Chapter 9

Avery’s pov What do you think about this?” Melissa whipped around, her hands. clutching a leather black short skirt. She’s half naked, only having on her beige thong and matching bra. We’re getting ready to head to one of Xade’s matches tonight.

I try to avoid seeing his matches since I hate it when he gets hurt, which is very rare, but still, I don’t like it when he fights. I have tried to talk him out of boxing, but apparently, this calms him down and I certainly didn’t want him to lose something for my sake.

It’s pretty,” I mumbled, feeling a sting of jealousy that she would be looking exquisite for Xade while I was settling for jean shorts and a tank top. But I am not trying to impress anyone anyway….right?

She grins, her red–stained lips spreading. “It is right! I know he won’t be able to keep his hands off me tonight.”

I bet he wouldn’t.

“What did you say?” Her question made me realize I had said the words out loud. I winced, turning away from her and continuing to brush my hair. “Nothing, just a mumble. “I set the brush down and rolled my blonde hair into a ponytail.

Do you think I should wear this top with it or this?” she asked, dismissing my slip up. ” Wear anything you want Mel,” I said with a tight smile.

For the next ten minutes, I wait for Melissa to be done and then we made our way out the room. Kyan is our ride to the arena and the ride is awkward and tense. Since the night I had with Xade, things had not been the same with Kyan and me anymore.

I couldn’t bring myself to touch him, neither ki*s him, or act like a couple. It was now getting obvious and I know I will have to speak to him sooner than later. However, I wasn’t sure how to approach the situation.

As we arrive at the arena, Melissa bounces out of the car, her high heeled boots making loud crunch noises on the pavement. She whips around, grinning widely in excitement, not at all noticing the tension. between Kyan and me throughout the drive. “Come on guys, let’s go cheer for my man!”

My man, Ouch. I find my hand touching my chest as it stings with jealousy and Kyan’s eyes catch the action like a hawk. He raised a brow and I quickly drop my hand, smiling at him and hoping he’d not question me about it.

I got out of the vehicle, making my way around the hood to stare up at the looming arena. It’s a huge concrete structure that buzzed with loud chants inside. My stomach churns with nerves as I followed after Melissa, Kyan right behind me with his hands in his pockets.

The atmosphere inside the arena is thrilling, the air heavy and thick with anticipation and excitement. They’re excited to see the fight, but I am the total opposite. Melissa turned around, grinning from ear to ear, clearly buzzing with anticipation.

“We should get front row seats,” she suggested and I nod, following after her while Kyan was right behind me.

His gaze is burning behind my head, urging me to look at him in his eyes for the first time tonight, but I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze.

Instead, I focus on the ring in front of me as I settle on an empty seat beside Mel, Kyan sitting beside me.

My heart flutters in my chest when I notice his intimidating figure in the ring, a man helping him put on the black gloves around his hands. And it seems as though he could somehow sense my eyes on him because he turned, capturing my gaze instantly and my breath hitches.

Why does it feel as though time stood still?

Avery.”

“Avery,” my ears rang as I come back to reality, reluctantly pulling my gaze away from Xade’s to look at Kyan who it had seem was trying to get my attention for the longest. ” Hmm?” I hummed, still not able to look him in the eye, and pin my gaze on his ch*ek.

“Can we go out after this?”

I frowned. Go out after the match? It would mean it would be us two alone and I really did not want that yet. I shrugged. “Maybe, I’ll think about it.”

Kyan is disappointed, it won’t take a genius to know he is, but he doesn’t word it out which I am grateful for. “Oh guys the match is about to start!” Melissa squealed, practically bouncing in her seat from excitement.

My eyes return to the ring, where my best friend stood looking ready to begin. He was fighting a very tough guy today, one who was much taller and bulkier than he is. But even though the guy was bigger, there was something about Xade that made him more intimidating and scarier.

The match begins and my heart is in my throat the entire time, my palms sweaty as I wring my fingers together. Xade moves with such fluidity and grace that makes it look both captivating and terrifying. With each blow he lands, I find myself holding my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I watch him.

He had the upper hand, connecting with the guy’s face over and over, until his eyes fall on me, well on my thigh where I had now only notice Kyan had his hand on, dangerously close to my inner thigh.

I shift uncomfortably and push Kyan’s hand away, but that little distraction cost Xade’s main focus because it gave the guy an opening to land a powerful punch on Xade’s jaw that the entire arena heard. My heart freezes and I jolt up in my seat, dread clutching me when I see the crimson blood fly out of his mouth. “Xade!”