Page 101 of Blinded By Love

“What’d you want to show me?” Hayden asks, getting in his fighting position, ready whenever Freddie is to start going at each other.

“I’ll show you. Be patient. For now we’ll spar,” Freddie answers and he gets into position once his gloves are on.

Right when Freddie gives the signal to start he lets Hayden get one punch in before Freddie thrusts his fists towards Hayden’s throat. Hayden starts choking while I wince while watching him.

Freddie laughs at Hayden as Hayden just continues coughing. I bite my lip so I don’t laugh with Freddie because it's just funny how Freddy is laughing at Hayden instead of helping him out.

“The fuck was that for?” Hayden chokes out.

“That is a strategy you can use.”

“That’s cheating, I don’t like being a dirty fighter.”

“Eric cheats all the time. Plus this is an underground fighting ring. Anything goes as long as you don’t cause them trouble,” Freddie explains. "I've seen this kid, Eric, fight a few times on video. He has the same techniques as you. You’re fast and so is he but you have more muscle on you which gives him an advantage. The smaller they are the faster they are. Your punches are way stronger than his so a punch to the throat will throw him off guard and kind of give you a head start.”

“I’ll pummel him to the ground before he gets a chance to touch me.”

Freddie shakes his head lightly and looks at me with a teasing smile. “This boy doesn’t listen to anything I say. Way too egotistical and in his head.”

Hayden shakes his head and punches Freddie lightly.

Forty-Eight

Jaclyn

It’s not busy today in the diner. We had a little rush this morning but it wasn’t as bad as Sunday morning rushes.

Most of the customers we got this morning were college students getting breakfast before classes.

My morning class got canceled so I offered to come in because it’s not like I was doing anything and I barely worked this week because I’ve been busy with Hayden. He kept me preoccupied for my birthday.

He told Lisa to get me a couple of days off this week because he had plans for us. Natalia, me, and the boys went to a club and partied until Hayden thought I was drunk enough to go home. He let me get drunk because it was my birthday and because he trusted himself to watch me and make sure I was keeping my blood sugar controlled, more so he was.

The next day he woke me up with breakfast and told me that he wanted to go to the abandoned building today. We spent most of the day there. When he dropped me off home I found pink peonies on my bed with a black box next to them. In the black box was a gorgeous red dress and a note that said, “Be ready by 8:30.”

Long story short, Hayden took me out to a fancy restaurant and then he took me to his apartment and we spent the rest of the night in his bed.

It was a good birthday. I haven’t enjoyed my birthday in a long time and Hayden made it special.

I hate how fast my feelings are growing for him. I feel like I finally get the feeling that everyone is hyping up so much.

I always thought love was just a silly little word but with Hayden it feels like everything.

I smile just thinking about him. It's weird having someone to like, or something more than that. It’s weird smiling over something or someone. I like it. It makes me feel happy and unstoppable.

“I can guess who that smile is for.” I look at Franky who is giving me a cheeky smile. I roll my eyes but that smile still stays on my face. “So tell me, puppy or the fighter? I already have a feeling I know who it is but tell me.”

“You already know, so why do I need to say it out loud?”

“Because I’m nosy, Jaclyn. You already know this!” Franky teases. I turn my head to look at him through the expo window. He is raising an eyebrow at me and he has a teasing smile on his face. “He’s treating you good?”

I nod my head. “He is. He makes me happy, Franky.”

“Good. I would hate to catch a fight with that kid. I heard his punches hurt like a motherfucker.” Franky whistles before going back to cooking.

I laugh and turn back around at the same time the front door opens. I look up and see familiar blue menacing eyes.

Eric walks in with a cocky smirk painting his lips and I relate to Hayden when he says that Eric has a punchable face because he does.