Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(13)

BREE HAD DROPPED me off a little after ten o’clock last night and I was up again at half past five for my morning run. It was my daily routine: run, take care of Nana, eat, work, and sleep. By the time I got out of the house at six, the sky was already pink and gold with the rising sun. It was beautiful.

Cindy’s shift ended at seven, giving me just enough time to wake up, put on my black workout shorts and bright yellow T-shirt, and get my running done before my grandmother woke up. Sitting at the kitchen table in her scrubs and her auburn hair pulled in a low bun, Cindy was busy documenting my grandmother’s chart when I walked past.

“Be careful, sweetheart,” she murmured.

Grabbing my iPod off of the kitchen counter, I slipped it into the holder on my arm and placed the ear buds in my ears. “I will. I’ll be back in about forty-five minutes.”

Time to run.

The local high school was only a quarter of a mile away, so it never took long to get there. It was the end of the school year, but there were always a couple teachers who did their morning runs there as well. I was never alone, which was comforting.

Before taking off on the track, I scrolled through my albums and picked one of my favorite bands, Avenged Sevenfold. Usually, I listened to pop, classical, nineties music, and even songs from the sixties, but when I ran I wanted something harder, more untamed.

Once my favorite song came on, I took off running, enjoying the tension release of just letting go. Other than playing golf on the delicate green grass of a golf course, running was my other secret pleasure. It gave me time to think, to pretend I was somewhere else, where I didn’t have responsibilities weighing me down.

I wasn’t exactly a fast runner, but I could get at least three miles done in thirty minutes. I thought that was pretty good. With one lap down, I made sure to keep my pace steady so I wouldn’t lose my momentum—which was promptly thrown out the window when I felt a presence close behind me. A little too close.

Quickly, I glanced over my shoulder and lost my footing. Before I could fall on my face, Tyler scooped me up and twisted me around so that he took the blow when we landed on the ground. Breathing hard, I lied on top of him while my mind caught up with what just happened.

“What the hell are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?” I snarled, smacking him in the arm so he’d let me go.

Guffawing, Tyler let me go and got to his feet just as I did, his face alit with humor. “You’re welcome for taking the fall, beautiful. I can’t help it you’re clumsy.”

Humiliated, my face turned blood red, cheeks burning. “I am not clumsy,” I shouted. “I can’t help it you snuck up on me like some creeper.” Brushing off my legs, I huffed and started back on the track, hoping to get away from him. It didn’t work.

“Okay, so you’re not clumsy,” he gave in a little. “It must’ve been the sheer pleasure of seeing me again.”

Picking up my pace, I gritted my teeth and kept on running. I didn’t care if my lungs burned like fire. “Can you please go bother someone else? I’m going to call the police and tell them you’re stalking me if you don’t.”

The only people who knew I ran at the high school in the mornings were my grandmother, Cindy, and Bree. I was pretty sure I knew which one had told him.

“Ooh . . . I’ve never been in handcuffs. I might like it,” he teased.

“I am so going to kill Bree for this. You have a lot of balls coming here, knowing I have no interest in you.”

He kept up his pace beside me, not even breaking a sweat. I envied his stamina because I felt like I was about to pass out.

“You may not have interest in me, but I’m interested in you. I’m not going to leave you alone until you give in.”

“Then be prepared for disappointment, Tyler. I told you before, you’re not my type and I sure as hell am not yours. See, I’m a real person, not just some whore who’ll ride your cock and leave when you’re bored. I’m better than that. So do us both a favor and stay away from me. I don’t want to be one of your many conquests.”

His pace slowed and eventually he fell back, letting me go. I hadn’t finished my laps, but I needed to get out of there. Especially after I saw his disheartened face just before he dropped back; he was genuinely upset with what I’d said. In my heart, I wanted to turn around and apologize. Maybe he wasn’t what I accused him of, but in my experience, almost all of the fighters were complete asshats. I couldn’t be sucked into that trap.

Besides, he wouldn’t even be talking to me if he knew my brother was Kyle Andrews.





IT WAS FRIDAY—two days had passed since my encounter with Tyler—and I hadn’t heard a word from him. Either I’d spoke the truth and he gave up on me, or I’d really hit a nerve. I was hoping he gave up on me, because if I really hurt him, I’d feel bad about it.

“Girl, what’s wrong with you?” Bree asked. “You’ve been moping around here all day. Cheer up, our shift’s about to end.”

“I know. I guess I just have a lot on my mind,” I replied.

“Yeah, I’ll bet. I heard what you said to Tyler. Cole told me he’s been in a shitty mood ever since. You were right when you said your words would knock him down. Do you feel good about your win?”