Chapter 173

The morning of the fight, Angela knocks on my bedroom door. She smiles when I open it, and I pull her into a quick hug. It’s good to see her, though I’m always a little surprised when she makes time for me. Is this what it feels like to have a friend?

“I want to show you my support,” Angela says. “The rumors have been vicious lately.”

For sure. Debbie has been texting me the worst of them. It seems like most of the campus is against me, and sees Wyatt as the true champion for being so merciful to teach me a lesson.

That lying bag of dicks.

I invite Angela inside and she comes over to my closet. “What are you going to wear?”

I look down at my shorts and tank top. “No good?”

Angela tilts her head as she studies me. “No. That shirt is too loose. He’ll grab the back of it and then you’ll be stuck. What else do you have?”

Together, we go through my closet and decided on a pair of biking shorts, and a more form-fitting tank that hugs close to me, like a second-skin.

As I go into the bathroom to change, there is another knock on my bedroom door.

“It’s probably Archer wanting to yell at me some more,” I say through the bathroom door.

“I’ll handle it,” Angela says.

I continue to change. I hear soft talking through the door but don’t think anything of it – until I come out of the bathroom and find Neil standing there, speaking quietly with Angela.

My whole world tilts sideways a minute. I highly doubt these two want to be in the same room so soon, yet here they are, standing side by side. There doesn’t appear to be in hostility in their posture or their tones, but it all seems so strange to me, for them to be kind after everything they’d done to each other.

Angela spots me first. “It was Neil at the door.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Neil looks at me then. His gaze catches immediately on my outfit. “That’s what you are wearing?”

I could laugh. That’s what Angela said!

“What’s wrong with it?” I look down.

Neil sets his jaw. He seemed perfectly happy talking to Angela, but now that he is talking to me again, he looks ready to murder. I’m not entirely sure what I did.

“Her looser clothing would be too easy for Wyatt to grab,” Angela says.

“I know, but –” Neil began.

“No one will be there to ogle her,” Angela says.

Neil frowns.

It takes a few seconds for me to catch up. So Neil isn’t concerned about the function of my outfit, he’s more concerned that it’s… revealing?

This time, I do laugh. Maybe it’s nervous energy looking for a way to escape, or maybe it is truly the ridiculousness of the situation making me laugh. Whatever the reason, I laugh and laugh. Angela smiles too.

Neil sighs. “You look good, Chloe. That’s all. Too good.”

I try to stifle my laughter for his sake. I don’t mean to make fun of him. Fact is, I kind of like his possessive nature. I love when he uses it in bed. I don’t want to shame him for that, ever.

It’s fucking hot.

Neil walks closer to me, and any doubt clears from his face. There’s a hunger in his eyes. He kind of looks like he wants to swallow me whole.

“If I had time, I would mark you with my scent so thoroughly, anyone even looking at you would know who you belonged to,” he growls as he nears me.

I swallow, suddenly feeling hot all over.

“As it is, I can only do this,” he says, and pulls me into a hug. It’s tight, a showcase of his continued strength and perseverance. He’s not cowering in bed. He’s here. He’s holding me. He’s trying to say goodbye. “I wish I could go with you.”

“Archer, Beau, and Steven will be there,” I say.

“Me, too!” calls Angela, reminding me of our audience.

“Angela too,” I add softly.

Neil pulls back, I think because of the mention of Angela. But instead, he only goes so far as to look down into my eyes. “It’s not the same as being there myself.”

I can’t argue with that.

“Promise me you will be careful,” he says.

I don’t know that I can promise that. I guess I can try? But some of the maneuvers I learn put me purposefully into harm’s way to slink out of it at the last second. If I want to be truly careful, I’d barricade myself in my room. I can’t do that.

So I keep my mouth shut. At least, in terms of that promise.

“I’ll come see you the minute the fight is over,” I told him. “The very second I’m free.”

A hint of worry crosses Neil’s face. Then, gently, he leans down and presses his lips to mine. I think of Angela for only a moment, wondering what she must think of this, but if Neil doesn’t care, then I don’t either.

I accept his kiss openly and eagerly. And when he pulls away, I feel nothing but regret.

“I’ll be waiting,” he says.

After, Angela and I walk together toward campus and the gymnasium where the fight is to be held. As we walk, students stop to whisper and point. Some are giving me sad-eyed looks like I’m already dead and they’re about to attend a funeral.

“These people,” Angela huffs. “Don’t they know they’re going to watch a fight?”

“They think it’s going to be a slaughter,” I tell her. “They think Wyatt is putting me out of my misery.”

“Well, they’re idiots,” Angela says. “I’m so sick of it. Everyone thinking women can’t fight. You better kick his ass, Chloe. For all of us.”

I laugh a little. “I intend to.”

“Good.”

We continue walking a ways. Then, Angela turns to be and says softer, “But please don’t forget. If things do go sideways, you can forfeit at any time during the fight.”

“Not you too!” I say, throwing my hands up. Here I was, thinking Angela was actually on my side, and she’s just like the rest of them, thinking not-so-secretly that I’m going to fail.

“I don’t mean it badly,” she backtracks at once. “I just want you to know all your options. Have you ever even been to a challenge before?”

Well… no. But I’ve seen some in the movies.

I don’t want to tell her that.

“It’s going to be fine,” I say, though I’m not quite as confident now as before. “I got this.”

“I know you do,” Angela says. And then again, like to herself, “You do.”

When we reach the gymnasium, the place is so packed, people are spilled out onto the sidewalk. The roar from within reaches our ears while we’re still several yards away.

This isn’t what I expected when I issued the challenge.

I had thought he’d have a private fight in the Pyramid or just outside of it. I only really want the brothers and Wyatt to see and know my strength.

I didn’t know I would be proving myself to the entire school.

My nerves start to itch, but I ignore them.

There’s nothing for it.

This is the hand I’m dealt, and I have to live with that now.

For better or worse.

More than anything, I can’t lose this fight.