Sucker Punch (TKO #4) Read online

  I stare at Austin’s text, thinking about how sweet he is and how cute it is he’s not giving up on me. I’m not intentionally trying to push him away and I love how he’s pursuing me. I decide to reply, but I act like I’m just searching something on the Internet.

  Paige: When do you want to make plans?

  Austin: I’m open just about any time, beautiful.

  Paige: I don’t think I have anything going on tomorrow after work.

  Austin: Can I take you on a date?

  I freeze. What am I saying? I need to make sure I have someone to watch Darla before I go off making any kind of plans. Mom looks up from her plate and just glares at me for having my phone in my hands. I set the phone down and sigh.

  “Hey Mom, can I ask you something?”

  She nods. I glance at Darla and watch as she shovels spoonfuls of mashed potatoes into her mouth. That kid loves some mashed potatoes.

  “I, uh, was wondering if you could watch Darla tomorrow evening. I met a guy and he wants to take me on a date.”

  Mom’s eyes widen and I’m afraid they just may pop out of their sockets. “A date? Honey, do you hear that?” she asks my dad.

  He nods, continuing to eat like Darla is doing.

  “Yes, Mom, a date. I understand if you don’t want to.”

  “Give me a chance to answer, Paige. I’m glad you’re meeting people. I’m all for you moving on from Brendan.”

  “Mom,” I groan. “I’ve been over him. He made his choice.”

  “I’m just saying. We’ll keep Darla until you’re done. We can keep her overnight if you want, just let us know. You deserve to have a chance to meet someone and move on with your life,” she tells me.

  I could jump up and hug her but I tell her a simple thank you. “I’ll be by to get her, Mom, I won’t be late at all. You know me.”

  “Just make sure you’re safe if something happens.”

  “Mom! It’s a first date, and I can’t believe you just said that!” My face turns crimson and I notice my dad giving her the same look I am. It’s the what-the-fuck-did-you-just-say look.

  “Sorry, I’m just being a mom.” She takes a sip of her wine and doesn’t say another word about any of it.

  I don’t reach for my phone too quickly. I take my time so I don’t seem so desperate.

  Paige: Yes, you can.

  Austin: I can’t wait.

  This is exciting all of a sudden. I haven’t been on a date in years. I’m going to have to call Nora up later to help me out with what to wear and how to act. God knows I’ll need all the help I can get.

  ***

  Work flies by and before I know it, I’m texting my mom to let her know I’ll call as soon as the date is over and to kiss Darla for me. I feel guilty having them keep her extra, but Mom insisted. Nora walks me out to the car, continuing to give me pointers on everything. I’ve been hearing it all day; she’s so damn excited for me.

  “So, I definitely think you should pin some of your hair back. Your eyes pop when you do. And just wear something casual but cute. Take a picture for me and have a good time.” She grins as we both stop at my car. “I’m glad you’re finally doing this. He seems like a really great guy. Text me when you get home from picking up Darla. I don’t think I can possibly wait until tomorrow to find out how it went.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll hear everything,” I assure her as I unlock my car.

  “Where are y’all going?” she asks. That’s a good question because I don’t even know that answer.

  “Um, I’m not sure, but probably just to eat somewhere,” I tell her.

  She raises her eyebrow probably about to insinuate something like my mom did last night. I raise my eyebrow back, challenging her to say something. She doesn’t, though. She just wraps her arms around my neck and tells me to have a good time. I plan on it.

  I drive back to my apartment and once there I head straight for the shower. I pin my hair back just as Nora suggested and decide to wear a soft pink v-neck blouse and my favorite jeans. Once I put on my sandals, all I have to do is touch up my makeup. My phone rings and I see Austin’s name. A sickening feeling overcomes me and I get nervous that he’s calling to say he changed his mind.

  “Hello?” I answer, keeping my guard completely up.

  “Hey Paige. I forgot to ask you about this when I asked you on this date, but I’m not really driving again yet. After the accident, I guess I haven’t gotten the courage to get behind the wheel. I want to pick you up, though. Do you feel okay riding with me?”

  I never thought about any of this. He’s about to overcome something huge just to take me on a date. “If you feel comfortable, Austin, then I trust you.”

