“’Morning,” he said, smiling big as he stretched. “How’d you sleep?”

“Great. You?”

“Like a bear in winter.” He was in a good mood. It had been a while since I’d seen him smile. It made me feel warm inside. But as soon as I started to enjoy it, his smile faded. “What happened to your arms?”

I looked down. I hadn’t noticed, but my arms were covered in bruises. Damn.

I reached to cover them. “I don’t know. I must have done something in my sleep.”

It was the only thing I could think to say, because I knew exactly where the bruises were from. They were from Chris. But there was no way I was going to start something between Ian and Chris the day of the fight.

Ian leaped out of bed and took my arms in his hands, examining them. His face was stern, and his jaw tightened. “You didn’t do this in your sleep, MacKenzie. Don’t lie to me. Why can’t you just tell me what happened? Who did this to you?” The muscles in his neck tensed.

“No. I won’t tell you,” I barked. “I’m not here to be your distraction. You don’t need to worry about me. Ian, pull it together and focus on your fight. I’m not your problem.” I headed for the door.

“Kenzie, wait.”

I pulled the door open and stepped out, stumbling on my bag, which had been placed right outside the door. Chris must have put it there. I pulled out the handle and started wheeling it to the elevator.

“Kenzie,” he shouted down the hall after me.

I hit the Down button on the elevator, then turned to him. “Ian, a while back you promised me that you would win this fight. I’ve got my stuff, and Alexa will make sure I get home. You make sure you don’t break that promise you made to me. You win your fight.” The door to the elevator opened and I stepped inside.

The truth of my words hit me as the doors closed. I was a distraction to Ian. That was all I was, and all I would ever be. As long as I was around, he’d be unable to see his dream fulfilled.

I didn’t want to be the one standing between him and his dream. I cared about him too much.

Forty-Three

Ian

Kenzie was gone. I couldn’t believe she was fucking gone. As much as I wanted to curl her body next to mine and spoon her all last night, I could tell she needed space. It was written in the tearstains on her face.

Still I’d assumed, after what we’d been through together, that she would end up with me. I let myself believe that when she held my hand last night. But she’d marched out like she couldn’t wait to leave. She was done with me. Wasn’t even going to stick around long enough to see the fight, the fight I’d been prepping for my whole life. I thought she knew how much it meant to me. How much she meant to me.

The fight. That was how I would get through this. Focus all my energy on the fight. It had to be that, because after losing Kenzie, fighting was the only thing left, and it was time to get ready.

Chris wasn’t in his room and wouldn’t respond to any of my texts, but I found Jonah and spent the time leading up to the fight talking strategy and trying to keep myself calm enough to not fucking puke.

Strangely enough, the closer it got to fight time, the calmer I got. It made no sense, but this was how my nerves misbehaved before a fight. They peaked the day of the fight, but by the time I stepped into the ring, my mind was in a state of ass-kicking Zen.

I was a little worried about Chris. I knew he could take care of himself, but I’d called and texted him, left a note for him on his door, and heard nothing.

As we headed backstage before the fight, I texted Cade. I knew he was in town for the fight, and if Chris wasn’t going to be there, I needed another coach. I might be the only one in the ring fighting, but a large entourage on entry ramped up the intimidation factor.

Cade messaged me right back and said he’d meet me backstage. I thanked God that Jonah had come out with us. He would have to do the coaching for two, but if I could get Cade to at least enter with me and sit near the cage, my team would look impressive.

The dressing room was almost as big as my hotel room, with a table and chairs on one end and a little seating area. I supposed if I were the champ I would need all the space for my huge entourage, but today I just felt lucky to be here.

Jonah helped me tape my hands, then I started my pre-game ritual. Clear my mind of everything, and get ready to pound this guy into nothing. I hopped up and down on the balls of my feet. It was all about finding the right place between calm and let’s beat the shit out of someone.

“Aaah,” I yelled. Yeah, I was ready.

The door opened and Chris slipped in. My hopping instantly slowed at the sight of him. His face was mangled. His nose ballooned out, obviously broken, and he had a black eye.

Jonah met him near the door. “Chris, what the fuck happened?”

Chris smiled through a fat lip. “Nothing. You should see the other guy. Let’s get you ready for the fight,” he said to me.

I looked him over; something about him made me feel on edge. His eyes darted nervously around the room, and he laughed.

“You’re gonna kill this guy, Ian,” he said as he moved toward me. But he was acting wary, as if he was unsure about something.

“Chris…” I said.

His eyes shifted again. “What?” He folded his arms, which was when I noticed the long red scrapes on his arms. Defensive claw marks.

My face heated up as I flashed back to the fear in Kenzie’s eyes last night when I found her at my hotel door. How she wouldn’t talk about any of it. And all the bruises on her arms the next morning.