Sugar Coated Pain [Boxer!Calum Hood AU] PUBLISHED -- SAMPLE ONLY

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

THE COOL METAL of his rings sent a pleasant shiver up Calum's arms as he slid the jewelry on, decorating almost every finger to serve as a distraction from the redness of his raw knuckles. The numbness wasn't anything new, a mere occupational hazard he had accepted long ago, much like the occasional irony taste of blood that would dance on his tongue after every other fight. With a sigh, Calum tossed the balled up napkin stained red into the trash as well as throwing the ice pack Ashton insisted he use into the freezer in the corner of the locker room. As he slammed the door of his locker shut, rattling the makeshift wall of it, Calum frowned to himself.

He's normally overrun with adrenaline after a victorious match, his pride energizing him through a job well done that made him pay no mind to the bruises and cuts he acquired—only reminding himself to make sure it didn't happen next time. But for some reason, while still proud he won, Calum felt his cut twisting into a knot and he was pretty sure it was because of the hazel eyed girl that was currently laughing animatedly at whatever Luke said.

Calum's grip on his duffel bag tightened as he neared the group of them, eyes glued on Noelle. This wasn't a place for her. She stuck out like a beacon amongst the usual group of stingy men that attended the fights; all heart shaped face and dimples and delicate features that he believed would break on touch. Not at all like the other girls that came by, the ones in clothes that left little to the imagination and whose eyes were enough to lure any guy in for the night of his damn life. Calum should know—he's been in bed with women like that. One look at Noelle and Calum could tell she wasn't like any of them.

The other night in the alley, with her flush against him and her flowery scent that somehow still clung to her after being in a club for hours, had Calum yearning for them to being so much more than just hiding in there. But that wasn't the time or place, and Calum had to fight the practically primal urges to take Noelle right then and there. He didn't want her to think he was some kind of animal—especially after knocking around that asshole at the club. Not that Calum regretted any of it.

"Good to go," Calum gruffed, clearing his throat as an attempt to hide his somewhat down mood. He didn't need his friends asking questions why he was anything other than the smug bastard he normally acts like after a win. Glancing around, Calum noticed most of Astros had cleared out, with the exception of a few drunks lingering about.

The group of them left the gym, stepping out onto the sidewalk in the surprisingly cool night. New York weather was always unreliable. "Oh, wait, um," Beverly spoke up, glancing at Calum with that innocent smile on her face that he just knew meant she needed something from him. He let out a knowing sigh as she widened her grin. "Ash rode with Mike and Luke so can Noelle ride with you?"

Keeping his distance from the pretty girl with hazel eyes just wasn't something the universe was allowing for Calum, was it? Before he could even think of a response, Noelle's voice cut in, "You know, the way you speak for me makes me feel like I'm two years old instead of twenty-two."

Her comment prompted snickers from Calum's friends while he felt his lips twitching into a slight smirk. Beverly merely fluttered her lashes sweetly at her sister. "Just looking out for you, sis."

Noelle rolled her eyes as her lips pressed together before looking at Calum, and he couldn't help but notice the way her throat worked nervously as questioning look accompanied by an almost apologetic smile crossed over her face. Silently asking him if he minded giving her ride, apologizing if it was any trouble. "It's fine," he sounded, shrugging indifferently. They were headed to the same place, anyway. Though, that didn't mean Calum didn't curse Ashton for not bringing his own car so they could've avoided this. Or cursing at Michael for having that damn Nissan that could only fit two people in the back. Just Calum's luck.