Uncaged Love #4: MMA New Adult Contemporary Romance Read Online Free

tracked down Annie and sent her to Buster’s. But to do what? Spy on me? Pretend she’s weak, then pick a fight?
    The girl with the sandbag looks like she’s about to cry. Her arms are shaking. I walk over and take the weight from her.
    “Let’s punch a Bad Boy,” I say. The big body-shaped bags lie in a semicircle in one corner. The girls love beating the heck out of them. They will go at it until they collapse. It’s cathartic. I wouldn’t mind taking a turn on one right now myself.
    I’m thinking of just getting everything out in the open with Annabelle and asking how she knows Brittany when I turn around and see that she is gone.
    As the lunch hour passes, the main weight room fills up with office workers on their breaks and the girls thin out. I finally get a chance to catch Lani.
    “Hey, did you have a good trip?” I ask. I want to seem like nothing is wrong.
    But Lani is different. I can tell immediately. There’s no easy camaraderie like before. She drops the kettlebell she was lifting on the floor mat. “It was all right.”
    I don’t know how to broach the subject of Annabelle, so I choose Parker. “I haven’t seen you since that fight you took me to.”
    She shrugs. “Looks like you got reacquainted with Colt McClure.” She says his name like it’s a disease. She’s never done that before. Maybe she’s mad I ditched her. Of course.
    “I’m sorry I took off. I didn’t know where you went. I turned around, and you were gone.”
    “I was in Parker’s dressing room, like we planned.” She kicks at the kettlebell. “I sent him after you.”
    So, she really is mad about that. “Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t more into your friend. He seemed very nice.”
    “He is nice.” Lani juts out her hip. Her long braid trails over her shoulder.
    “I had unfinished business with Colt.” I don’t know why I’m defending myself, but Lani is acting so different.
    “I bet.”
    I decide to back away from the conversation for now. I definitely won’t push about Annabelle until Lani starts acting normal again.
    “I’m glad you’re back,” I say.
    Lani picks up the kettlebell for another set. She doesn’t want to talk to me. Maybe it isn’t even worth trying.
    I take a step back.
    But then Lani speaks up. “You have another match, right?”
    I feel some hope that she’s getting over her upset. Maybe she’ll be my assistant, like before. “This Friday.”
    She looks down at the kettlebell as she works it up and down. “Here at Buster’s?”
    “Yes, just like last time.” I hesitate. “Are you going to come?”
    Lani switches arms. “Sure.”
    She still sounds off. I don’t know what to do to fix things. “You going to be my assistant again?” I try to be casual about this.
    “I don’t think I can make it.” Lani finishes the set and turns around to shove the weight back on the shelf.
    “Okay, sure.” She doesn’t seem to notice that she just contradicted herself.
    I’m not sure what else to do, but then I get an idea. “You want to spar a little in the cage?” We used to always have fun doing that. Maybe it would calm things down between us.
    She bends over to pick up her towel. “I’m done for the day, I think.”
    I’m not good at this girlfriend thing. I’ve been on the run, switching jobs and hanging out with a boy who dresses in drag. I don’t know what to say to clear the air. But I want to try.
    “Lani?”
    She whips around. “What is it now?”
    Somehow I’ve made things worse. “I’m really sorry I upset you.”
    Lani clenches her fist around the towel. She seems to be trying to gain some sort of control. Then she fakes a smile. “It’s fine. I’m just having a bad day. I was gone for a funeral.”
    That explains everything. “I’m so sorry. Of course.”
    She waves her hand like it’s nothing. “I’ll be fine.”
    “Let me know if you need anything.”
    Lani nods. “I will.” And she leaves the room.
    I start picking up the scattered kettlebells and