Consumed (35 page)

Darryl has it all figured out and I’m impressed. “Chin-ups aren’t
that
hard though.” I state. “I can do at least seven.”

Both Darryl and Jackson crack up like I’ve said the funniest joke in the world. It’s not a polite chuckle, it’s a hard out head back, and teeth showing kind of laugh. I’m quite proud of my ability to do seven chin-ups. It used to be five.

“Seven?” Darryl squeezes my bicep between his thumb and index. “That’s three more than what I assumed you could do.”

I feign insult and fold my arms across my chest. “And how many can you do?”

“A hell of a lot more than seven.”

“Prove it.” I say. Darryl

doesn’t look like much. Sure he’s lean and probably muscular under the shirt, but he doesn’t look like he has that much strength behind him.

“Okay,” He hands Jackson his clipboard and stopwatch. “You and me. We’ll take a bar each and the first one to stop loses.”

“Done.”

“Hold up,” He extends his hand to me. “Let’s make it interesting. If I win, you’ll stop making Seth show up late to training. If you win—”

“You’ll wear a dress to the next fight.” The words flew out of my mouth before I had a chance to think.

His dark lips smirk at me. “Deal.”

We shake hands and approach the bars. Jackson joins us, counting us in. When the word ‘go’ falls from his lips, Darryl and I start with the chin-ups. Almost immediately my arms start burning and my muscles tremble. My lungs burn with lack of oxygen because I’m holding my breath every time I pull myself up. I can hear Darryl breathing rhythmically and I realize this is a no brainer. He’s going to beat me. I lower myself and use all my strength to slowly pull myself up. Jackson is laughing, having the time of his life watching us. Beside me, Darryl is pulling himself up and down quickly, like it’s the easiest things he has ever done. My arms are going to let go. I can feel it.
Screw it
. I let the bar fall from my hands and I land with two feet on the floor. My muscles spasm under my skin and I lie down flat on my back on the cool mats. Darryl leans over me, hardly out of breath.

“I did eight.” I groan proudly.

He extends his hand to me and I take it. My arms feel like jelly. They feel as though they are going to separate from my body and float away any second now.

“Well done,” He smiles. “Now stop making my boy late.”

I roll my eyes. “You and I both know nobody can make Seth do anything he doesn’t want to.”

Dad’s laughter catches my attention as he and Seth enter the room.

“Darryl and Olivia just went head to head in a chin-up contest.” Jackson announces, pulling his green shirt over his head and exposing a lot more muscle than I assumed he had. “Olivia lost, obviously.” He chuckles and I scowl at him.

“I didn’t really lose.” I state. “I can do eight chin-ups now instead of seven.”

Laughter erupts from everyone and I huff. I guess seven isn’t brag worthy after all.

“Anyway,” Darryl publicizes. “I received a call from the MMAC earlier and they’ve announced your match up with Joshua Donskov in seven days. You know the rules. No sex. No bad fats and no sugars. The fight is in Boston. Win that and you’ll fight Don Russell for the pro contract in Las Vegas a week later.”

“I can’t wait to see you knock Josh Donskov on his ass.” Dad cheers and dread fills my stomach.

My dad can’t go to Boston because I can’t go to Boston to keep an eye on him. Mason will fire me if I ask for anymore time off. I’ve asked for too much already. Jackson, Dad and Darryl enter a discussion about Josh Donskov and his ‘brawler’ technique. I pull Seth over to the side.

“Dad can’t go to Boston...” I whisper to him.

His warm hands rub my arms and my shoulders, massaging me. “Between the two of us we should be able to look after him.”

I almost wince. He assumes I’ll be going to Boston with him. “Seth, I’m not going with you to Boston…”

His dark brows knit together. “You’ve been to two of my fights. Surely, it’s easier for you now.”

“It’s not about the fighting. It’s about my work. I have a job and I’ve taken too much time off already. I rely on my job to pay for rent, food and a million other things.”

