Doomsday Love: An MMA & Second Chance Romance (33 page)

“He told me he could make something work soon. He had all of my videos on file, ready to send them to anyone that might consider bringing me into their cages. The first few days, no one wanted someone as ruthless as me. They told me I was too hardcore looking. One even said I looked like a ‘hell-bound deviant’.” He shrugs it off. “So we waited… and I worked. But I was still hurting. Still devastated. But I still came back to see you that night, because I needed to know how you were doing.

“I had this plan that I could take you with me wherever I went. You could go to a good college or something there, and do whatever you wanted to do. I showed up at your place, ready to make things right again, and then I saw that packet from Yale. You got accepted… and the whole idea of bringing you with me just blew up in my face, Jenny. When I saw that acceptance letter, I knew I couldn’t hold you back. I couldn’t do that to you because there was going to be even more distance between us and we probably would have ended up way worse than we did back then.

“I wanted to call so many times before I came to see you that night. I just… couldn’t. There were times when I stared into the mirror of the motel I was staying in, just looking at myself. Wondering how in the hell I got to where I was. I hated what I saw, and I couldn’t figure out what you saw in me. I couldn’t figure out what anyone saw in me, my grandmother included.

“I started to get angry messages from Flex since I wasn’t showing up for fights. He was losing money so he figured rubbing her death in my face would make me show up. It didn’t. Truth be told, I never wanted to come back. But I did for you, even when he called me things that broke me. I shouldn’t have let him get to my head, but he did. And one thing he said really got to me. You want to know what it was?”

“What?” I muster. I’m afraid to even ask. I remember how cruel his father was.

“He told me that I didn’t deserve you—that you needed better. That I was and never would be anything but a worthless, low-life, two-cent fighter.” He shakes his head, releasing a bitter laugh. “I couldn’t really wrap my head around Grandma Marie passing, and everything negative sank in with it like a sponge. I mean, I always knew her death was coming, I just didn’t think it would be so soon.

“Anyway, that night that you texted me and asked me to meet you, I happened to be between phone calls with Leo. Leo told me he might have some good news soon, but I didn’t get my hopes up because he always said that.

“I got your text, and I was coming, I swear. I was driving my truck to Fox River as soon as I got off my shift. But then Leo called me, and he told me I needed to meet him as soon as possible. I didn’t want to go so soon, Jenny, but he told me it would be my big break—he told me Kings wanted to see me in the cage as soon as possible. They loved my videos so much they scheduled a flight for me that same night.

“It was such short notice. I told Leo I couldn’t make it—that I needed to see you first. I asked him to make them reschedule, but they refused. They told me if I really wanted a spot in the
Kingdom
I had to prove my worth.”

“So it was prove your worth to them, over proving your worth to me?”

“No,” he responds, dropping his hands on the table. “Fuck, no. This was something I needed to do for us, but I swore to come back as soon as it was over. I got to the airport in a fucking bustle. I tried calling you dozens of times while I was there but had the spottiest connection. Every time I called, it would fail. When I landed, I finally had some sort of connection, but when I called your phone, it kept going to a dead-end voicemail. Your voice wasn’t there anymore. It was like
you
weren’t there anymore. I couldn’t get to you, Jenny. I tried Oscar and Kylie, but then Kylie told me you had already left for Yale. It all happened so fucking fast—shit,” he rasps.

“You could have come to Yale,” I say quietly. “Whenever you were free.”

“I thought about that.” His jaw ticks for a moment. “But I was stupid. I figured you needed space—that you needed time. I contemplated coming there, but we started traveling and training and the endless nights only made shit worse for me. I know that’s no excuse, but… I guess I just wasn’t ready. I didn’t know your number. Kylie said you changed it, but she refused to give it to me unless you told her to. I knew she was lashing out about Oscar too, but she wasn’t going to give it to me, either way.” He blows a breath through parted lips.

“Crazy thing is I knew this would happen to us, Jenny. That’s why I fought against you so much in the beginning. Because I didn’t want that shit to happen.” He tilts his chin. “Do you remember what I told you when we first started messing around?”

“No… when?”

“In the parking lot of Buckley’s. When I chased after you, when you called me a jerk. It was right before I kissed you for the first time. Do you remember?”

