did.

‘Shit,’ Demir hissed as Selene pressed an alcohol-soaked cloth to a cut on his brow.

‘He got you good,’ Selene commented as she disinfected the cut.

‘On the bright side, there only seems to be a few bruises, so a little rest will be all you need.’ She taped the bandage to his brow and stepped back.

‘Mackie looked happy. I’m sure Jack is making some kind of deal with him now for more money.

Seems New York’s gonna work out after all.

’ He watched her nervously tap her nails on her knee.

‘Do you want it to?’

Selene blinked in surprise at the question before staring at the floor. ‘Umm… I guess. I mean, the sooner we don’t have to do this, the better. I finish school in December. So, once I’m a doctor, and you’re fighting in the pros, it’ll be worth it, right?’

‘What kind of doctor do you want to be?’ he asked her instead of answering.

‘A surgeon,’ she replied, laughing bitterly. ‘I already fix broken things so why not get paid for it? Don’t worry, this time I’m not talking about you.’ She paused before leaning towards him, lowering her voice. ‘Thank you for… everything.’

‘Don’t mention it.’

‘Always so humble.’ She shook her head even as a small smile made an appearance. ‘But I’m serious—’

‘Did you tell Jack?’ Demir asked suddenly.

The question had been burning in his mind for days.

He had been watching her act the same around Jack while his friend was none-the-wiser.

He was sure she had her reasons for keeping the incident to herself, but he couldn’t imagine what they would be.

Weren’t they in love? Then again, what did he know about that?

Selene’s smile dropped and her eyes flickered to the door. ‘No,’ she replied in a low voice. ‘And he doesn’t need to know.’

‘Then, don’t mention it,’ Demir replied. ‘Ever.’

Selene furrowed her brows at him, smoothing her expression when the door opened. She subtly slid back so she was out of Demir’s personal space as Jack and Mackie came in.

‘And here is the star of the night,’ Jack announced, holding out his hand in Demir’s direction. He tried to muster up a smile for the club owner, but it fell somewhere closer to a grimace.

Mackie didn’t seem to really care. He simply nodded and put his hands in his pocket. ‘Hell of a fight you put on tonight.’

‘Thank you,’ Demir replied, trying not to stare at Selene as she went to stand by Jack, his arms wrapping around her as he kissed her temple.

‘I should be thanking you. I’ve never seen the crowd so riled up,’ Mackie chuckled. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope, holding it out to Jack. ‘But I hope this will be sufficient.’

He opened it, and instantly his eyes widened. ‘This is… very generous of you.’

‘Now, don’t get too excited. It’s merely an investment. I want him fighting every other week, especially on the last Friday of the month. You know, to keep things exciting,’ Mackie informed them. ‘I assume this will be more than enough.’

‘Y–Yeah,’ Jack cleared his throat awkwardly. ‘This, um, this looks good.’

‘Wonderful.’ Mackie tipped his hat. ‘See you all next week, then. Especially you.’ Mackie took Selene’s hand and kissed the back of it with a wink.

She giggled before winking back. ‘Looking forward to it,’ she replied, right on the cusp of flirty despite leaning her head on Jack’s shoulder.

Demir didn’t understand how Jack could stand it. Hell, his blood boiled at the interaction, and he wasn’t even supposed to care. He looked down at his feet. What the hell was going on with him?

‘Lemme see,’ Selene said once Mackie left, taking the envelope. She squealed at the contents before hugging Jack.

‘Gonna show the man who got his face busted for whatever’s in there?’ Demir drawled. Jack laughed before holding the envelope to him. He took it and stopped short at the contents. He had never seen so many bills in one place, much less for him.

‘How much is this?’

‘Two hundred and fifty dollars,’ Jack answered excitedly. He took the envelope from Demir and divided the money, the envelope still thick when Jack handed it back. ‘We’re in, D.’

When Selene really thought about it, being in the library was the only place she had a chance to be alone.

Everywhere else in her life, she was surrounded by people.

Her two siblings and mum when she went home, Jack when she went to his place, other students in class, and Demir everywhere in between.

Some days she could feel herself getting lost in the commotion of it all; her life felt like it rarely ever stopped.

Within all the havoc, the library was her sanctuary.

It was the only place where she felt fully in control, where she wasn’t being dragged along to the next place.

It was also the only place she was forced to be quiet, even if her thoughts weren’t.

They bounced back and forth between biology, boxing and how much Jack had changed in the last few months.

The brooding man from before was long gone, and he was finally back to normal.

But he’s not , she thought frustratingly. She huffed loudly, earning a few looks, as she put down her pencil.

She had known Jack since they were children.

Even trying to remember her life before him, there were only a handful of memories.

She had grown up knowing the five blocks between their neighbourhoods like the back of her hand.

Before he found boxing, she was his fighter.

She had fought kids on the playground to leave them alone, for them to be together, and even to get into Wayne State – who only just had their first Black, female graduate a couple of years ago – for her own sense of independence.

Jack didn’t always get it, but he was always in the fight with her.

Now… Selene wasn’t sure what she was fighting for or who it was with.

Their new life was nice, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed within him. She shook her head, refocusing on her textbook. With an exam in a couple of days, she couldn’t think about that. She still had a dream to fight for, if nothing else.

She studied for another hour before heading outside to wait for Demir.

A shiny new car pulled up in front of the steps and her eyebrows raised when she saw the boxer step out, a slow smile spread across her face.

She may have been wary of their new money, but she couldn’t deny that it came with perks.