“Okay, I’ll cover all those things for a little while. It’s not a big deal.”

It’s not a big deal? It’s a very big deal. I’m an adult which mean I am responsible for certain things. “Mason will probably fire me if—”

“So let him fire you.”

“Let him fire me?” I don’t sound angry which is how I feel. “Let him fire me? Are you insane? I need my job.”

Seth’s eyes darken and his lips morph into a straight, impassive line. All attention is on us.

“Dad,” I growl at him unintentionally. “You are not going to Boston. You are staying here in Portland with me. Your blood pressure is high and you need to start taking it seriously.”

“Olly—”

“Seth, tell him he can’t go.”

I don’t look at him, but I can feel his heated stare on my face. He exhales and turns to my father. “I’m sorry, Rick.”

“You’re not serious?” He scoffs. “All because some crazy doctor thinks my blood pressure is high?” He throws his hands up in the air before storming from the room. I turn to Seth—he’s angry, but I’m angrier.

“I need to have a shower and get ready for work so I can pay rent next week. Let me know when you’re finished here.” I mutter, marching after my father.

Dad’s pissed and in his office. I know because the blind is down. Whenever the blind is blocking the window, he doesn’t want to see anyone which is fine by me.

My fingers tangle in my hair and I hiss every time my scalp burns because of it. I thought the shower would help me, but I’m still pissed.
So let him fire you
.
Pfft
. It’s like my job isn’t a big deal for him. Fine, I might not make as much money as him, but that doesn’t mean my job isn’t important. I squeeze soap onto a washcloth and hastily rub under my arms and over my breasts. The smell of grapefruit and pomegranate soothes me a little, taking away some of my agitation. Dad is going to be pissed at me for a while, but I know Mom will have my back, for once.

There’s a knock on my door and I shake my head. This is the ladies shower room. Luckily the gym is closed and I’m the only one in here.

“I’m showering.” My door rattles and then unlocks. Seth steps in with his frustrated expression. “Please, come in anyway.”

“You think those words would make me go the other way?”

I shrug.

“I’ve pissed you off.”

“Am I that obvious?”

He drops his shorts and kicks them to the side. “Don’t be like that.”

I hand him my cloth and he squeezes soap onto it. He makes trails of sweet smelling bubbles all over his skin as he washes it. I stand under the hot stream, letting the water run all of the soap from my body.

“I didn’t think I’d have to force you to come to my fights now that you’re my girlfriend.” He isn’t even looking at me. His eyes are on the sponge as it circles his stomach.

“I didn’t think I’d have to quit my job and become some sad, dependent female that you carry around with you everywhere.”

His gaze snaps to my face. “Is that how you really feel?”

I shake my head. “Not usually, but this morning I’m starting to wonder.”

“It’s not about dependence. It’s about support. You ease me and I want you to be there when I win.”

I sigh, stepping out of the flow of water so he can step under to rinse off the bubbles.

“I can’t be there every time. It’s unrealistic.”

I try my hardest to keep my eyes on his. It’s painful not looking everywhere else.

“I’ll be travelling a lot, Olivia and I want you with me—every time.”

I’m trying to be as kind as I can, but I’m still too angry. “Yeah, well, we don’t always what we want.”

I pull my towel out of my bag and run it over my wet body, drying up all of the droplets. “It’s not too late to back out you know.” I tell him, referring to our relationship.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He shuts off the shower and I hand him my towel.

“You’re persistent.”

“Spoiled.” He smiles, correcting me. “I’m used to getting what I want.”

***

Seth insisted on walking me to my desk this morning, much to Mason’s dismay. Since then he hasn’t done anything besides bark orders at me. I’ve pissed him off big time and I know exactly why.

“Excuse me,” an elderly woman demands. She tucks a short white curl around her ear. The patients have been extra bitchy today. “I’ve been sitting in this waiting room for an hour. My appointment was meant to be forty minutes ago.” She doesn’t say anything offensive or bitchy, but it’s all in her annoying, high-pitched tone. I fight the urge to scowl and I smile warmly at her instead.