I think on it, going over the events of that night. He said a lot of things, but that kiss is one I will never, in all my years, forget. His words start to conjure, and soon they ring in my head like chiming church bells.

“You want me so I’ll let you see for yourself just how truly fucked up I am. I’ll let you decide whether you really want to get to know me, or if you will just end up hating me, which is exactly what I am expecting.”

My eyes expand as I look up at him.

“I told you I was fucked up, Jenny. But you didn’t want to believe me. I didn’t want things to happen that way, but I knew sooner or later, with our differences, it would. My life never goes according to plan. Even now, things haven’t exactly fallen into place for me yet. I’m not at peace with myself or my past, and most of that is because you haven’t been here.” Drake looks me over before pushing his plate away.

We are dead quiet. All I hear is my pounding heart… and the fans outside.

“If all of this is true, Drake, then… I guess I can’t really blame you… can I?”

His eyes flicker up to meet mine. He doesn’t say anything but his face raises all of the questions.

“Yes, I changed my number. Got rid of all of my social media. I made it nearly impossible for anyone to find me unless someone actually came to Yale to see me in person. I did that on purpose. I didn’t want to remember anything. I’m not the way I am because of what happened between us, though. I mean, is our break-up some of the reason why, yes. But that’s not all of it.”

I thread my fingers through my hair, planting my elbows on the table. “There’s all of this shit with my parents. There’s Mitchell, and how I miss him every damn day. And then there are the issues I have with myself.” I laugh dryly. “I don’t love myself enough to love anyone again, not even my first love.”

“But I can make you love yourself again. You can try. Just take my offer,” he murmurs. “I swear to you I will not let you down.”

I shake my head. “Shane is still here. He’s been calling all morning.”

“Fuck him,” he snarls. “He’s not who you want. I am.”

That may be true, but I won’t admit that to him. I put my focus on the floor, lips twisting, and leg bouncing. Drake slides his chair closer to me and then grabs one of my hands.

He tilts my chin with his forefinger and when I meet his eyes, they are much softer now. There is no hostility or anger. There isn’t even sadness. There is pure adoration and respect.

“I don’t give a damn about the paparazzi, the fans, or even the money,” he states. “I will
not
put fighting over you ever again. Right now, you come first. I had a conference at twelve and I rescheduled it to shop with you. I had a photo shoot with the belt at two, but I’m here now. With you. I had a full schedule, Jenny, but all of that stuff can be put on hold, because what I’ve learned from my mistakes is that love doesn’t wait for anyone. Love moves like lightning, and if I’m not on Zeus’s bolt, I will never catch up.” He sighs and then smirks. “I’m on the bolt now, Jenny, and I’m not letting it escape me this time.” He squeezes my hand, and a soft smile graces his lips.

God, how can I say no to that face? All of what he’s saying is so heartfelt and real. It’s so deep and passionate and right now, all I want to do is scream
yes
.

Drake doesn’t do passion or sincerity, but I can tell he’s changed.

I can tell he really regrets letting me go.

I can tell that he wants me more than anything else in this world right now.

Deep down, I know he means this. I know he wants this just as badly as I have for the past four years. We’ve already spent the past thirteen hours together. I slept in bed with him, for goodness sake. Why not continue it?

Shane will call, but I can ignore him.

I can’t go back to
that
after
this
. Drake has shown me a side of him that I haven’t seen before.

Drake Davenport wants to prove his worth, so I will let him.

“Gah, okay. Fine! Fine. I’m in.” I laugh, and he smiles boyishly, perking up a bit. “We have a lot more to talk about, you know?”

“Of course I do.”

“You’re not exactly off the hook.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes.” His puts on a crooked smile.

I cross my ankles in front of me. “Two days in Vegas with Mr. Doomsday. We better make them count then, huh?”

“Yep.” He stands up with that same boyish smile on his lips, grabbing my hand. “Starting now. Come on.”

“Now? But you’ve barely eaten!”

“I’ll eat later.”

After tossing some money on the table, he turns around with my hand still in his and we walk down a hallway. We proceed through the back exit, escaping the raving fans up front. And it’s as soon as we are in the truck that I feel that safety again.

That security.

I feel protected by him, and it’s only been a few hours.

Am I terrified about this? Yes. Because he holds in his hands the power to bend and break me again. But I am also thrilled and eager and wondering just what he plans on doing to make that lost time up to me within the next two days.

