Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I looked over to Lotto. “I want to ask if you’ve been in contact with River, but I know you, so I already know the answer.”
His shit-eating grin proved me right. “He said he’d be available for tryouts on Friday.”
“So, in three days?” Ari questioned. “Isn’t that too late?”
“Not if we already have our application ready to go. Just say the word, angel.”
The gym went silent, save for Teo’s muffled talking coming from somewhere in the locker room. Ari shifted under the weight of our collective gazes, shaking the empty iced coffee cup in her hand. When it came down to it, she was the boss here. I could rant at her until I was blue in the face—and I had plenty of times before—but she was the one who held all the power. Smiley’s Gym was her baby, and we were here for support in any way she needed.
Ari’s gaze pierced into me, her tone steady. “Write up a contract and have it ready for Friday. Application, too. We can’t miss out on this chance.”
“Done.” I nodded toward Bones. “Make sure you’re ready to show your best.”
“I’ll make sure the West Coast Circuit picks us.” Bones smirked. “And that River regrets coming to try out.”
“No rehash of Heathens Hollow, please. You were fucked for a week.” Lotto’s eyebrow twitched. “And not in the way we both wanted.”
Bones’ smirk grew. “But we more than made up for it at the club, didn’t we?”
“Don’t think Troy will let us back any time soon,” I said.
Ari laughed. “Then we’ll have to make enough money with the Circuit to open our own club.” Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. “For celebrations when we win, of course.”
“Save it for Vegas when we make the finals.” I pushed off the ropes and stretched out my shoulders. “Enough talk. Time to practice.”
“Don’t I get my burrito first?” Bones stood up and shook out his arms.
“Oh man, we got burritos coming?” Teo asked as he entered the main room. He lifted a hand in greeting as he approached. “I would have gotten off the phone faster if I knew.”
“I’m gonna break that phone if I see it again,” I threatened. “It’s time to take practice seriously. The Circuit is the best of the best.”
“You said that about Heathens Hollow, too, and it worked out.” Teo slipped into the ring, shrugging when he met my narrowed glare. “It’s true, man.”
“And you got your ass kicked by a little bitch named Jace Perk.”
“We all did,” Bones said. “By the same guy who’s going to join our gym.”
“No fucking way.” Teo clapped his hands together. “River’s coming here? Really?”
“We don’t know that yet so put your damn gloves on and get to work.” I glanced back at Ari and Lotto, who spoke together while checking out something on Lotto’s phone. When I whistled, they looked up. “Don’t let these lazy motherfuckers get any food ’til I’m satisfied.”
“Man, we’re gonna starve to death that way!”
“Then learn to cover your right side, you fucking idiot.”
“Please don’t chew Teo’s head off before we even apply for the Circuit,” Ari joked and shot him a wink. “I don’t want him to die before we can find a third.”
Teo snorted as he started taping up his wrists. “Hey, if worse comes to worse, you can always parade me around like that dude in Weekend at Bernie’s.”
“Get us to Vegas and you can do whatever you want after that.” I said. “Hurry the fuck up. We don’t have much time.”
“Make that three sticks,” Lotto mused, waving me off when I shot him an annoyed glare. “Application will be done before the end of the day.”
“I’ll call River and let him know.” Ari turned from me, but then shot a look over her shoulder. Her smile morphed into something softer, her expression practically glowing with pride. “Thanks, Frankie.”
I watched her sashay away, a pep in her step that hadn’t been there a few hours ago. I didn’t know if it was my agreement or my dick that had made her feel better. Probably my dick. It was much kinder than my mouth. Either way, come Friday, everything would change. Picked or not, we’d made the decision that would shift our trajectory from here on out.
Smiley’s was on the way to greatness—the legit way.
“Ow, dude!” Teo hissed. “Give me a second before you try and break my jaw, Bones!”
“I barely punched you! When did you get so damn weak?”
“Since I got my ass beat like a week ago!”
I closed my eyes and sighed.
At least we would be if the road to greatness weren’t full of speed bumps who were late on their child support payments.
Chapter
Four
BONES
Arms wrapped around my waist and tugged me back.
For a second, I was floating.
The next, I was face down on the mat, my nose pulsing in pain.