Page 52 of Timber's Line

“He watched you in the ring today with Silas. Thought it was time. You need to fight like you need air, and you’re good,” Axel says.

“Guess you’re going to have some training to do, Ty.” Kash laughs.

“Yeah, I do,” he replies with a grin.

“I’m glad Sal left the cage,” Rome says as he sits next to Ty, shaking the water off his hair.

“Hey, asshole.” Ty laughs.

“Sorry.”

“Such a dog.” I laugh.

“With great hair,” he bellows with a wink.

This feels good. I’m starting to feel normal.

“Here.” Ever hands out beers to all of us. “I swear, my dad needs to get a new fridge just for beer if everyone is going to hang out like this.

“I’ll buy it,” Rome volunteers. We all stare at him.

“What? I’m looking at land here. I think this would be a perfect paradise.”

“You want to live in the country?” Axel asks.

“Everyone else is doing it.”

“But you love the press.”

“That’s getting old. I need to get my shit together and settle down.”

We all stare at him. This is very mature of him.

“Plus, someone needs to keep an eye on the rest of you.” And he’s back.

We all laugh.

I could see these guys moving here or living close by, all of us hanging out or grilling together. Normal.

I watch as Memphis talks to Timber. She shakes her head. Maybe he asked her to come join everyone on the porch, but she declined. She goes around the front of the house and out of sight. She’s been withdrawn since meeting the other guys.

“You need to tell her,” I whisper to Ever.

“I told both of them that this morning. I think they want to wait until after the show.”

I can only hope she doesn’t find out the wrong way. I feel like some people want to hurt her. I won’t let that happen, if I can help it.

“I know that look,” Brice says.

“What?”

“She’s yours, we all know that.” He chuckles and everyone joins in. “But it’s going to take a long time to break through her defenses.”

“I showed her my junior high picture,” Easton says, and I tense. I can’t stand to look at him right now. I shouldn’t be mad at him, but I just can’t get past the arrogance. On top of that, he seems at ease with Timber.

“You did?” Kash asks.

“I think she needed to know there is a person underneath all this awesomeness, but at the same time, she needs to know she’s not alone.”