Liar (Madison Kate #2)(9)

Archer didn't reply, seeming to be lost in the zone as he went through his drill almost on autopilot. It gave an explanation for the bruises on his face, though. He must have made it to his UFC debut after all. And lost, if I was to understand Kody's statement correctly.

Fuck. I'd underestimated their reach if they could erase such a damning drug test result so close to the event.

I'd just have to try harder next time.

Archer was still firmly on my list... I just needed to be more creative. Think outside the box.

"You lost your first ever title fight because you were sloppy and unprepared." Kody continued laying into his friend, a deep scowl pulling his features in a way that totally erased his usual mischievous, easygoing expression.

"Fuck you," Archer spat back, finally snapping and jumping to his feet to get in Kody's face. "I lost because I was fucking distracted, and you know it."

Kody just smirked back at him, not intimidated by the lethal fighter staring him down. "Yeah, I do. I just wanted you to fucking admit it, you stubborn prick."

Archer's fists clenched and he opened his mouth to say something in return, but Kody's attention shifted past his friend and landed on me.

"Holy shit," Kody gaped. "You're back."

I gave him a tight smile, unsure how the hell I handled this situation. Last time I'd seen Kody, I’d thought he was trying to kill me. I'd been so scared of him. Emotions that strong didn't just disappear instantly, no matter how misplaced.

"I fucking told you she'd be back," Kody said to Archer, punching him in the arm pretty hard before rushing across the gym to me. I hesitated as he drew closer, but he didn't notice. Or chose not to, at any rate. Instead he swept me up in his arms, hugging me tight to his sweat-drenched body and burying his face in my hair. "I knew you'd come back."

My whole body was tense, the fear in my memory coloring my interaction with Kody in person. I was about to peel myself out of his grip when I locked eyes with Archer.

His face was a mask of sheer fury and resentment. Maybe even jealousy? Probably jealous that I was taking his trainer away from their workout or some stupid, macho-man bullshit like that.

But it gave me an idea.

Curious, I looped my arms around Kody's neck and hugged him tighter to me. Archer's expression darkened further, and I bit back a smug smile. I'd just found one of Archer's real trigger buttons.

Kody.

Or more to the point, me and Kody together.

He'd told me to do him a favor and fuck his friend? Well, I'd go one better. I'd date him. Let's see what that did for Archer's level of distraction.

"Kody," Archer snapped when his friend didn't release me immediately, "we were in the middle of a session here."

"Fuck that," Kody replied, "take a break."

He barely even glanced over his shoulder at Archer as he set me down and started out of the gym. I did, though. I met Archer's furious blue eyes and smiled.

Game on, motherfucker.

I followed Kody back out to the kitchen, where we found Steele—shirtless, of course, like it wasn't snowing outside—fussing over my espresso machine.

"Whoa," I blurted out, "what the hell are you doing?"

Steele spun around so fast the jug of milk—which he'd definitely been burning—flew out of his hand and splashed all over the marble floor.

"Madison Kate," he said, and I cringed inwardly. So much for "Hellcat."

"What are you doing to my coffee machine?" I demanded, covering up the flash of hurt at my name.

Steele's eyes went wide, and Kody snickered a laugh as he tossed a washcloth at his friend's chest. "Oh, uh, I was..." Steele caught the cloth and looked down at it like the answers he sought were in there.

"Steele decided he can't drink Archer's coffee anymore," Kody answered for him, "so he's been trying to teach himself how to use your fancy espresso machine."

I arched a brow at Kody, fully aware of how much he appreciated the good coffee at Nadia's Cakes.

"An endeavor I have been supportive of," Kody added with a sly grin. "But now you're back..." The hopeful expression on his face was too much. My lingering fear of him had all but faded away to nothing, so I just rolled my eyes and stepped over the spilled milk.

"Move aside, Max Steele," I told the wannabe barista. "You were torturing that poor milk."

He gave me a tight smile, getting down onto his hands and knees to clean the mess up while I started fresh.

I lost myself to the process for a few minutes, letting my body go through the motions on autopilot and letting my mind go blissfully blank. Only when four perfect flat whites sat on their saucers did I let all the noise of my inner thoughts come crashing back into my mind.

"Thanks," Steele muttered, not meeting my gaze as he took one of the coffees, then just... walked away. He left the kitchen without another word and left me a bit stunned as Archer walked in.

"See." Archer smirked at me, looking after Steele's retreating back. "You're already out of his system. Based on the way Kody's eye fucking you right now, I expect everything will be back to normal in about twenty-four hours."

He swiped one of the coffees, gulping half of it before I could stop him.