Chapter 8

Damian’s POV.

My sweat dripped into my eyes, stinging it. With how early I got here, it’s no surprise that there’s no one here yet , allowing me to have the full gym to myself. I was going so hard on the punching bag today. For some reason, I haven’t been able to wipe out the look Aria had on her face yesterday when she pushed me away.

Yes. That’s what she did, she pushed me away. I could feel her walls go up right before me. Something Ethan said must have made her recoil back into her shell. She had never talked to me like that, not even when I served her the eviction papers.

What could he have said to her to make her behave that way? That Ethan guy has been nothing but trouble since he walked through the café door on that rainy evening. Aria and I were not exactly friends but at least our relationship had gotten to the point where we were at least cordial with each other.

Jab jab jab!

I landed punch after punch on the bag, pushing myself to the limit. Relationship? Hilarious. What happening to me? You don’t build relationships with someone you are supposed to be evicting from a property.

Bap bap duck bap!

Was he an ex? He has to be. He mentioned that he loved her. That he’s back for her. Why did he leave in this first? Why does it even bother me this much?

“aarrrggghhhhh!” I swung my feet with full force, landing a loud thwack on the heavy bag in a bid to let go of some pent up frustration.

“You’re in a mood.”

I whipped my head around so fast I got a whiplash, to the source of the sound. It was Cole, standing outside the ring. I didn’t even hear him come in.

“What’s got your panties in a twist this bright and lovely day, my dearest friend? Care to share?”

I know my friend, I think a little too well even. When he starts questioning something, he never drops it till he gets to the root of it. That’s why I became friends with him in the first place. We had worked on a case together and he was able to match my level of curiosity, head on. Something that has helped us make a name for ourselves in this cutthroat legal.

“ It’s nothing…”. I said in hopes he’ll just drop it.

“Nothing? That punching bag will beg to differ.” He offered with a slight chuckle, probably to ease the tension.

“I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s silly.” I replied, fumbling with the punching bag.

“Uhhhhhhh….is it girl trouble? Are you in loveeee?” he teased.

“Love? That’s a stretch. I barely know the girl.” I got a little bit defensive. I could agree a little if he said I had a fleeting crush, most likely because I haven’t dated since college so it was bound to happen sooner than later, but love? Nah.

“So, it IS girl trouble?” Cole raised a brow, enjoying seeing me all flustered.

I ran out of ideas to stall the conversation. My mood was already messed up and it was getting in the way of work. I needed to talk to someone, ASAP. Besides, Cole wasn’t ever going to drop it.

“Come onnnn…. I know you’re dying to tell me.”

He had gotten into the ring now and flung his hands lazily over my shoulders.

A group of young boys walked in just then, around college age. They chatted noisily and laughed at what one of them had said. They didn’t even spare them a glance as they walked towards the area where the weights are kept. Almost as if they didn’t see them. They probably just did not care.

Cole looked at the group first, then at me, “let’s go over by the benches. You also looked like you could use some water. We don’t want you passing out before you spill all the tea from dehydration.”

I gave him a look and he just barked out a laugh, already ducking under the ropes to leave the ring. He was still laughing as he walked to one of the benches in a more secluded area of the gym. He was always the laid-back one out of the two of us.

I shook my head as I made a move to get out of the ring myself, making my way over to where Cole was sat. I caught the water bottle he threw at me, chugging down the water.

Just as I sat down, he turned to me, “So…”

“So….”, I retorted.

“Don’t play with me pretty boy…” Cole wasn’t having it anymore .

I was stalling and I knew it. I didn’t want to say my thoughts out loud in fear that they’ll become real.

“…who’s the lucky girl?” Cole finished

Lucky girl huh? What am I even about to say to him? That I have a crush on a baker girl? What am I? 12?

“Her name is Aria. She owns a small café just down town. It’s called Safe Haven.”

The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself. Now that it was out, I realized that was all I knew about her really. I didn’t know what else to say. Cole seemed to have picked up on my internal struggle and decided to safe me by asking me another question.

“How did you guys meet? I’m really curious to know. Cos’ you’ve always made a big deal whenever I take an extra pastry from the break room. You also don’t like coffee. Always preaching about all the terrible things caffeine can do to someone.”

