Love Tap(10)

“Your dad is Knock Out Nicky!” He nearly bounces on his feet with excitement.

I smile proud.

“Yup, and one day—” He slugs me right in the arm, catching me off guard. “Ouch, that hurt!” My nose wrinkles with anger, my cheeks suddenly warming.

“Told you I can hit harder,” he taunts.

Having enough, I shove him.

“No you don’t!”

“Hey, don’t shove me.” He pushes me back.

Pursing my lips, my nose wrinkled, and brows furrowed I charge him like I’ve seen Daddy do to his opponent in the ring. Locking my arm around his neck I bring him to the ground. Daddy doesn’t do that, that’s my move.

“Get off me!” he struggles in my hold.

“Take it back!”

“Never! You hit like a girl!” He did not just say that!

“Oh yeah, well you hit like a boy!” I insult before punching him in the mouth.

My hit doesn’t seem to faze him, which distracts me. Why didn’t he cry?

Taking the opportunity he slips his arm around my body and wrestles for control. My head scrapes along the cemented porch and I cry out with pain.

“You going to cry?” He laughs.

“I don’t cry!” I try and jab my fist into his gut, but miss.

“Hey! Hey! Hey!” My momma scolds from behind us.

Suddenly I’m ripped from Camden, just as his mother pulls him from me.

“I’m so sorry about this Kelly!” my mother apologizes. “Her daddy boxes, and we’ve been having a really hard time teaching Tate it’s not okay to hit.”

“He started it first!” I point at Camden.

“No I didn’t, she did!” he lies, blood stinging his bottom lip. I smile at the victory.

“Camden!” His mother scolds. “It’s alright Marlow, Camden is no angel, he has a thing with fighting as well. He’s been expelled from school more times than I care to count.”

Momma pushes me in the lower back. “Go, get back home ‘for I give you a whipping!”

Glaring at Camden, I turn and head back home.

But not before sticking my tongue out at him first.





Chapter Three


Tate



Sitting on the steps of Chloe’s house I palm the cup of joe, and blow the steam swirling from it. It’s windy, and warm outside this morning. Sweat beads at the back of my legs as I embrace the quietness.

“‘Sup ho?” Chloe plops her ass right next to mine. “You going to see your dad this morning?”

Glancing up the street I spot my old man spraying bushes out front.

“Hell no.” I pick at the peeling paint of my nail polish. After our conversation last night, I think we both made it clear what we think of my being back.

Looking above the rim of my mug as I take another sip I eye the blue and white bungalow sitting next door.

“He still comes through here you know.”

My eyes snap to hers.

“What? Who?” I try to play off that I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“Camden, he comes through here a couple times a week. Checks on the house and things, some say he is renting the place out.” She looks down the street, her lips scrunched in thought. Hearing his name is a karate kick to my heart. Closing my eyes I see his face, his crooked grin, and perfect lips.

It hurts just as much today as it did four years ago. I miss him, and hate myself for leaving.

“He still lives here?” I point down to the ground. “Like in Chicago?”

“Yup. Ever since his falling out with the law. Did you hear about that?” She looks back at me, her perfectly plucked eyebrow raised. Camden Steel, my first love and first heartbreak. I tried hard to forget about him, but it was kind of hard when his face was plastered all over my TV as the next big thing that hit MMA. Last time I saw him, he wasn’t the little boy I left behind anymore. No, he was a beast that brought me to my knees in front of my television. I’d thud my head against the television screen while I chanted how stupid I was for walking away from that.

“Yeah, I heard he got in some trouble with the law and he hasn’t been in a match since… or something. Whatever.” I try to play it off like I don’t keep tabs on him, and stare into my coffee cup.

“Hmm.” Chloe doesn’t believe me, I can tell. “You sure about going pro?”

“I am. I have had a lot of time to think about it, and it’s what I want. If I don’t make it at least I can say I didn’t back down without a fight.”

She laughs.

“Takedown Tate’s still got it.”

I roll my eyes and laugh. Chloe and Camden gave me that name when I was twelve. We set up a makeshift ring made out of mattresses, pool noodles, and bungee cords one summer. Chloe charged five dollars a person to watch me take on anyone who was brave enough to step into the ring.

I won three out of four. Camden was the one I lost.

“I don’t know about all that,” I chuckle.

“Please, I saw you fight when you were popping those little titties,” she flicks my tit. “So don’t get all modest on me.”

Cupping my stinging breast, I glare at her. “I’d flick you back but I’m a little afraid of your chest.” I mock their impressive size.