Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(22)

“You’re damn right, I am. Shelby’s going to do the ten page spread on you.”

Physique was the most well-known fitness magazine in the world, and Shelby was one of the best journalists around. She also happened to be Gabriella’s sister-in-law. For months, I’d been waiting on this opportunity.

“Did Gabriella set it up?”

“No,” Todd replied. “Shelby contacted me and asked when you’d be available. She wants to meet with you sometime next month. Since she’s working from home with the baby, she asked if you’d be able to fly down to San Francisco for the interview.”

“Yeah, of course,” I agreed. “I’d do anything for this opportunity.”

Todd slapped me on the back. “That’s what I thought. Now, do you want to tell me what’s going on with you? Is it Gabriella?”

Shaking my head, I started off down the hall until we got to my room. “No, it’s not her. We’re not seeing each other anymore.”

He sat down on the brown leather couch in my dressing room and sighed. “I kind of thought that when I saw her with that baseball player the other day. They looked awfully close. Do you know about him?”

When he said it, I expected to feel some pang of jealousy, but I didn’t. “Yeah, she told me. We mutually agreed to end it. I’m actually seeing someone else, or at least trying to.”

“Trying to? Since when do you have to try?”

Halfheartedly, I chuckled. “Since I met this girl who’s unlike any other woman I’ve ever met. She’s not making it easy on me.”

“How so? Is she here tonight?”

“Nope, she’s out with another guy.”

With a loud belly laugh, Todd slapped his knee and shouted, “So that’s why you’re all pissed off! I never would’ve guessed it’d be over a female. Why don’t you find someone else?”

Because I didn’t want to find anyone else . . . I wanted her.

When I didn’t answer, Todd whistled and got to his feet. “Well, I’ll be damned. I never thought I’d see the day when Tyler Rushing actually gave a f*ck about someone, other than Gabriella.”

“This girl is different. I would choose her over Gabriella any day.”

“Well, whoever she is, I pity her for having to deal with your crazy ass,” he joked. “But for now, get her out of your mind. If you win this fight and Kyle wins his, you’ll only be two fights away from battling each other. That’s what you need to focus on.”

“Oh, I’m focused. You don’t have to worry about that.”

My opponent was going down tonight.





“Tyler! Tyler! Tyler!”

“All right, man, let’s see if you can beat my record tonight,” Cole exclaimed. “I knocked Jamie out in the first round.”

His right eye was swollen from his fight earlier in the night, but he’d still won, advancing closer to the Light Heavyweight title. It was the beginning of the first round and the crowd was screaming my name. It wasn’t Bastian Tober’s, it was mine.

“What do I win if I beat you?” I asked.

Slyly, he looked down at the seats where Bree sat, smiling up at us. “It’s not necessarily something to win, but it’s probably something you’ll want to know. It’ll make the ride home more bearable for all of us.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Fighters, take your positions,” the announcer called out.

Before I started forward, Cole winked and nodded toward Bastian. “Trust me. Now go out there and kick his ass.”

Bastian Tober had only been fighting for about a year, but he was one of the best up-and-coming fighters in the league. Not to mention, he wasn’t a f*ckwad like a lot of the other guys. He was about the same height and build as me, with long, brown hair pulled into a ponytail. I used to do the same thing before I had mine cut.

Grinning, I bumped Bastian’s gloved hand with mine. “Good luck tonight,” I told him.

He chuckled and put his fists up in defense. “Same to you. I promise to go easy.”

Ding, ding, ding.

Usually Bastian waited on his opponent to attack, but tonight he struck first. I dodged it easily. “Switching it up tonight, I see.”

He winked and struck again. “I like to keep you on your toes. Dance monkey, dance.” He swung and I avoided his fist again.

Looking at the clock, thirty seconds had already passed. I had to take him down soon. All it would take is one hit and I’d have him knocked out. “That’s a good strategy, B. However, tonight it’s not going to work.”

He jabbed and I ducked. “Oh yeah, why is that?” he asked humorously.

“Because,” I stated, pretending to go for his stomach, “of this.” As soon as his arms lowered to protect his body, I swung hard and fast to the right side of his head. His legs fell out from under him and he went down . . . completely limp.

The crowd screamed as the announcer lifted my arm in the air victoriously. “And the winner by TKO after one minute and ten seconds. . . Tyler . . . The Terror . . . Russshhhiiinnnggg!”

After my arm was let go, I reached down and helped Bastian get up on his feet.

Unstable and shaking his head, he opened and closed his jaw, rubbing it with his gloved hand. “Damn, Rushing, I didn’t expect to get knocked out that f*cking fast. Next time give me a little bit more time.”