I guess it doesn’t matter. I want this more than ever, even if I refuse to admit it out loud.

Just enjoy the ride, Jenny Roscoe. Enjoy the ride.

“
W
here are we going now
?” I ask when Bill hits the road again.

Drake scrolls through his phone and then puts it to his ear. Someone answers and he speaks.

“Did you get the tickets?” he asks. “Okay, good. Yeah, we’re on the way.”

I frown as I watch him lower his phone. “Who was that?”

“Oscar.”

“What is he getting tickets for?”

He reveals a lopsided grin. “You’ll see.”

I slouch back in my seat, still looking his way. “Is Kylie still with him?”

“Of course she is. Heard her in the background.”

I laugh and fold my arms. “I hope you know they aren’t going to leave each other’s side while we’re here.”

“That’s fine. I get why he wouldn’t. I don’t plan on leaving your side, either.” Drake’s gaze holds mine. His eyes dart down to my lips, and mine maneuver downward to do the same.

When our eyes are back on each others, I pull my line of sight away, focusing on the back of Bill’s head. His hair is curly, stopping right at the nape of his neck. He’s a very pale man, but I love that he is always wearing a smile. The ring on his finger proves he is happily married.

My heart thunders, my palms now clammy, knowing Drake is still watching me. I hate how I get so nervous around him.

Bill drives for about ten more minutes before we reach our destination. We are at a completely different hotel.

“Mandalay Bay?” I question, whipping my head to look at him.

He nods, and when Bill pulls up to the curb, Drake climbs out of the car. Before he shuts the door, he says, “Give me a second, will you?”

And it’s as soon as he does, that the screaming commences.

The crowd is back. The fans.

Good Lord, are they following his truck or something?

Drake shuts the door quickly and then turns, watching as a thick crowd surrounds him. They are so close to the car, and I can hear all of them shouting his name, reaching forward and dying for a feel.

Preach and the other security guard are standing beside him now, making sure none of the fans get too carried away. They all pass their posters, notebooks, and Sharpies one by one for him to sign.

He signs each one quickly, smiling casually. And as I watch him through the tinted windows, I come to realize one thing—It may not seem he doesn’t care about this stuff, but deep down, he is eating it up.

I mean, my word! Drake has real fans—people that love him despite his flaws. People that are honestly just like me, in a sense. They see what he is—how he is. How he is strong and never backs down. How he continues to prosper, even when he feels like he hasn’t done enough in life.

A smile spreads across my lips as he signs for those girls. He appreciates his fans. He respects them, because if it weren’t for those very fans, he wouldn’t be where he is now.

He signs the final poster, and then he holds his hands up and waves to let them know he has to get going. Preach and the other security guard step forward to hold the girls back as Drake walks around the car and meets at my door.

He swings it open and the screaming is louder than ever before, echoing off the hotel walls. He offers a hand with a gentle smile on his lips and I take it, stepping out of the SUV and walking around it.

As soon as Drake and I are on the pavement and on our way inside the hotel, cameras flash like crazy.

“Doomsday! Doomsday! Is that your girlfriend?” someone shouts. It’s a man’s voice.

Drake doesn’t respond… because he really doesn’t have to.

“Hey—girl! What’s your name?”

I glance back, but Drake tugs on my hand. “Don’t,” he murmurs when I look at him. “Just keep walking with me.”

We reach the sliding doors and the questions keep coming at us in waves. They all close in on us, smiling, laughing, and cheering. They are so happy for him—well, except the girls, who I can tell are envious. They don’t know who I am, or even where I came from. They look baffled and hopeless.

And I don’t know why, but when we finally get inside, I smile up at Drake. He looks down at me, confused by my expression.

“What’s with the grin?” he asks.

“I know it’s going to sound crazy… but that was
really
fun.”

He laughs. “You think pushing through a wild crowd that constantly screams your name is fun?”

“Well, they weren’t screaming
my
name, but hey!” I playfully slap him on the chest. “You can’t say you don’t love it. I saw how you treated those fans. You love it. You eat that shit right up.”

“Nah. It’s just respect.” He swings his arm over my shoulder and turns me around. Preach follows behind us as we walk through the busy casino.

A few fans come in behind us, but they don’t get too close. The other security guard is telling them to give us some privacy.

