Relentless

Chapter 23

Ashton

What was she talking about?

She doesn't want to be just another girl?

I have no clue what happened, but she needs to blow off steam. After she relaxes, that's when I will be able to get a word in.

I didn't want to tell her after the heart-to-heart we had this morning, but I have my first fight in a long time tonight. Jim is coming over in forty-five minutes and I still have to feed Antonia. She, being the picky eater that she is, will probably rob me of my twenty dollars and make me order an absurd amount of pizza.

I take out my phone and see that it's been three hours since I've talked to Jay. I should reach out to her just to let her know I'm not angry.

Hey. I don't know what happened today, but I want you to know that I'm sorry if I did anything. I didn't mean to do anything to hurt you. I have a fight tonight at 8 so I probably won't be home until 10. If you want to talk, text me and I will call you as soon as I can. I hope you're okay.

-Ash

I just want to run to her house, charge into her room and kiss her. My brain is battling my heart. My brain doesn't think that she is capable of trusting someone else, but my heart doesn't care. My heart wants to tell her that no matter what, I would be there for her. That no matter what I would never hurt her and always be there to love her. I have never felt this ache in my heart when I'm away from someone. I think I love her.

I know I love her.

As I lay in my room, waiting for Antonia to make up her mind on what she wants for dinner, I try to figure out whether or not I should cancel the fight. I feel that I should be with Jay. After everything that happened today, a part of me feels like she needs me. Just as I'm about to pick up the phone and call Jim, I hear a knock at my door. I look to see Antonia in her pajamas with a smile on her face.

"What do you want?" I ask Antonia.

"Chinese!"

That's a change. I quickly dial the number and order what she wants. Once I'm through, I realize it's too late to pull the plug on the fight. I put on my jeans and t-shirt and get myself mentally ready for my fight. In order to get my opponent down quickly, I have to imagine scenarios in which I have to fight or defend someone or something important to me.

Right now, all I can think of is Jay.

------

After eating dinner, I take Antonia upstairs and tuck her into bed. As I'm leaving her room, she stops.

"Ashton."

"Yes?"

"Are you leaving?" I release a sigh, feeling guilty that I have to leave a seven-year-old home alone for half an hour.

"Yes, but Dad will be home soon, okay? Don't open the door to anyone." I say, walking downstairs and out of the house. Richard is always late when he comes home from work. He is the CEO of some company in Hollywood. I love my sister, it's her father that gets to me.

Once I'm outside, I see Jim already parked by the curb. I get into the passenger side and he starts to drive away. As we pass, Jay's house I see her light on.

"Dude, you alright?" Jim asks, snapping me out of my trance.

"Yeah. I just want to get this over with."

"So you can run to your damsel?"

"What?" I ask in surprise, looking at him.

"It's a joke. Come on, Ash, you and I both know that you don't have feelings for anyone."

"Would it be so bad if I did?"

"Not necessarily. But come on, man, do you think you're really capable of being in a relationship?"

I reply to his question with silence.

Do people really think I'm not capable of having a solid relationship?

"I'm parking a few stores down." He say, parking the car. I get out and walk to the arena, ignoring Jim's calls for me to slow down.

When I arrive, the crowd starts to cheer and yell my name. Jim catches up with me and grabs my shoulder.

"Okay, man. Focus. This one has experience so I would watch out."

"I have experience, Jim." I retaliate. The crowd starts to grow and the announcer appears in the center of the arena. Taking that as my cue to enter the ring, I start to get myself angry.

I think of Jay and how everything was taken from her, how her father was killed, how someone cut her wrists against her will and how broken she is.

"For tonight's match, we have our undefeated champion, Ashton McAllister!" The announcer calls, causing the crowd to roar. "And his opponent, Jackson Sanders!"

As my opponent enter's the ring, I look over his appearance. He wears a tank top and a pair of sweatpants with old sneakers. His face looks strangely familiar.

"Ready!" The announcer yells. I take my stance and get myself ready.

"Fight!"

My opponent runs toward me and I grab him by the waist, throwing him to the ground. I have him in a head lock, but then feel him flip me over. Now, I'm the one in the head lock. I use my elbow to hit his ribcage and headbutt him. He is thrown off balance, giving me an opportunity to get up and push him down. He uses my technique and hits me in the ribcage. I feel minor pain as I am then pinned on the ground. Before I make my next move, he says something that catches me off guard.

"How's my bitch doing?" He taunts.

Jay.

Is he talking about Jay?

My Jay?!

As anger absorbs me, my knee contacts his stomach and I twist his arm. I stand up with him and throw him against the wall. Once he regains his stance, he charges for me. I do a roundhouse kick and make contact with his stomach, sending him flying to the ground. I straddle over him and turn him so that he is face down. I bring one arm in back of him as I wait for the announcer to declare me the winner. The son-of-a-bitch tries to get up, but I slam his head to the ground, enraged.

"Winner!" The announcer says, making me stand up. He raises my right arm as I look to my opponent with two sharp daggers.

That's what you get for calling my Jay a bitch.