12 Rounds (17 page)

“It’s weird how I just knew, Seany,” she says then frowns. “I wish you could know that feeling. I wish you could find someone who makes you feel the way Emerson makes me feel.” She pretzels her legs. “It’s like the connection we have touches my soul and when we make—”

I cut her off with a wave my hand and my other hand bites into the couch cushion, squeezing. I clench my jaw and take deep, calming breaths. Married or not, I do not want to hear about my kid sister’s sex life. “Tee, enough.”

She laughs. “Okay, okay. I get it. TMI.”

TMI doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I think a part of me will always prefer to think of Tee as a nun. I feel safer thinking, no man has ever touched her in that way. Even if I know that’s far from the truth. “I wish you guys would have let me throw you a wedding or something,” I mention, leaning back into the couch. I think Tee deserves to have a special day. I imagine most women dream about that day. The white dress. The reception. I’m the man of this family and I feel like it should have been my duty to do at least that.

Tee shrugs. “Honestly, Emerson’s parents have passed away too. He has a few relatives in Columbus, but other than that, it wouldn’t have been a very big one. We just thought it would be easier if it was just him and me.”

“I didn’t even have the chance to get you two a wedding present.”

Tee smiles. Her fingers brush against my shoulder, “Aww, Seany. Your support is the best wedding present I could ever receive.” She grips my hand and squeezes. “Ma would be proud.”

I get a little choked up when she mentions our Ma. I know Ma would have liked me to give Tee the wedding of her dreams. She would have liked to have been there to see it. I can see her vibrant smile in my mind and I let out a long breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. I don’t want my kid sister to see me falling apart, so I clear my throat, and sit back.

Tee and I spend the rest of the afternoon watching television in silence. She seems happier now that we talked things out. And I’m happy that she’s happy. Tee laughs at something funny that happens on the show we’re watching.

 But I tune out the sound of the voices coming from my fifty inch flat screen television, thinking about what I can possibly get Tee and her new husband as a wedding gift.

~ ~ ~

Emerson Davis is a jittery little prick.

As I slide into the booth at The Happy Days diner, and the 1950’s style décor blurs in my vision, the guy won’t even look at me. His blonde hair is once again spiked to perfection and his light blue eyes flit over every nook and cranny of this place.

He won’t even make eye contact with me.

I was right about him.

The dude is a wet, dripping pussy.

But…

My sister loves him and if Tee loves him, I make a mental note that I’ll just have to learn to love him too. “Emerson,” I say and he jumps at the sound of his name leaving my lips. I tap the table in front of me and his eyes center on my knuckles. “Dude, you need to chill. I’m not going to kill you,” I say.

Yet
, I think.

“Forgive me.” Emerson’s voice comes out smooth, but shaky. “I’m still a little on edge from the other day.”

“Yeah, man. Sorry about that. I’m not sure if Tee mentioned that I don’t like surprises.” Especially ones like that.

“She didn’t,” he says relaxing a little. “But I imagine if I had siblings I’d be upset if they went and got married without telling me.”

I want to tell him that upset is an understatement, but I decide not to push it. Instead I reach into my pocket and pull out the envelope of cash I picked up from the bank this morning. I set it on the table and slide it toward him. Emerson stares at the envelope, puzzled, then looks at me. “Take it,” I urge him. “Congrats, man.”

He reluctantly picks up the envelope and looks inside it. Then he slides it back toward me. “I can’t take this! There’s ten thousand dollars in there!”

“You’re gonna take that money,” I tell him with a hard voice. “Teagan is my only sister and the only family I have left. I didn’t get to give her a wedding so you’re gonna take that ten grand. You can put some away and use the rest of it on your honeymoon.”

“Honeymoon?” He scrunches his eyebrows together. “We’re not taking a honeymoon. We can’t afford it right now—er—I  can’t afford it right now.” Red seeps into his tanned cheeks and I can tell him admitting that to me embarrasses him.

Honestly, maybe he’s not the kind of guy I pegged him for in the first place, and I feel kind of guilty judging him before I’ve gotten the opportunity to know him. It drove me crazy when people used to do it to me.