As we walk through the casino, I can feel eyes on us and hear the shutter clicks of camera-phones. I see the quick flashes, but I focus solely on Drake. It isn’t so bad when I have him right beside me to talk to.

“I appreciate my fans, yes,” Drake sighs, waving at a few women that have already been waving like maniacs. “Without them cheering me on, I don’t think I would like fighting this much. It’s kind of like I have a reason to fight… because they like it.”

My cheeks spread as I look up at him. “I knew it. And there is nothing wrong with that.”

He shrugs.

“So… what the hell are we doing in this hotel?” I ask.

“Oscar has a room here. He doesn’t like the crowds much. He only comes around when I’m about to fight or if I really need him. Otto loves it, though. It’s why he’s staying at the Bellagio.”

“So they’re, like, your entourage now?” I question.

He shakes his head with a half-smile. “That’s what it seems like to the public eye, but they would kill me if I answered yes to that question.”

I giggle. “They sound like the same Davenport twins I knew.”

“They are. Not much has changed—except Otto wears that stupid man-bun on the top of his head now. He’s growing his beard out and everything. Fucking crazy.”

“Hey, some girls love a man with long hair. Just saying. Where is he anyway? I haven’t seen him since the night of the fight when he was walking to the cage with you.”

“There is no telling where that clown is. For all I know he’s—”

“There you are, you son of a bitch!” A deep, familiar voice fills the passageway and I look forward, only to see Otto Davenport in the flesh.

Drake groans and sighs a little. “Speaking of the fucking devil.”

Otto comes marching down the hallway in a plaid blue, black, and white shirt, and wow. He has a pretty serious man bun going on today. It’s pulled up tight, all sleek around the edges and puffy at the top.

He even has his thick beard combed, which surprises me, but I can’t say it doesn’t look good on him. In my opinion, the bun fits Otto.

He’s always been the outgoing one, and he never cared too much about anyone else’s opinion of him. It’s what I loved about his personality.

He was always himself. A goof, yes, but himself.

Otto stops less than a foot away. “Ho-ly. Shit. If it isn’t Pretty Jenny in the fucking flesh.” People that pass by us look at Otto as if he’s out of his damn mind. He doesn’t give them the time of day. Instead, he rushes in and lugs me into a tight bear hug. “Get over here! It’s been years!”

I laugh as he squeezes me tight, swinging me in a large circle and almost hitting one of the by-passers with my feet.

“Sorry,” I squeak when the man looks back with a scowl.

Drake rolls his eyes and folds his arms.

“How have you been?” Otto asks, dropping me and then planting his hands on his waist.

“I’ve been great.” I smile up at him and Drake comes to my side again.

“Are you done with the wild shit?” Drake cocks a brow.

“Am I ever done?” Otto throws his hands in the air, palms up. “What took you so fucking long? I’ve been waiting for you for over thirty fucking minutes.”

“Got caught up,” Drake murmurs. “Where are Oscar and Kylie?”

“They’re supposed to be here?” Otto scratches the back of his head. Drake’s face turns serious, and Otto busts out laughing. “I’m just kidding man. Hey, Jenny, you’ll have to pardon me. I’ve had a couple of drinks and they’re starting to really sink into my blood stream.”

“That’s okay,” I titter.

“They’re waiting at the reef,” he continues. “I had to get away from them. All of the sighing, compliments, and blubbering bullshit was blowing my buzz. Pussy-whipped, I tell you.”

“You say that now,” Preach says, chuckling. “But what about the girl we met in Texas. You bring her up all the time. I bet you miss that, huh?”

Otto stops walking to look at Preach. “Come on, man. That was a one-time thing. We swore not to bring that shit up again!”

“Writing her songs, showing up at her house—all of it.” Preach can’t control himself. He laughs so hard it bellows through the hallway.

Otto narrows his eyes and squares his shoulders. “Come on, man. That’s not even cool.”

I laugh. “What happened in Texas?”

“It was years ago,” Otto grumbles, avoiding my eyes as he walks past us.

“He fell for a chick for the first time. She attended one of the fights, he saw her in the crowd, hooked up with her afterwards, but got hooked on her way more than he thought he would.” Drake’s voice is soft as he explains it in my ear.

“Really?” I gasp. “Aww, Otto, I didn’t know you were capable of getting hooked!”

