Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)(13)
Author: Molly McAdams

“Well are you going to go over there?”

I stopped walking for a few seconds then continued on the path we’d been on, “No, I don’t want to bother him.”

“He’s your boyfriend Harper! You’re supposed to go bother him.”

I smiled and dropped my head hoping my hair would hide my blush, “I’m just kind of worried he doesn’t like me as much as I like him. I didn’t think I could feel so strong about someone after such a short time, and I’m sure it’s because I’ve never dated anyone. I’m afraid I’ll be too much for him, and he’ll get annoyed with me quickly.” I’d seen that more than enough times with the guys on base. I knew how frustrated they’d get with their clingy girlfriends.

“Okay, I know you don’t have much experience in this department, but let me clue you in. You didn’t see that boy when Chase had you in the room. Guys don’t go all hero over some girl they don’t feel strongly about. And they definitely don’t worry about protecting their innocence.”

I shushed her and looked around to see if anyone was listening.

“I’m just saying, Brandon’s in deep. Trust me, I don’t think it’s one sided.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. So stop trying to be invisible and –” She looked over my shoulder and smiled, “looks like someone beat you to it.”

Before she could finish her sentence, Brandon had me scooped into his arms and his lips planted firmly on mine. I ran my hands over his buzzed hair before clasping them around his neck.

“Hello to you too.” I mumbled against his mouth.

He smiled and rested his forehead against mine, “I missed you this morning sweetheart.”

His voice warmed my body and I bit my lip in an attempt at hiding my idiotic grin, “Only three more and then I’ll be there.”

Bree’s annoyed tone broke through, “Uh, rude. It’s like I’m not even here.”

Brandon’s eyes didn’t leave mine, “Good morning Breanna.” He gave me another quick peck and set me on the ground, capturing my hand in his.

She snorted, “He’s in deep alright.”

“Bree!” I hissed.

“Yeah,” Brandon laughed huskily and squeezed my hand once, “yeah I am.”

I hid my face in his chest so he couldn’t see my red cheeks or elated expression. He wasn’t having that though, his fingers tilted my chin up and he bent down so our faces were almost touching.

“My class is about to start, I have to get going. See you at lunch?”

Nodding, I kissed his hard jaw, “See you then.”

He turned to leave and called over his shoulder, “Take care of my girl Bree.”

My smile fell as I caught the glare of the girl from the group he’d been talking to earlier. Was she another ex? I leaned into Bree and whispered, “Hey, you wouldn’t happen to know that girl, would you?”

“You mean Psycho Barbie over there? She was at lunch with us a couple days last week. You don’t have to worry about her though, he kept turning her down, and that was before he met you.”

Not another ex, but still another girl that wants Brandon. “Everywhere we go some girl ends up shooting daggers at me.”

Bree grabbed my arm and turned me toward our English class, “Um, have you seen your boy lately? Don’t hate me, but he’s freaking hot. I swear he should be a model. Lots of girls are going to want him, especially the ones who go Underground and see him fight, just remember he’s yours and there’s a lot of people ready to kick his ass if he forgets it. Me included.”

My eyes widened but she cut me off before I could say anything.

“He’s not going to, I was just saying. He just let everyone in the immediate area know he’s taken. Brandon’s a goner when it comes to you, roomie.”

As soon as she said that, goose bumps covered my body and I tensed at what that could mean. Chase. This whole being physically aware of him was getting beyond ridiculous.

“What’s up sis?” He threw an arm around Bree’s shoulders and walked with us towards class.

“Uh, nothing. I thought you didn’t have classes ‘til later?”

I couldn’t look at him, but I saw how his feet missed a step after her question. “Had some things I had to take care of earlier, didn’t feel like going home.”

A paper was pressed into my hand nearest him and I curled my fingers around it. His fingertips brushed softly from my wrist to my elbow and I had to fight the urge to look at the trail of fire he’d left on my arm. Chase and Bree talked about something at their parent’s house this weekend all the way up to the door of our class. I still hadn’t said anything or looked at him.

“You ladies have fun, I’ll see you later.” He gave Bree a quick hug and nudged my shoulder before walking away.

After taking our seats, I leaned over toward my backpack and unfolded the piece of paper so Bree wouldn’t see.

‘You look beautiful today.’

I crushed up the paper, slid it under the rows of seats and prayed that she wouldn’t ask why I was beet red.

That night, Bree and I both got texts a little after ten. We looked at each other, confused and rushed into getting ready when we read the messages. Brandon was going to fight within the hour, he was coming to pick Bree and me up, we’d meet the guys from the house at the place.

“Is it weird that I’m nervous to watch this?” I huffed as I hurriedly fixed my hair and make-up.

“You shouldn’t be, Chase said he never loses, and the time I watched was awesome.”

“But you aren’t going to have to watch your boyfriend possibly get beat up!”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine!” She rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand, “Come on, we have to go.”