‘I got a good deal from a guy I know,’ he explained as they headed into the city. Selene ran her fingers over the dash. ‘I’m guessing it’s not one of Jack’s guys then.’ ‘I know more people than Jack. Have to.’

Selene smirked knowingly before leaning back in her seat. ‘So where to? Now that we’re not borrowing a car, we could go anywhere.’

‘Says the one not fighting every week,’ Demir pointed out.

Selene laughed but held up her hands in concession. Lounging in her seat, she tapped on the window idly.

‘Where do you wanna go?’ he asked after a while.

She chewed her bottom lip for a moment before her eyes lit up. ‘Do you have a radio?’ ‘There’s a radio in here.’ He pointed to the dash.

‘No, I mean, one where I can listen while stretching my arms or dancing,’ she insisted. ‘Unless you want me to dance on top of your car.’

Demir smirked at the suggestion. ‘As much as I’d enjoy that, I know a spot,’ he said, making a left turn.

‘ You’ll never know how many dreams I’ve dreamed about you…

’ ‘It’s Been a Long, Long Time’ crooned through the radio in Demir’s living room.

He had moved it from the kitchen counter to a spot near the window so he and Selene could listen as they sat on the fire escape.

He peeled an orange while Selene smoked.

She thought it was ironic that people found the activity relaxing when it did nothing but agitate her. ‘I hate smoking. It tastes disgusting.’

‘And yet here you are,’ he drawled, eating an orange slice.

‘If I didn’t, I’d lose my mind.’ Selene stared at the cigarette in disdain before taking another drag. She sighed, blowing out smoke. ‘Between school and Jack…’ She shook her head, bringing the cigarette back to her lips.

Demir’s hand shot out, taking it from her. Instead of being offended, she only looked at him curiously as he put it out. He handed her an orange slice. She stared at him, lips pursed before taking it from him and popping it in her mouth.

‘For someone who supposedly has a soulmate, you sure lie to Jack a lot.’

‘That’s how you keep a soulmate,’ she said around the orange. She swallowed, looking through the grates. It was all so tiring when she thought about it. ‘Lying’s just easier sometimes.’

‘Than telling the truth?’

‘Than not always being the girl he wants,’ she clarified.

‘I know Jack accepts who I am, but sometimes it’s easier to shield him from things he’ll never understand than to argue with him about why the world is the way it is.

We argue enough.’ She ran her fingers through her hair.

‘It’ll be better later. We just have to make it through now. ’

‘So, the flirting at the club…’

‘Not my favourite activity, but a good way to start conversations with the right people. At least, most of the time.’

Demir stared at the fruit in his hands. She laughed softly before tapping his knee, bringing his attention back to her.

‘You don’t get it.’

‘No,’ Demir admitted.

She shrugged. ‘I guess someone like you doesn’t have to.’ ‘Like me?’

‘Someone who doesn’t need anyone,’ she explained. Demir’s face stayed blank, so she sat up, turning her full attention to him. ‘You don’t bring any friends to fights. I only ever hear about you hanging out with Jack. Well, Jack and Nora. Has Nora even been over here?’

‘We meet at her apartment.’

Selene smirked and shook her head. ‘You let no one in your world.’

‘I prefer it that way,’ he said. ‘You’re here. Doesn’t that count for something?’

Selene faltered as she sat back, turning away from him. ‘I mean, I don’t know.’ She shrugged awkwardly.

It shouldn’t have mattered, really. They had been alone together for months in many different places. Yet, this was the first time it felt personal . Selene hadn’t asked to come to his apartment, and he could have suggested using the radio in the gym or taken her to a diner.

Instead, here they were in a space that must be special to him, at least special enough to keep to himself. Suddenly, it didn’t feel like two people thrown together for better or worse.

It felt like… more.

‘Why didn’t you tell Jack?’ she asked quietly.

Demir sighed and she felt a pang of guilt.

She knew that he didn’t want her to bring it up.

It would be better for her to forget about it, but she couldn’t help it.

She needed to know why this man who used to hate her – maybe still did – would keep her secret.

Protection always came with a price.

‘I couldn’t tell what scared you more: being attacked or Jack finding out.’

‘But… you don’t like me,’ she pointed out.

‘I’m not cruel for sport.’ He turned towards the city, his hand almost crushing the orange but stopping just before he did. Selene scoffed.

‘Plenty of men are.’ She wrapped her arms around herself tightly.

‘Well, not me,’ Demir told her, popping another orange slice in his mouth. ‘My social skills ain’t that bad.’

Selene opened her mouth and thought better of it. Beyond arguing, Demir had never harmed her. He drew hard lines but was never malicious. Maybe that’s why it was so easy for her to defend him to Jack. He plucked another orange slice, and Selene’s hand shot out to steal it.

‘Hey!’

‘You won’t miss it,’ she dismissed. ‘And if I do?’

‘It went to a good cause.’ She winked, and there was a small thrill that went through her as she saw his eyes linger. It was good to know that she could get his attention, no matter how short-lived the moment was.

‘You’re trouble,’ he murmured.

‘At least I’m fun.’

‘ I hope you do believe me, I’ve given you my heart …’ Nat King Cole sung, and a sense of calm fell over her.

‘I like it here.’

Demir chuckled. ‘It’s a shit apartment,’ he said.

Selene scooted closer until their shoulders touched. ‘I like it here ,’ she emphasised.

Demir paused and a small smile formed on Selene’s lips as she looked at the building across the alley. Beneath them, people walked by and sirens sounded somewhere in the city. It was far from peaceful, but something about it soothed her.

She was so caught up taking it all in that she almost missed it when he said, ‘Me too.’