Chapter 6

Pulling myself up off the floor, my body aches from the amount of effort it takes. My chest constricts as I frantically look around the gym for Camden. Not seeing him anywhere, I quickly slip out of the ring pull my gloves off, and spit the guard onto the floor. I gotta get out of here.

I can't see him. I'm not ready. I'll never be ready. Turning to grab my bag I run into pure muscle, the familiar smell hitting home.

Camden.

He smells just like he used to when he was eighteen. Clean, and spicy.

My chest trembles as I slowly look up under my lashes. "Cam-Camden?" I stammer as a shiver runs up my back. The unsettling warmth on my face causes me to sweat, as my heart pounds against my chest with a wave on nerves.

His brows are pulled together with hate, and his blue eyes are cold and unfriendly. He folds his thick arms across his chest, making his dark shirt strain amongst his biceps.

I look away, digging my nails into the palm of hand.

The TV has nothing on what the real Camden Steel looks like. He's his own person. I can't help but look back at him. Sharp around the edges, but beautiful. He has small scars that show his pain, and power dusting around his thick eyebrows and cheek bones.

"Why are you here?" His words are bitter, cutting me.

Looking at the ground I advert my eyes from his. His intense stare too much.

"I um-" I practiced over and over in my head what I would say to Camden if I ever ran into him again. Had it down pat. I would explain why I left him behind, he'd get angry, I'd get angry, and then I'd say something really smart before storming off. He would then chase me, whip me around and kiss me so hard that everything that ever happened would be forgotten. Only... I can't seem to think of a single thing to say now.

So, I run. I push past him, and run to my car.

Out of the building and nearing my car I feel my eyes prick with the urge to cry.

"Why are you here, Tate?" My name used to come out of his mouth in a way that made my toes curl, now... it's as if I'm a disease. "TATE!"

I stop. Using my free hand I wipe the one tear that managed to escape. Maybe this is the part he says he's missed me, and pulls me into an embrace and kisses me.

Turning I look into the distance. "I'm here because I want my family back and I want to be a professional fighter. I- I didn't know this was your gym though."

Unpleased with my answer he scoffs, widening his stance. His face is more defined, and covered in a five o clock shadow. He's not a boy anymore, he's a man. He licks his bottom lip before raking it in with his teeth. I used to kiss those lips. Moaned unintelligible things among them while he loved me hard.

I didn't realize how much I missed him, not until now.

"Do yourself a favor, and just go back to wherever it was you came from."

Anger flushes through my system and my mouth falls open. This is not going the way my dreams planned out.

"Seriously, after all these years that is the first thing you wanted to say to me?"

He rubs at his chin, before hitting me with those cold blue eyes.

"Trust me Tate, the first thing I was going to say wasn't near as nice as that." He turns, his back just as toned chiseled as his front.

"Say it, say what you were going to say." I push.

Shaking his head, he thumbs the sweat pants on his narrow hips.

"It doesn't matter... Because you don't matter, not anymore."

Ouch. Tears unleash so fast I can't stop them. Not this time.

"Fucking prick." I mumble under my breath as I head toward my car.

"What was that?" He asks, but I don't look behind me. If I do, I might punch him in the mouth.

"I said, FUCKING PRICK!" I tug my door open, throw my bag in and jump in. Silently praising myself for finding words that were buried deep inside of me.

Slamming my door shut, I glare at him as I start the car.

Quickly I peel out of the parking lot, and don't look back.

I'm going to kill Fiona when I see her.

Camden

Standing in a cloud of dust I watch as Tate drives away. Again. My heart is beating against my chest hard, my stomach twisted in knots. I thought my longing for Tate grew into hate these past years. That was until I just saw her. I miss her and hate her. I wanted to grab her and pull her into me, but I also wanted to pull her by the fucking hair out of my gym.

I never thought I'd see her again, but I envisioned it.

It pretty much went how I planned. Pissing her off.

I wanted her to hurt as much as I did when she up and left in the middle of the night four fucking years ago.

She promised to call me every day, that we'd see each other every weekend. None of that happened.

She's a fucking liar.

The most beautiful ones are though. They're like flowers. Gorgeous on the outside, but once you get close you find out they're just as poisonous.

"Who was that?" I turn finding Chase standing there with an amused grin on his face. His dark long hair wet as if he'd just showered. How long was he standing there?

"Nobody." I respond flatly.

"Oh that was somebody, and when I say that I mean that was some body. Fuck she's sexy!"

"Stop while you're ahead." I hold my hand up, glowering at him. Inside my chest beats wildly with a jealous urge. I could beat on my chest and roar right now. Which is fucking stupid, because Tate is not mine. She made that very clear.

"She yours?" He walks backwards stepping into the gym.

Lowering my head, I close my eyes trying to calm my racing heart. Chase is a different kind of man, he's one that is unstable, and laced with a violent nature. I'm no saint, but the difference is I'm aware of my transgressions, he thinks he's completely normal. He's been training for a couple years now, no trainer will put him in a ring after seeing his true colors in practice. He's a bloodbath waiting to happen.

"No, just ... stay away from her," I whisper.

Looking out of the corner of my eye I find him starting at me oddly.

"We still on for Big Pete's tonight?" He changes the subject. I give a silent nod. The guy has his issues, but he's relentless when it comes to wanting to hang out.

"Camden! You set up that fight that the MFC was offering?" Thomas asks with a hopefull grin on his face.

"No." Thomas and Kaley are always planning shit behind my back. When will they get it in their heads I'm not going back into the ring?

"Son, seriously, how long are we going to do this for? You gotta get back in the ring, it's your calling. Just like coaching is mine." Thomas runs his hands through his hair aggravated.

"What did that girl want?" I hitch my thumb over my shoulder.

He rolls his eyes.

"Wants me to train her, I told her no but before I knew it I was in a bet with her that she'd tap out." He shakes his head. "She didn't tap out surprisingly, she's a tough ol gal." He shakes his head, looking at the front door as if she is still here. I can't have Tate in my gym, I can't have her here.

"You are not training her." I raise my brows ready to go head to head with him on this.

"Hey, a bets a bet man," Cate cuts in, her hands on her hips.

"I don't give a shit about a bet. You're my trainer Thomas, we have a contract and you training anyone else is breaking that."

"Well, then I suggest you figure something else out because you made a fucking bet!" Cate's face turns bright red, as she steps up to me. Cate is the nutritionist around here, and she's great at what she does but she is a little headstrong sometimes. Especially when it comes to women doing what men can do.

"Why do you even care?" I shrug.

"Because, you guys have it your tiny little heads, and I'm not talking about the one on your shoulders, that you are so much more mighty then women. That girl," she points at the front door. "She's the next big thing, mark my words," Cate states. I only saw part of the fight, but it doesn't surprise me that Tate is good at fighting. It was what she always wanted to do.

"I'll figure something out, keep your skirt on." Thomas holds both his hands up in surrender.

"See, it's that kind of shit right there Thomas." Cate points at Thomas.

"I'm going to go get taped up, meet me in the ring in ten. I need to hit something." I inform Thomas. I gotta get this frustration out, and now.

"Motivated, I like it!" Thomas grins.

"Yeah, something like that."