Summer

Chapter 22

I take a few steps towards the crowd to get a good look at Noah's opponent. He's definitely bigger in size and more muscular than Noah, but Noah's taller by about 4 inches. Don't get me wrong, Noah has that lean, yet toned body that would make anyone go weak at the knees, but this guy is jacked. As in, he definitely-lifts-200-pounds-just-to-break-a-sweat jacked. Vance has also got to be older — in his early thirties, at least. His rough demeanor and scowled look make me uneasy. But I know Noah. I believe in him. And he's got this.

Noah looks around the room until he finds me in front. How cute — he thought I was going to listen to him and stay in the corner? In my defense, I never agreed to that. When his eyes lock with mine, he smiles at me.

I feel my heart begin to race as I wait for the bell to sound off. Once it does, I find myself immediately on edge. I watch intensely as my eyes shift from Noah to Vance and back to Noah again. Noah gets the first punch in, which sends Vance backwards, but not by much. I try to distract myself from the reality of the situation, which isn't too hard considering it only takes one look at Noah to make my mind drift off.

His fighting stance is confident and sexy, and he's looking into his opponent's eyes like he already knows he's got this thing in the bag.

After taking several punches from Noah, Vance is able to come back. He puts Noah in a headlock which forces Noah to jab at his ribs. Noah keeps jabbing in an effort to escape but Vance has him in too tight of a hold, and I feel like I'm going to be sick.

Noah finally jabs with enough strength to get Vance to release, and then performs a massive right hook, sending Vance to the floor on his back. Vance doesn't stay down, though, and gets up after about 5 seconds. He looks pissed, like he's ready for revenge.

Noah takes notice, and jumps his feet backwards, trying to move away from Vance, which doesn't do much because Vance double jabs and crosses his punch so that Noah is now the one on the floor.

Noah must be a regular here because the crowd is chanting his name. As petrified as I am in this moment, I decide to join them in their support. Noah uses the crowd's energy as motivation to give Vance what he deserves, which is a right-left punch to the jaw on repeat, followed by one to the temple, which is what it takes to knock him out for good.

"1, 2, 3...," the referee begins to count as his hand smacks the floor. Please don't get up, please don't get up. "...8, 9, 10. Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a winner, Mister Noah Collins." The referee raises Noah's hand in the air, and the crowd goes wild. To say that was nerve-wrecking would be an understatement. I think I'm going to pass out.

Noah makes his way to me after receiving several pats on the back from strangers in passing. As much as I want to blast him for fighting, I'm also super impressed.

"There you are!" he excitedly says with his arms open wide. He lifts me in the air and I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. "Thanks for waiting."

"Trust me, it took every bone in my body not to turn away, but I must say, I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you," he grins before putting me back down.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket once my feet hit the floor.

Cassie: "Where are you?"

Cassie: "Your brothers keep calling. What do I tell them???

Cassie: "Hello?!"

Cassie: "Sophia, answer me!!!!

Crap, this isn't good.

I tell Noah that I'm going to call Cassie, but he doesn't realize because he's bombarded by audience members asking to take pictures with him.

I was hoping she wouldn't, but Cassie picks up on the first ring. "Fee, where the fuck are you?"

"Cass, I'm so sorry. I'm still with Noah. Any word from my brothers?"

"Yes, and you're lucky that I'm such a good liar because Liam was seconds away from coming to my house. By the way, if you speak to him, he thinks you're sleeping over."

"You're a lifesaver, Cass. I owe you."

"Where are you, Sophia?" She ignores my compliment and asks. I always know Cassie's mad at me when she calls me 'Sophia' instead of 'Fee'.

"I'm..." Shit. I close my eyes and bite down on my bottom lip. "I'm with Noah."

"Yeah, I got that part. But, where?"

I cover the speaker with my hand to block the background noise from coming through.

"We're at some random warehouse about thirty minutes outside of Charleston."

"He fucking didn't," Cassie says. "He brought you to the fight. Is he insane?" She doesn't give me a second to answer. "You should not be there, Fee. You need to come home right now."

"Okay. We're leaving now. I promise. I'll be home soon."

"I'm waiting," she says coldly before hanging up.

I tuck my phone into my back pocket and make my way to Noah. He's smiling at me, which naturally makes me smile back.

"Ready to get out of here?" he asks when I stop in front of him.

"Ready."

"What do you say we make a little pitstop before heading back?"

Cassie is going to kill me. I know what I should say, but thats the thing with should — it always contradicts with want.

"Let's do it," I answer with a nervous smile.