“That’s because I’m not.” He spins around and walks backwards. “I’m a new man. That shit in Texas was just for fun.”

“Yeah,” Drake scoffs. “Sure it was.”

Otto spins back around right before we meet at the staircase. He sits on the thick guardrail and slides all the way down to the bottom. Of course, there are other guests walking down already. It just wouldn’t be an act of Otto if he didn’t have a crowd.

Drake sighs as we walk down the stairs. I notice the word
aquarium
not too far away from where we are. Not too long, and the words Shark Reef appear.

“Drake?” I look up at him. He smiles down at me.

“You’ll love it,” he murmurs.

We walk through the entrance and I’m surprised to see Kylie and Oscar sitting on the bench close by. Kylie sees me and pulls away from Oscar almost immediately, running in my direction.

I grin and open my arms wide.

“Where have you been, baby love!?” she screeches, practically tackling me.

“I think the question is, where were you, crazy girl?” I laugh.

“Oh, Jen, I’m so freaking sorry. I got way too drunk last night! I don’t even remember half of what happened.”

“Yeah. She was pretty hammered.” Oscar walks up behind Kylie with a sly smile. Kylie turns and gives him a playful, evil-eyed glared.

“Yeah, well it’s your fault. You kept buying me drink after drink. You know how I am when I get drunk.”

“A naughty little thing?” Oscar fills in, smirking.

Drake and I choke on laughs.

Kylie spins around, jokingly smacking his arm. “You are such an ass.”

I giggle. “Kylie, don’t even worry about it. I didn’t want to interrupt anyway. I turned out to be okay.” I glance at Drake.

“She was fine. She spent the night in my hotel,” he fills in.

“She did?” Kylie’s eyes are wider than ever before as she looks between us. “Oh, babe. We have
a lot
to talk about.”

I feel my face growing hot. I look up at Drake and he lets off a simple shrug.

“Well, I’ve got the tickets. Are we ready?” Oscar holds up the tickets in hand.

“Hell, yeah,” Kylie chimes.

I nod and Drake steps up to my side.

Otto meets up with us, snatching one of the tickets out of Oscar’s hand. Oscar thins his eyes at his twin, but makes nothing of it. I assume he’s grown accustomed to his brother’s shenanigans.

Oscar hands the tickets to the woman behind the counter and then we are walking down a dimly-lit hallway.

Otto walks with Preach, laughing about God knows what. Probably about that girl in Texas. The other security guard is behind us, texting on his cellphone. He’s much quieter than Preach.

Oscar and Kylie walk hand-in-hand, a few feet ahead of us, murmuring to each other with big, goofy smiles on their faces.

I look at them, and it warms my heart. Kylie got her man back. I still remember the time Oscar saved her from Trace. But it’s the mere thought of Trace that leads me to remember what she said about him.

Trace was aggressive, just like Shane is. I know walking out of that room only added fuel to the fire. I shouldn’t care, but I hate feeling like I owe him for paying some of my student loans and bills.

Then again, I remember last night. His cold, blue gaze on mine. His hand gripped tight on my thigh. Relentless. Brutal.

I wince, just thinking of the bruise at the top of my thigh.

“Hey. You okay?” Drake looks back. I didn’t realize I’ve slowed my walk down.

I look up at him, nodding. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look okay.” He meets up to me, looking me over with sincerity running deep in his eyes.”

“I was just thinking…”

“About?”

“Song lyrics and stuff…”

His eyebrows shift up. “Really?”

“Yeah. I tend to do that a lot.”

“Are they negative or positive?”

“Positive,” I laugh.

Drake’s face is content. The rippling blue water surrounds us. He stands with his arms at his sides, his eyes fixed on me, and I don’t know what it is about his stance, but it really gets my body going.

His shoulders are so broad, his jaw so cut. His hair looks so silky, and those arms of his are big enough to wrap me up and never let go.

I feel heat sliding down to my core, and in this moment, all I want to do is climb into his arms and take him. Right here. Right now. I want to forget about everything and remember what it was like when it was just us…

In his truck.

In my bedroom late at night.

I look over Drake’s shoulder and Kylie and Oscar have stopped to… well, you guessed it. Make out.

Drake looks over his shoulder at them, huffing a laugh. He then puts his focus on me again. He comes my way and grabs my hand. He squeezes it tight before bringing it up to his lips.