A Fighter's Desire (Gloves Off 0.5 & 0.6)(8)

Dressed in his green and white baseball uniform, his hat covering the stark blond hair of his head, I had to admit he was sexy as hell watching me with those bright green eyes of his. Unfortunately, he was just my friend since he had a girlfriend back in his Seattle hometown. He was also my lab partner and had been for the past three years.

“Oh, stop whining,” I teased. “You didn’t have to wait on me.”

“Well, I thought we could eat lunch together before I leave for the weekend. Our tournament starts tomorrow, so Bradley and I will be gone until Sunday night. He wants to see Gabriella before we go.”

I chuckled. “That’s no surprise. Is he meeting us here?”

“No, he said he would meet us at the café.”

There was a small café on campus that had the best panini sandwiches ever. If we didn’t eat lunch in our favorite spot on campus by the huge black oak tree, we’d always eat in the café. I was going to miss it when I graduated.

“I swear if they don’t get together soon I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve never seen two people play so hard to get like they do,” I complained.

“Tell me about it. He annoys the f*ck out of me every day about her.”

We both chuckled and sat down on the bench in the hallway while we waited for Gabriella to get done with her exam. “She should be done soon. You don’t mind if we wait on her, do you?”

Taking my bag, he set it on the floor and shook his head. “No, not at all. So what are your plans this weekend?”

“Gabriella and I are going to watch her brother’s fight tomorrow night, and then we’re going to the after party.”

Colin furrowed his brows. “I thought she wasn’t allowed to go.”

“Well, apparently she bailed one of them out of jail or something on Saturday night, and for payment she asked him to work his magic on her brother. It worked because he called her the other day and said she could go.”

“And you’re going, too?”

“Yeah, she promised her friend she would bring me. I kind of have to go.”

His gaze darkened, but before he could say anything in response, Gabriella burst through the door. “Thank God, it’s over,” she breathed. “I’m starving.”

“Well, that’s why we we’re waiting on you,” I chimed. “Colin and Bradley want to eat lunch before they leave. Bradley’s going to meet us in the café.”

“Sounds good to me.” She sauntered off ahead of us and we followed, but Colin gently took my elbow, holding me back.

“What’s wrong, are you okay?” I asked.

His gaze was heated, full of concern. “You’re not going to hook up with any of those guys at that party are you?”

Incredulously, I laughed and linked my arm with his. “Colin, don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl.”

“You didn’t answer my question. I don’t want you getting in over your head.”

“I’m not going to. Besides, I’m single and in college. I think I’m entitled to get a little wild and crazy every once in a while. I was fine when we went to the beach, wasn’t I?”

He sighed. “Yeah, but you had me there with you. I looked after you.”

Stopping mid-step, I circled around in front of him and put a hand to his chest. I swear if he didn’t have a girlfriend he would be the perfect guy to be with. He was funny, smart, sexy as hell, and had the most gorgeous green eyes I’d ever seen. However, he was my friend and that was all it ever would be.

“I know you looked after me, Colin, and you have no idea how much I appreciate it. You’re a good friend. Your girlfriend is one lucky lady. Maybe one day I’ll find a guy just like you. However … in the meantime I’m going to enjoy the time I have. So whatever happens with me, you don’t have to worry, okay? I know what I’m doing.”

He blew out a frustrated breath and nodded. “Okay, I believe you. Just make sure you call me if you need me.”

I kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t I always?”





“ASHLEIGH, SO HELP me God if you don’t get your ass out of that room I’m going to burn every single one of your books! I don’t want to be late!”

Gabriella and I were both studying Marine Biology at California State University and heading into our final year before graduation. Ever since I’d met her in our Marine Ecology class, we’d become good friends.

Eventually, we rented an apartment together so we could get out of the dorms. Burning my books wouldn’t be good because I needed them, unlike her who never had to open one to pass a test.

Gabriella’s thunderous footsteps didn’t mute the obscenities coming out of her mouth as she stormed down the hallway to my room. Little did she know that I had already put away my books, straightened my long, chocolate-brown hair, and slipped on the little red dress she left hanging for me in my room while I was still asleep. I’d been right when I said I was going to sleep for twenty-four hours; once I got back from eating lunch with everyone, I passed out.

Before Gabriella could barge into my room, I quickly finished the last touches of my makeup and put it all away. I was ready to go.

The second Gabriella burst through my door and saw me, her eyes went wide and she stepped back, amazed. “Wow, you look so freaking hot right now.”