“That’s because they ARE a lot of terrible things caffeine can do to someone” I leaned back slightly, casually crossing my arms over my chest as if to prove a point.

Cole caught my drift and began rambling, “You’re stalling. Tell me already. Was it tea? You don’t really strike me as the type of guy to go all the way to a café just because of tea though. Except the tea was so goo…”

“I delivered her eviction notice.”

This stopped him mid ramble. He definitely wasn’t expecting that. No one develops a crush on someone they delivered such a notice as heinous as an eviction notice.

That should be basic Eviction 101. Common sense. Don’t get emotionally attached. But here I was catching feelings when I should be doing my job Talk about finding love in unexpected places. More like unchartered territory.

“What???” Cole’s eyes were as wide as saucers.

“I know… I know how crazy it sounds.” I sat up straight, already hating how uncomfortable the situation was making me feel.

“Well at least you it sounds crazy.” he shrugged his shoulders leaning back.

“Really? Not helping dude.” How could he say that. The only reason I was telling him was because I thought he could help me navigate through all these feelings. It was all new to me. He was more…. ‘experienced’ in the dating department.

“Relax! I was just a little caught off guard. That seems like something I would do, not you Mr Principles and Morals. She must be one hell of a beauty to have you breaking your own moral codes.” Cole wiggled his eyebrows at me with an awful smirk on his face I wanted to wipe off so bad.

Well, she is a beauty. I thought to myself.

“I’m sure she is bro. Can’t wait to meet her”

Did I say that out loud?

“Yes, yes you did.” Cole was full on laughing at this point.

“They’ll be no meeting her though. She doesn’t even want to see me.” That seemed to have gotten his attention as all sign of humor vanished from his face.

“that’s true… there is trouble in paradise. That’s why you were in a nasty mood earlier.”

I chose not to correct him that I was still in a pretty foul mood. This is not the time for that.

“What did you guys fight about?”

“She’s going through some things right now and I only wanted to help. she was okay with me helping up until yesterday…”

“Which was when y’all had the fight” Cole chipped in, interrupting me.

“Yeah, and now she doesn’t want to see me again.”

“Something must have happened, something that could spark a change in her behavior towards you. It could also just be her way of dealing with her issues. Hurt people tend to hurt people even when they don’t mean to.”

Listening to Cole made me see things a little different. Everything was fine up until Ethan showed up at the café. She became closed off after hearing whatever it was that he whispered in her ear. She’s probably hurting right now.

Cole interrupted my thoughts; “did she actually say she doesn’t want to see you again though? Like did she literally use those words?”

Now that he mentioned it, she didn’t actually say she didn’t want to see me again. Why did I assume that? It was probably easier to blame her rather than face whatever it is that’s going on between us. It’s probably one-sided. She battling having a crazy ex breathe down her thrown all while facing possible eviction from her place of business.

She was just trying to be civil with me and my body goes ahead to read all the signals wrong. What is wrong with me? It’s probably because I haven’t gotten laid in years. That’s why I’m all excited at the slight ounce of attention from a member of the female gender. I need to get my shit together.

Yeah. What she needs the most right now, is support. I can at least do that for her. Maybe she’ll even let me be her friend.

“Earth to Damian… hello… still here?” Cole snapped me out of my thoughts.

I stood up with so much force the bench screeched against the floor, nearly throwing Cole off balance.

“Woah woah woah…what’s going on bud?”

“I have to go see her. I need to.”

“Go get her tiger.” Cole stood up giving me a firm pat on the shoulder showing his perfect dentition.

“I’ll have to take a rain check at our training this morning. Maybe later in the evening? No, scratch that. Let’s reschedule for tomorrow.” I was already packing my things back into my duffle bag.

“Haha, we might as well just reschedule for next weekend. You know I never pass on an opportunity to skip the gym.” He was shouting a little now as I was already halfway across the gym.

I just turned and waved at a smiling Cole. He immediately crouched down stuffing his water bottle into his bag. Typical Cole. He has his genetics and my dedication to thank for that beautiful body his spotting. A chuckle escaped my lips.

Now it’s time to focus on my goal. I love boxing, and exercising and I never skip training day. But somehow, nothing felt more important than seeing a particular café owner.