We ran outside and hopped into Brandon’s Jeep, he had his iPhone to his ear and was smiling widely when he leaned over to kiss me.

Brandon gave someone an address and name of a building I’d never heard of and stopped for a second, “Yeah, it’s on in forty, start calling people.” After hanging up, he dropped his phone in my hands, “Hold that for me ‘til it’s over, would you?” He was still smiling, his left knee bouncing up and down fast.

“Uh, you a little excited?” I was terrified, how could he be so excited? It’s not like I’d never watched UFC, but I hadn’t known the guys fighting, and they were on TV, it’s a little different.

He laughed lightly, “I’ve never fought this guy before, but from what I’ve heard, he hasn’t lost and has a pretty good reputation for knocking out his opponents and I plan to show him what that’s like. It should be a pretty high paying night, and my girl is gonna be there. So yeah, you could say I’m excited.”

“That makes one of us.” I mumbled under my breath. He must have heard because his next laugh was louder and he squeezed my knee.

We pulled up to a restaurant that was already closed and went around to a back door. Taking the stairs to the basement, I was assaulted by loud music and voices.

“This way.” Brandon held my hand tight and I latched onto Bree as we continued to turn corners in the dark hallway. When we got to a set of doors, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me hard. “I gotta go talk to Scarecrow, go with Bree and find the other guys before the fight starts. I’ll see you when it’s done sweetheart.” He took off down a hall and I looked to Bree.

“Scarecrow?”

“He’s the guy that puts all these on. He finds the places, sets up, decides who fights, refs, collects the money, it’s all him.”

“Huh. Nice name.”

Breanna snorted and opened the doors, my jaw dropped when I saw inside. I don’t know what I’d been expecting, but I hadn’t been thinking at least a hundred people, plus the ones still pouring in from the other door, would all be smashed together surrounding a make-shift ring.

“There’s Jared!” Bree yelled and pointed to a guy I’d never seen before, but just behind him was Drew and Derek.

We began making our way to the other side of the room, but we were just as far away five minutes later when the music got louder and a guy, I’m guessing Scarecrow, started riling everyone up and announcing Kale and Brandon. It was already loud enough with the music and people yelling, but it was near deafening when Brandon came out in only a pair of loose shorts. His smile was breathtaking and that dimple was enough to make any girl sigh, but then you looked down and saw his tanned muscled body, skipped the sigh and went straight to drooling. The girls that were there were screaming for him and I grinned to myself, knowing that he was mine. The music lowered a bit and the fight began.

Right away Kale threw a punch, Brandon leaned back letting it pass an inch from his face, his smile never faltering. He looked so comfortable and confident, it started to make me nervous. When people get cocky, they mess up, and messing up with this guy swinging and kicking at you? It wouldn’t end well. Kale looked to be a little shorter than Brandon, but had to have at least an extra twenty pounds on him, and he just looked evil. Kale went after Brandon again, and they both started in on each other. A tall guy stepped in front of me and I had to struggle to even catch a glimpse. I was up on my toes and leaning to the side as Kale brought his leg around, I didn’t even see if he’d gotten Brandon because I stumbled, falling into the guy in front of me. Thankfully he caught me around my waist before I could hit the ground.

“You alright there, Graceful?” He smirked, but his eyes were bright, I knew he was teasing.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, fine. Sorry about that!” I raised my voice enough so he could hear me above the crowd.

“Trust me,” His eyes heated as he raked them over my body, “it’s not a problem.”

The basement filled with cheers and frustrated roars, Scarecrow started yelling into the mic, “Knock out! I can’t effing believe it!”

I tried looking to see who had gotten knocked out, but all I saw were people cheering. Everyone was screaming, but no names were said, and for a few moments I was terrified that Brandon was in that circle, unconscious. I surged forward, but Mr. Tall Guy grabbed and pulled me back against the wall I’d originally been standing by. I wanted to yell at him to let me go so I could check on Brandon, but when his hands locked around my wrists, all thoughts of Brandon flew out the window as I turned to face him.

“You look scared baby. I promise not to bite. Hard.”

“Baby?!” Oh, hell no. “I am not your baby.” If his hands weren’t still gripping my wrists, effectively pinning my arms to my side I would have shoved him back far enough so I could show him what I thought of random guys calling me baby. I looked around him and noticed no one was watching us, and I couldn’t see Bree anymore. I’d lost her when I’d originally fallen.

“No?” He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, after a couple seconds a twisted smile crossed his face. He leaned in and pressed his body into mine, his breath reeked of beer, “Well, we’re about to change that.”

I understand that I’m petite and look like I can be forced, but I was not raised by hundreds of jarheads just to let some preppy douche try to tell me what I was about to do. Friendly strangers and guys I like, sure I get nervous around them, but belittle me or try to dominate me, and I get pissed.

“Get. The hell. Away. From me.” I growled.

He responded by pressing himself harder into me so I could feel how excited he was getting. “I know you’re scared, but I’ll be gentle.”