Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“So when do we start?” I set my hands on my hips and smiled. “Time for beers and burritos?”
Frankie checked the watch on his wrist. “Next week. When are the contractors coming?”
“Tomorrow. They said their usual turnaround time is five weeks, but they can get it done in three to three and a half, if we’re lucky.”
“I guess that’s what a few extra grand gets you.” Lotto smiled and stood. “That will give me time to set up a makeshift area out back.” He practically looked like a kid in a candy store. “If we’re going to mess with Perk’s Gym, we need to make it look good.” He narrowed his eyes and his lips curved up when he added, “You already fit the bill, angel. Though I’d suggest a thin turtleneck to hide evidence of a certain agreement.”
I flushed hot as every pair of eyes landed on my marked-up chest. Different emotions twisted their faces—Lotto’s with satisfaction, Bones’ with pride, and Frankie’s with jealousy. I flicked my hair over my shoulder and leaned my butt against the desk.
“But where’s the fun in that?” I teased. “We’re trying to get followers, aren’t we? A few very obvious bruises on my chest would certainly get people talking.”
“Put the shirt on, Ari,” Frankie growled as he stood. “And meet here on Monday if you’re ready. Maybe that will give you time to change your mind.”
Frankie turned to leave, and I called after him. “If you’re jealous, you could come cover them up yourself!”
His answer was a very pointed middle finger and the slam of the office door.
Lotto shook his head. “He’s going to take that out on you on Monday.”
“Let him.” I smiled. “It means he agrees.” That was all I wanted and all I really cared about.
“He was always going to come around,” Bones said with a little chuckle. “He loves you too much to say no.”
“And I love him. And you guys. Thank you.” I sighed. I didn’t know how else to express my gratitude to them without seeming overly sappy, so that would have to do.
“Let’s get going.” Lotto clapped his hand on Bones’ shoulder. “You’re coming to help me prep.”
“Aw man, I wanted burritos and beers.” Bones winced as he stood. “Sounds better than whatever you have planned.”
“You don’t want your reward?” At Lotto’s honey-laced question, Bones straightened. Lotto chuckled and shot me a look that promised much more than simple ‘prep.’ “See you soon, angel. Don’t stay too long.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
The office grew completely silent after they were gone. I leaned back on my hands, staring up at the ceiling. It felt good to have their blessing. Heathens Hollow would be nothing with Bones, Frankie, and Lotto in my corner. Tension released from my shoulders, and I glanced down at the picture of Dad and me with a small smile.
“Wish you were here to see me kick ass, Dad,” I told the grinning man in the picture. “I’m ready to make you proud.”
Chapter 17
Lotto
“You’re leaving your jaw open every damn time, Ari! Are you even trying?”
“Yeah, you dick, but you keep going for cheap shots!”
“If you—”
I popped the left earbud into my ear with a sigh.
“If you can’t last two minutes against me, Teo, how are you going to take on Jace Perk?”
“Come on, Bones, we’ve been at this for four hours. I can’t even feel my damn arms. Give me a break.”
I popped the other earbud in.
Ah, blissful silence.
I hadn’t had that in three damn weeks.
Between the contractors yelling over their machinery, Frankie pushing Ari to her limits, and Bones taking over mock fights with Teo, Smiley’s had become a void of screaming, sawing, and smoking. My job was to hype up social media—and I’d done a pretty damn good job so far—but even that was fucking annoying. Clearly, Perk’s Gym had no creative bones in their body. Every time we posted a video, they copied it and did the exact same thing (only worse). A meme? They tried their hand at memes themselves. That was all they knew how to do: ride the coattails of someone better to try to rise to fame.
At least Troy Godwin thought this whole thing was amusing.
I had the displeasure of taking his call earlier in the morning, where he praised us for “hyping the match up.”
“Already have more than thirty-five backers,” he mused. He sounded like an evil villain from a Marvel movie. At least he’d be a more compelling character than the villain in Iron Man 2. “People are very excited to see this headlining match. Keep it up.”
Then he hung up before I could tell him to shove his ‘well-wishes’ up his Brazilian Butt lifted ass.
Full repairs would be done within the week, thank fuck. The showers and locker rooms were already done, but the ring area needed more work. Practice was relegated to a rented pop-up tent in the grass behind the building. It smelled like iron and sweaty balls, which I probably should have been used to after my time watching Bones at his fights. But I would definitely not miss this circus tent when Smiley’s was finally done, and our upgrades were complete.