The Nerd's Bad Boy Boxing Partner

Ch. 14 Mackenzie

Ch. 14

"Ookay, so, you kissed him. So what? I'm not seeing the big deal?" I peered around the punching bag to look at Val, who was standing in her fighting stance and hitting the punching bag. This was our warm up, we get to the gym, stretch, run on tread mills for five miles at a 8.5 then we'd do some abs, some legs with weight then a couple of pull ups then do the punching combinations until we worked up a sweat. I noticed that I was a bit sore, probably because I haven't except sized because of Shane. That was going to change. Sure I might have teensy-weensy crush on him, but my career comes first. I'm not ranked number one women's fighter just for shits and giggles. It's my life. The only way I can stay sane and face life everyday, is because of my boxing. It's saved my life.

"Big deal? I kissed him! Me!" I cried we she huffed to a stop and stared at me and shrugged.

"Well what do you want me to say, short cake? Hmm? Tell me what you want me to say and I'll tell you but, my opinion is that I think you both like each other."

She said.

I groaned then shook my head. "I like him a little," at least I admitted that. Val continued to punch.

"I feel a but coming on." She said in between her jabs.

"But, " yeah I emphasized it just to piss her off.

"I don't know if I want him as my partner." Val froze and looked at me. She knew it wasn't that I didn't like him.

"Do you know how hard it is for me Val? To trust someone with my life. Do you remember how long it took me to trust you?" I said. I was starting to get worked up. See I'm not a very emotional person. Valerie is probably the only person I fully trust. Even over my dad.

"I remember. But see, Shane, you can trust him. I know it. The day you got mad at him for the project shit, you remember?" I nodded. "Well, he was pissed. He looked like he was going to rip that bitch apart! How about when you guys were in the gym. Remember that cam and I made you guys run in and y'all were in you jammies?" I narrowed my eyes but she just laughed remembering it.

"Yeah! Hahahahaa anyways there were a couple of the guys lusting you, man, Shane gave them the dirtiest look ever. I heard from Cam that Shane beat the shit of Thomas, you know the pedo? Yeah well he tore his shoulder trying to beat Shane. Shane won though. Came out of the match with out a scratch or bruise. Or also, cam told me the day we first met them and we left early, some of the guys were hating on you and Shane put one of them in their place." I raised my eyebrows at Val's mini speech.

Did Shane really do all of that? Why didn't he tell me? It was my turn to start punching.

"But, how can I trust him, Val? Do you really think he'd be able to tolerate me I'd he knew the truth about me? Let's face it Val, I'm screwed up beyond repair, my mother, on her death bed told me she hated me, my baby sister grew up hating me, my dad doesn't even know that Marilyn and mom hated me! God damn it! He doesn't know the extent of my problems! How would he feel? Huh? Who would want me to be with them in a ring? To be able to trust me to watch their back if they know that? Hell I don't even know how you can tolerate me!" I cried letting out all the anger in me threw my furiously power packed punches.

I gave one last hard punch and the chains holding the punching bag shattered. I gasped when it was going to hit me, but a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist and yanked me, causing me to stumble into something warm. I looked up to see Shane's green eyes looking into my face. They were full of so many emotions I could barely breathe. Never had I seen him like this. So open, so true it was mesmerizing. With one of his knuckles he brushed away a tear that I didn't even know I had.