  “Give me your address and I’ll head out the door.”

  I rattle off my address and he tells me he’ll be here soon. My stomach, which has been invaded by butterflies, now begins to cramp. I’ve had butterflies before but I don’t think I’ve ever had them this intense.

  I hurry to the bathroom to fix my makeup and no sooner do I set my tube of mascara back into my cosmetic bag than there’s a light knock at the door. It’s now or never. I grab my purse and make sure my house keys and everything I need are inside. I tuck my phone into a pocket and open the door.

  My heart swells when I see him. He’s dressed in a solid black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. His lime green Nike tennis shoes make me giggle a little. He’s casual, so I’m glad I followed Nora’s advice.

  “You look beautiful,” Austin tells me as I step outside. I thought about inviting him in but there are way too many signs of Darla around and I’m not ready for him to know about her just yet.

  “Thank you,” I blush. “You look good yourself.” I feel pretty crazy right now. I probably just sounded so corny. I’m not used to complimenting someone of the opposite sex.

  “Hey, you live by Raegan and Garrett. I didn’t know that.”

  I remember chatting with Raegan the other night and I smile. “Yeah, I guess I do. I met her the other night.”

  “They’re good people. He fights like I used to,” he tells me. “I’m not sure what you like to eat, but I was thinking we could grab some burgers or something.”

  “I love a good burger.” I grin as he pulls my hand into his, leading us to his car. Here’s to a good night. I’m actually beginning to thank myself for not being so damn stubborn.

  Chapter 12

  Austin

  I can’t believe Paige agreed to this date. I was nervous as hell to get behind the wheel of a vehicle again, but with a little pep talk from Ruston, I decided it’s now or never. I can’t live scared all my life because of one little—okay, pretty big—mistake I made. My car has sat up ever since the accident. I’d have Ruston go start it occasionally for me, and now I get to drive again.

  I pull up to Paige’s apartment complex and immediately recognize it. She lives by Raegan and Garrett. What a small damn world.

  One knock at the door and she answers, looking so damn beautiful. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world as she lets me hold her hand to my car. I open the door for her and watch as her eyes widen. “This is your car?”

  “This is my baby.” I smile. I hate I wrecked Ruston’s truck but I would have been devastated if I had wrecked this beauty.

  “It’s nice,” she says before I shut the door. I walk around to the driver’s side, giving myself a pep talk the whole time. We aren’t going far. For my first time back behind the wheel, I didn’t want to venture too far out. I’m taking baby steps.

  I turn down the radio as I drive away from the complex. She looks a little nervous, and I guess I don’t blame her. “I’m glad you decided to come out with me tonight.”

  “I am too. After the past few days of work, I think this was a good idea.”

  I haven’t seen Paige since that night at Joe’s. I just can’t get enough of her. I pull into a local burger joint up the road and park the car. I get out wondering why people are staring, but then I remember I don’t wear my prosthetic anymore. They’ll just have to get used to it. I can’t stay locked inside a damn apartment. I have a life too.

  I open the door for Paige and we both walk inside to order. We sit down after I pay, waiting for the waitress to bring us our food. We start talking a little. I’m finding I like her more and more with every word she says.

  “So yeah, I decided I wanted to be a nurse and my parents backed me one hundred percent through nursing school. It wasn’t easy, but I made it through,” she tells me.

  “Why? Because you wouldn’t have met me?” I joke with her.

  “Pretty much. To be honest, this is the first date I’ve been on in years.” She looks down into her drink nervously.

  “Really? Can I ask why?” I don’t want to pry, but for someone as beautiful as she is to not have been on a date in years—I just can’t believe that.

  She looks up from her drink and a sadness fills her eyes. “I just haven’t had time. I work a lot and that’s my life.”

  “I understand,” I tell her as our burgers get placed in front of us. I ordered mine almost plain just to be safe. I don’t know how holding a burger will work and I don’t want to make a mess.

  I watch her take a bite of her burger and smile. I’m glad she’s not one of those picky eating females. “This is so good,” she says. “I’ve never been here before.”

