Ryley's Revenge (Gloves Off #2)(15)

“I promise you’ll have fun. I’ll even let you be the designated driver. How does that sound?” she asked with a sly grin.

“Gee, thanks,” I laughed, rolling my eyes. Pausing, I glanced out the window and my smile faded. “Do you think Ryley will be there?”

“I’m not sure, Ash. I haven’t talked to him in two days. I saw him at the gym yesterday, but he kept to himself. He barely talked to Megan when we were working with her.”

“Megan? I remember him talking about a Megan before. Is it the same girl?”

Gabriella nodded. “Yeah, it’s the same one. Don’t worry there’s nothing going on between them. I’ve been helping Ryley teach her some self-defense moves. If Ryley hadn’t taught her how to fight I don’t know if she’d be alive right now. Her ex attacked her about a month ago.”

“I remember,” I claimed, thinking back to the day he’d received the phone call. We were on our way to his cabin when Megan’s brother said she was in the hospital. I would never forget the tormented look on Ryley’s face when he heard the news. It was then when I fell in love with him more.

“So anyway, I don’t know what he’s doing tonight. Have you tried calling him?”

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “I would rather wait and talk to him in person. It’s not like he’d answer the calls anyway.”

We rode the rest of the way in silence, Gabriella was obviously trying to keep her mind focused before her fight with Jaden. Tonight would be the first time I’d actually get to watch her in action instead of seeing her through the television. I was so proud of her.

By the time we pulled up to the arena, there were many people lining up to get inside. I didn’t see Ryley’s car in the fighter’s parking lot, but I saw Camden’s. He was going to be a problem.

Gabriella followed my line of sight and growled. “Ryley wasn’t too happy when he found out what Camden did. He said he was going to handle it. I told him if he didn’t, I was going to kick his brother’s ass. I know you could do it yourself, but you have to take care of that little one in there,” she said, glancing down at my stomach. “I’m sure little Ryley would be more than happy to kick his uncle’s ass.”

The thought made me laugh and also made my chest tighten. I could just imagine having a little boy running around with my brown hair and Ryley’s crystal blue eyes. He would be a heartbreaker just like his dad. Even if he didn’t want me back, I would still have a part of him with me . . . our child.

“How do you know it’s going to be a boy?” I asked, rubbing my still flat stomach.

Gabriella opened her car door and winked. “For some reason, I can see Ryley only making boys. Knowing your luck, you’ll have twins. Double trouble. Let’s just hope the other one isn’t like Camden.”

Chills fanned across my skin and I shivered. “No way in hell. That’s not going to happen,” I claimed.

Once I got out of the car, we started toward the arena and went through the back door. I recognized a few of the faces from before; especially, one who smiled at Gabriella the moment she locked eyes with him. Quickly, she took my hand and pulled me along behind her. “Okay, we need to get out of here,” she insisted awkwardly. Before turning the corner, she looked back once and blew out a nervous breath.

When we got to her room, she ushered me inside and shut the door. “Uh, do you mind telling me what’s going on? Wasn’t that Paxton Emerson?”

She groaned. “Yes, and he won’t leave me alone.” Setting her bag down, she opened it up and started pulling out her gear.

“Well, tell me if I’m wrong, but you don’t look too upset with his attention. Is there something going on between you two?”

“No, there can’t be,” she exclaimed, slamming her things down on the table. “Can we just stop talking about him? I need to get ready and focus.”

Something was going on, but she was right; I didn’t want to pry and piss her off when she had an important fight coming up. Plus, I couldn’t exactly be angry at her for keeping things from me, since I’d kept my life bottled up for the past few weeks. A few minutes later, her brother and coach, Matt Reynolds, walked through the door. Gabriella’s agent, Garrett Wells, followed closely behind. He used to be Matt’s agent until he retired from fighting—I had yet to be formally introduced to him.

Matt and Gabriella had the same color hair and eyes, and he was dressed in none other than a black ‘Team Gabriella’ T-shirt and jeans. I couldn’t stop the snicker from escaping my lips.

He looked over at me and smiled when he realized what I was laughing at. “Yeah, I know,” he grumbled. “I figured since she wore them for during my fights, it would only be fair to wear them to hers. I owe her that much, even if she does get on my nerves.”

Gabriella punched him in the arm. “Hey, I’m right here. Why don’t you be a good coach and tape up my hands?”

Garrett chuckled along with them and then sidled up beside me, adjusting his gray dress pants as he sat down. His shirt matched his blue eyes and his golden blond hair was combed and styled perfectly. Gabriella told me he wasn’t much older than us, but he happened to be a little snobbish. I could see it in the arrogant way he smiled.

Extending his hand, he smiled and said, “I’m Garrett Wells, Gabriella’s agent.”