Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(62)

“What, are you stalking me now?” I grumbled, glaring at him as he took off his motorcycle helmet.

Smiling, he ran his hands through his tousled blond hair and set his helmet down on his bike. He always rode with no protection on his skin, which was kind of stupid given how wild he was on the bike. If he wrecked, I was sure his shorts and tank top wouldn’t protect him much. He felt like he was invincible and I just waited for the moment when he could be proven wrong. Sometimes, it felt like that time would never come.

“Nope, I’m actually staying in Vegas until the fight this weekend. I got word your ex is having a hell of a time during training. I guess I really f*cked him up. I thought you should know. However, it appears he doesn’t want you back from the shit he’s been saying. I guess it’s better you found out now, so you can stop moping around.”

“How do you know that?” I snapped. “Where is he?”

Pulling out his phone, Kyle scrolled through his videos until he found the one he wanted. “This one was sent to me last night. Tyler’s in California, training with Matt Reynolds.” He handed me the phone.

“But isn’t Matt training Gabriella?”

Huffing, he nodded and pressed the play button on his phone. “Yes, which means your loverboy is there with her.”

And given the situation, it also meant he was probably bound to do something stupid. “You know she hates you, right Kyle? You f*cked over her brother. Why do you have this fascination with her?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. She’s hot and she can kick ass. Guys like that kind of shit. Now watch, and listen to what he says,” he commanded, pointing to the phone and turning up the volume.

It was Tyler in a practice ring with Matt Reynolds, his moves sloppy and poorly executed—he was fighting terrible.

“What the f*ck is wrong with you?” Matt snapped, throwing his hands in the air. “If you think you’re going to win the title like this, you’re wrong. You might as well throw in the towel now.”

“Or you could always get laid,” another guy added.

What the hell? I wanted to jump through the phone and tell him to mind his own business. I recognized him though, he was one of the Twins of Terror. It was either Ryley or Camden Jameson—I could never tell them apart—but this one had changed his hair from blond to dark.

Breathing hard, Tyler put his hands on his bare hips and I felt bile rise up my throat as I watched him nod. “You’re absolutely right, Ryley. Fuck ‘em both. I’m sick of this shit. Let’s go out and have us some fun.”

Ryley hopped into the ring and fist bumped him. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. I know a couple of women who’ll make you forget about everything.”

“Fuck yeah.”

Handing Kyle back his phone, I closed my eyes and collapsed onto the front porch steps. I couldn’t watch anymore.

“You know what’ll make all this just perfect?” Kyle mentioned excitedly.

Gritting my teeth, I rested my elbows on my knees and hung my head. The thought of Tyler going out and f*cking other women made me sick. Did I mean so little to him? “What are you talking about?” I whispered, swallowing hard to keep from throwing up.

Kyle sat down beside me and bumped me in the shoulder. “You should come to the fight on Saturday and sit in my corner. Show the bastard that you’re not moping around. This crying bullshit is pathetic. He’s not crying over you, now is he?”

Obviously not.

“Fine,” I snapped, getting to my feet. “You win. I’ll sit in your corner. Just do me a favor and leave me the hell alone about Tyler. I don’t want to see or hear anything about him again.” I stormed to the door and opened it wide, looking in at what used to be the only place that felt like home. If my grandmother was alive, she’d tell me to go after what I wanted.

I knew what I had to do.





ONCE MY BROTHER left, I booked the first available flight to Santa Rosa. Unfortunately, it was later in the afternoon, which had me arriving around seven o’clock. I had no clue if Tyler would be at the gym, but I was determined to find him, even if I had to drive around all night in my little rental.

The gym was vacant when I drove by so I decided to get something to eat at Panera Bread to kill some time. The only problem was that I wasn’t hungry for the soup and salad. I ate it anyway, knowing I’d get sick if I didn’t.

Chirp.

Startled, I jumped in my seat and fumbled for my phone which was in my back pocket. It was the first text message I’d gotten in days. Of course, it was wishful thinking to believe it would be Tyler, and when I looked at my phone it happened to be from Paxton.

Paxton: Am I seeing things or are you in California?

What? Hastily, I searched around the restaurant . . . nothing. It wasn’t until a knock on the glass made me turn around. There he was. Smiling, I quickly grabbed my tray, dumped my food into the trash, and hurried outside. I was relieved to see a familiar face. California felt so foreign to me now; it wasn’t my home anymore.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, lifting me up in a huge hug. His arms were sweaty and he was dressed in a gray tank top, black running shorts, and wearing an Oakland Raiders baseball cap. When I didn’t answer, he set me down and his smile disappeared. He already knew.