“Tee told me you didn’t take one. So I went ahead and booked you guys one. They’ll be sending all the info in the mail soon.” I remember a few things about Ireland, but I know Tee doesn’t remember anything at all. So I thought it would be nice if I booked the newlyweds a trip so Tee could see where we came from. “You leave for Ireland during your spring break.”

Emerson’s eyes widen and I think the dude might seriously start crying. I pat his shoulder lightly. He stiffens first, then suddenly relaxes. “Thanks, man,” he tells me, his voice thick. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you.”

His words remind of the same words I’d spoken to Connor Doyle at my Ma’s funeral. Except, I don’t want anything in return for helping out Tee and her new husband. “You  don’t have to repay me, “I tell him. “And I don’t want to hear another word about repayment. You hear me?” He nods. “All I want is for you to take care of my sister.” I do believe  that Emerson will do just that, when he’s done with college that is. “And protect her too.”

He clears his throat. “I’ll take care of her. And I will do my best to protect her.”

In my eyes doing his best isn’t good enough. Not when it comes to my sister’s life. “You got a gat?” I ask him, lowering my voice. I glare at him with a darkened gaze.

“A gat?” His voice goes up an octave and he purses his lips.

“A gun,” I say with force.

He shakes his head. “Oh , no. I don’t believe in violence.”

Jesus Christ, Teagan. Did you have to marry the king of all pussies? “Look Emerson, I don’t know what Teagan has told you but—”

“I know a few things,” he interrupts me and narrows his eyes. “And forgive me for being brash, but I think it’s awfully hypocritical of you to tell me I need to protect her from the danger you put her in, in the first place.”

Maybe this asshole isn’t so much of a pussy after all. He does have a set of testicals. I admire his honesty. “I was a kid when our Uncle Connie came to me. A desperate kid, who had no idea what he was getting into at the time. I made a decision that I thought would be best, and it took me years to finally grasp the concept that the decision I had made wasn’t a good one at all.” I sigh. “Now I’ve kept Tee away from all of this shit I’m mixed up in. I’ve done my best to keep in her the dark about a lot. But I think you and I both know Teagan and how she always likes to get the bottom of things.” He flashes me a knowing smirk and nods. “In the past, I protected her. But I’m not the number one man in her life anymore, you are. Now it’s up to you to guarantee that’ll she’ll be safe. I want you to promise me you won’t let anything happen to her.”

“But what about you?”

I balk at that and sit back in the booth. “Me?”

“Yeah, you. What if something happens to you? I know how much Teagan loves you. She talks about you all the time. How proud she is of your boxing. How you’ve always looked out for her. What if something dire happens to you? Teagan won’t ever be able to get over it.”

“Why don’t you let me worry about my own well-being? You just focus on Teagan, all right?” I’ve been on my own, taking care of myself for so long that I know how to do it.  Still, it kind of feels nice to have someone else worrying about me for a change.

“All right,” he says levelly.

At that point, Emerson and I shake hands. My new brother in law isn’t so bad. I still don’t trust him, but at least now I know that his intentions for my sister are honorable. And that he loves her.

We eat breakfast together, and chat about my upcoming fight. Emerson tells me he’s going to place a bet that I knock Mullins out in the second round and I laugh. We cover sports, and he happens to be a Browns fan too. He tells me a little bit about his family, and the death of his parents. And there’s a moment toward the end of the conversation where I can see why Teagan loves this asshole so much.

I pay the bill. Emerson tries to fight me for it, but I insist. Then we walk to the door and I say goodbye,  pat his back and tell him to have Tee call before they leave so I know they got back safely. He promises me he will and turns a corner, disappearing from my sight.

I decide against jogging to the gym and mentally curse myself for eating such a big breakfast when I know I’m trying to lose weight. Fuck, Joe is going to kick my ass if I don’t make weight. Maybe I should be jogging. I bounce lightly on my feet and head toward the gym, keeping my eyes peeled in case I have another fed spotting.

But as I continue running, I don’t spot the black Crown Victoria’s anywhere. Maybe they’ve given up. Maybe their lead didn’t actually lead them anywhere . Maybe it was a bunch of bull shit. A feeling of relief flushes through me as I walk into the boxing gym. The last thing I need is that on edge feeling right before a huge fight.

My mind should be clear.