“Thank you for being so patient.” Yeah right. “You're up next. Dr. Peterson won’t be much longer.”

With an elongated sigh, she turns away from me. Mason exits the therapy room with a patient. The man who goes by the name of Gary Voss, keeps his head down and nervously strolls from the office. The elderly woman jumps to her feet as Mason calls her into the therapy room and he brings Gary Voss’s analysis sheet over to me.

“File this.” He slides it onto my desk and leaves. I do as I’m told and without a peek it goes into the file.

When he’s done with the woman and she leaves, I realize there’s no one else booked in until mid this afternoon. In my pocket my phone vibrates. I take it out and glance at the screen. Seth. I hit ignore. I can’t talk right now. Besides, we didn’t really talk after the shower at the gym and I don’t want to piss Mason off even more. Speaking of Mason, he steps out of his office, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his black slacks.

“How was Concord?” He asks friendly enough. His blond brows are furrowed slightly, but I know he’s trying to clear things up between us.

“Good.” I reply. “Selena and I spent a lot of time together, so it was nice.”

My phone vibrates again, making a muffled buzzing sound.

“You’re phone is buzzing.”

“I’m at work. It will have to wait.”

Mason's lips curve into a playful smile. “Are you feeling okay? When have you ever ignored a text or phone call at work?”

“Well, I owe you now. You’ve put up with a lot of my...” Damn. I can’t find the right word.

“Shit.”

“Right.” I chuckle. “It’s time I give a little back and act like a proper employee.”

He leans on my desk and just like that the animosity between us is gone.

“Please, don’t start doing what I hired you to do on my account.”

I laugh. “I’m not that bad!”

My phone starts up again, vibrating against my thigh.

“Answer it. I’ll ignore it just this once.”

I smile gratefully at him and pull my phone out of my pocket. It’s Seth again. I tilt my screen toward me slightly, so Mason doesn’t see.

“Hello?”

“Olivia, Jesus Christ!” His deep, furious voice startles me. Even Mason heard it. His eyebrows raise a little and his jaw tightens. “Why haven’t you been answering your God damned phone?”

I feel my cheeks heat up and my heart rapidly pumps blood through my veins. What could have him so wound up? He seems desperate and worried. His voice makes my stomach tighten, threatening to push up the blueberries and yogurt that I had for breakfast.

“I’m at work, remember. What’s going on? Why are you so mad?”

“I’m sorry.” He takes a deep, calming breath. “Your dad has had a heart attack...”

Chapter Sixteen

My heart stills and my throat constricts. I start sweating—a cold sweat that slides from the nape of my neck right down my back and I swallow thickly as tears well in my eyes.

“Olivia?” Seth says my name as tears spill over the brim.

“Is-is he okay?”

I bite my bottom lip too hard and I immediately taste blood. Mason leans forward, but I can’t see him. All I see is my father’s angry face.

“He’s alive and he’s in the Portland hospital. I’m here with him and your mom. Do you want me to come get you?”

“No, I’ll be there soon.” I don't want Seth to drive all the way here and then back to the hospital. I hang up and wipe the tears off my cheek.

“Is everything okay?”

Far from it. I shake my head. “I need a ride to the hospital. My dad had a heart attack.”

Mason jogs to his office and grabs his jacket and keys. “Let’s go.”

I rise unsteadily from my chair still in total shock. I’m glad my dad is okay, but the thought of being so close to losing him eats at me. Is it because I yelled at him? Mason’s car is parked right out the front of his shop. It’s a nice car, sporty, sleek and red. Inside, the material is leather and comfortable. Thank God I’m wearing a seatbelt though. Every time he turns a corner I grip the seat in fear of sliding off of it. We pull up outside of the hospital and Mason follows me from the car. In any other circumstance I’d be worried about Seth’s reaction to me showing up with Mason, but there are bigger things I have to worry about right now.