Love Tap(46)

“Today I want you to spar with Chase.”

My eyes widen. “Chase?” My eyes sweep around the gym. I haven’t seen him since the night at the bar. “Is he even here?”

“Yeah, just saw him head into the locker room. He’ll be thrilled getting into the ring.” She waggles her brows, but I’m hardly excited. There is something about Chase that hits me wrong.

I rub at the back of my neck nervously, my eyes finding Camden lifting weights. I can’t think about his sexiness and stupid games right now.

“Chase, get in the ring!” Debs points to the floor, demanding he get his ass in here.

I swallow, jumping on the balls of my feet. I can’t back out, I’ll look weak.

“What’s up?” Chase asks stepping into the ring.

“I want you to spar with, Tate. Give her taste of what goes on in the ring, yeah?” Debs gives a crooked smile.

Chase’s brows narrow as a devilish grin crosses his face. An unsettling chill runs up my spine.

“No,” Camden barks from the side of the ring. I glance down, and find a fuming Camden pointing at Debs.

“Excuse me, but this is my drill. Get back to your side of the gym towel boy.”

“Fuck you. Don’t get in the ring with him, Tate.” Camden’s face is grave. “Pinky will spar with you.”

My eyes flick between Debs and Camden. Curious what has Camden so spooked at me sparring with Chase. It’s just some harmless combos and grappling. Right?

“Why don’t you want me to spar with Chase?”

His nostrils flare, his chest rising. “Trust me, don’t do it.”

“Come on, Tate. I’ll be gentle, baby,” Chase patronizes, pacing his side of the ring.

My head whips in his direction, pissed he called me baby.

“Don’t call me that.” I point at him.

“Why, you’re acting like one. You want to be in a man’s gym but you want to act like a *.” He shrugs. I grit my teeth as I lose my temper.

“Don’t feed into it, Tate!” Camden bellows, knowing how easy it is to anger me. “You’re not ready,” he continues.

Before I can reply a fist slams into my head, my vision doubling. Chase jumped the gun and started this intense sparring session before I could have a final say.

Instantly my body goes into fight mode, and I swing back. My fist connects with Chase’s head. My adrenaline rushes through me so hard I lose my breath instantly.

“Fucking stop it!” Camden’s voice echoes through the gym.

“Leave it, Camden!” Debs instructs, backing out of the way.

Chase does an inside kick, and I jump out of the way. I strike him in the head, and his face reddens with anger from the powerful hit. What does he expect? He’s taking this way too far. This isn’t sparring this is fighting.

He rushes at me, knocking me to the floor. My head collides with the mat so hard my teeth clatter against each other.

Chase tries to climb on top of me and I stop him short with a kick to the chest, throwing him back on his ass.

“Fucking bitch!” he fumes.

“Enough!” Thomas steps in between us, his hands out-stretched.

I cough and roll over. My body aching from the harsh workout, I was not expecting that for sparring. Had I known it would have been so vigorous I would have put my mouth guard in.

My hands on the ring floor, I push myself up, I come face to face with Camden.

“Are you okay?” His brows pinch together in concern, and my heart beats faster.

I swallow, tasting blood.

“Not really.” I wipe at my mouth, trying to get the taste out.

“What the f*ck was that?” Camden questions Debs, his hands out stretched.

“What? How was I supposed to know he’d take it that far?” Debs quips.

“It’s f*cking Chase!” Camden looks as if what happened was inevitable being in the ring with Chase. There is something wrong with Chase, he’s more violent than any typical fighter.

“Tate, go home for the day,” Debs demands angry.

I don’t argue. I need some Advil, my teeth are practically vibrating from the harsh impact they took. I feel the skin under my upper lip positive I bit it.

Pulling my aching body from the ring, I head to the locker room. Hands on my hips, embarrassment and anger torpedo through me.

I looked like a f*cking chump out there. Why didn’t Debs listen to Camden? Why didn’t I? Pissed, I slam my fist into a locker.





Chapter Sixteen


Tate



Sitting on the porch steps of my house I rub at my aching hands. Angry.

What happened in the ring could have been avoided. If I had known Chase was going to act like that I would have been more alert, and could have had a better chance at standing my ground.

My head falls in my hands and my phone beeps.

I just f*cked Jacki’s boyfriend. Miss you. –Keegan.

I laugh, and give a thumbs up before tucking the phone back in my pocket.

I needed that laugh.

Camden’s car pulls into his drive, and he climbs out with ease. He’s like a smooth panther. Graceful, but strong.

His eyes spot mine, and I look down. Pretending not to be watching him. I hate that he had to stop the fight today. Seems he’s always rescuing me.