I should be focused.

I head in the direction of the locker room, and spot Melissa standing at the receptionists’ desk in the waiting area. “Morning, Sean,” she greets me with a wide smile. And at that moment, I have an idea.

Something genius.

I’m not sure if she’ll go for it, but I figure hey, might as well give it a shot.

“Morning Melissa,” I say back. I stop in the entranceway of the gym and motion her over. “Hey, can I talk to you for a second, I have an idea I want to throw at you.”

She laughs and follows me through the door. “Go ahead and hit me with it.”

Chapter Twenty One

~Hadlee~

I sit patiently on the blue, carpeted floor along with the other attendee’s of this week’s self-defense class.

My mind isn’t where it should be.

It’s off on a cumulus cloud, drifting, floating through powder blue skies.

It’s twisted with so many thoughts that I stare off at the royal blue carpet in a trance. I’m thinking about school. My final exams are coming up and I’m overly stressed from cramming for them. I’m thinking about work and how Ryan has been extra moody lately. Not to mention extra grabby. And lastly, I’m thinking about Sean and that tender moment we shared while I cleaned his cut up knuckles.

“Hadlee!” Melissa calls my name and I snap out of my trance like state.

“Um, yeah.” Melissa beckons me with her finger and I eye her cautiously. Upon approaching her I ask, “Did I do something wrong?”

She lets out a jovial laugh. “No. Not at all. But you’re not in my class today.”

I don’t think she’s speaking English because I’m not quite sure what she’s getting at. “I don’t understand. Aren’t you the only self-defense instructor?”

“Not today,” she says in a sing song voice as she hops to her feet.

I glance over my shoulder and shrug at Lara with wide eyes. “What about Lara?”

My best friend waves me off. “You go ahead Lee, I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, Melissa, I don’t know.” There’s a nervous quiver in my vocal chords. I’ve just gotten used to classes with her. I’m not sure how I’ll handle the classes with another instructor. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Melissa puts her hand on my shoulder and wills me to look into her eyes. I meet her gaze, but stomach is in knots. “You’ll be fine,” she assures me. “I promise you, he’s much better at this than I am.”

“He,” I squeak out. There’s no way I’ll be able to do this. “Who’s he?” My fingers tremble and my heart is hammering against my ribcage.

“Me,” he chimes in.

I spin around and face Sean. He stands against the open doorframe, his shoulder dipped in and his arms folded across his chest. On my face is a look of pure and complete shock.

He tilts his head to the side, motioning to the open door as the entire room breaks out into a chorus of hushed chatter. Most of the women in my class keep glancing between me and Sean before exchanging giggles and awestruck looks. Finally Sean cuts into the whispers with, “I can’t say that I don’t bite because the truth is I do. And I like it. But I promise I won’t bite you.” He chuckles wrly. “Unless you want me to.”

There’s something so sexy about the way his words roll off his tongue that they completely shut down my voice box.

I’m speechless.

And nervous.

And I’m one hundred percent certain my cheeks are the reddest they’ve ever been.

More whispers.

More giggling.

I look to Lara for some kind of sign, but she’s gaping at Sean, her mouth hanging open.

My eyes find Sean’s. There’s a friendly yet devious glint swirling around in his pools of bluish green. He tilts his head toward the door again in a casual way, but his mannerisms don’t make me feel any less uneasy.

I try reasoning with myself.

You know him Hadlee
.  Well, sort of know him.
He’s nice
.  Well, sometimes. He’s not threatening. That I’m certain of. It doesn’t matter how intimidating he looks on the outside, I know he’d never hurt me.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I walk to the door, stumbling along the way,  and when I’m inches away from Sean he smiles brightly revealing a set of perfect white teeth.  I look to Lara one last time. In a way it’s like a last ditch effort for her to talk me out of this, but she only giggles and gives  me a  two thumbs up. Without the the
I can’t bail on my best friend excuse
, I realize I have no way out of this. I’m like a lamb walking to get slaughtered. It’s true that I could always say no, but I’m beyond intrigued to know exactly what the Sean Reilly method to self-defense  is.

And I don’t have a chance to contemplate that method any further. Without another word, Sean closes the door to the classroom and we’re walking across the gym to the boxing ring.