  “Yeah, they make really good burgers. I liked to come here occasionally before my accident,” I tell her.

  “Can I ask what happened that night?” she sets her burger down.

  I gulp, wondering if she really wants to know. I lived it but I haven’t quite ever talked about it since. I know Ruston, Tamilyn and I all had our apologies and everything but no one has ever sat and discussed it. “Yeah, I’ll tell you.” br />
  I begin to tell her the whole story about Tamilyn and how I didn’t know she had been seeing my cousin, her best friend, pretty much the entire time. I assured Paige that Tamilyn and I were never anything official and we all get along now. I had to stop when I got to the part about catching them sleeping together that night. I told her about my suspicions in all of it and how it broke me to know I was right. I told her about the fight in the front yard and how I sped off in Ruston’s truck because he and I rode together that night.

  “Then there was the accident, and that’s how I ended up in the hospital.”

  Paige’s eyes fill with tears which look like they might spill any moment now. “I’m so sorry Austin.”

  I’m guessing she doesn’t know what else to say. Can’t blame her there. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I should have never gotten behind the wheel of that truck and drove off like I did. I’m alive and that’s all I can be thankful for.”

  She wipes her eyes and we finish eating. I watch as she takes another sip of her soda before looking up at me. “When I saw you in ICU that first time, I wondered what happened to make you lose your arm. I got filled in by another nurse your injury had happened in a car accident.”

  “I remember thinking when I woke up about how lucky I was that someone so beautiful was in the same room and not looking at me like I was some sort of monster.”

  “You’re no monster, Austin. You’re the same as everyone else, you just lost your arm. If someone judges you for that, then shame on them.”

  My God, I could almost kiss her right now, but I may try at the end of the date. We sit and talk a little while longer. I notice her checking her phone. “Is everything okay?”

  “Oh, of course. I was just seeing what time it is. I have to work in the morning.” She smiles.

  “Well, why didn’t you say something? I don’t want to keep you too late.”

  “Thank you,” she says, scooting her chair back.

  We both walk outside. I’m having probably the best damn night of my life. I’m on fucking cloud nine and no one can pull me out of it.

  “Why don’t you go back into hiding, freak?” A voice comes from out of nowhere. The hair on my arm stands on end. What the fuck?

  Paige gasps and I turn to see where the voice is coming from. A smug guy in a muscle shirt is staring at me with his arms crossed. He’s staggering, clearly drunk, and I’m not in the mood for this. This guy can’t be picking a fight here, not right now. But he is.

  “What the fuck did you say to me?” I step towards him, making sure Paige is behind me. I won’t let anything happen to her.

  “You heard me you, one-arm freak.” I knew people could be cruel, but even when I had both arms, I would have never treated anyone disabled this way.

  “Just what the fuck is your problem? Let me enjoy my night and go enjoy yours. I’ll even forget the asshole remarks you just made.”

  “You know she probably just feels sorry for you.”

  I take another step closer to him. I know the rules of Lou’s. I can’t fight outside of the gym or I’ll be terminated but I haven’t exactly been on the roster to fight lately, and this asshole is begging for it. “You may want to shut the fuck up now.”

  “What are you going to do? Hit me with one arm?”

  “Austin, he’s not worth it,” Paige says from behind me.

  “Honey, why don’t you just come with me? I’ll show you what being with a real man is like,” the guy says to her. I notice out of the corner of my eye a small crowd is beginning to form around us. I should walk away, but he just won’t quit running his fucking mouth.

  I step closer and throw a hook against his cheek. He spits blood and his gaze turns furious. He tries to punch me back but I block him. I guess training again has paid off. He tries again and his fist barely grazes my cheek. He tries to push me but I grab hold of his shirt and slam him to the ground.

  Hell, I do still have it in me. The fight never left.

  “You got fucking lucky,” he seethes.

  I pick my foot up and slam it into his chest. “No, you got lucky. You better pray I never see you again.”

  I move my foot and turn away from him. The crowd formed around us moves out of my way. No one says a word. Poor Paige, she looks terrified and I hate she had to see that. I reach for her hand and let out an inward sigh of relief when she takes it. I get her in the car and look toward the guy to make sure he isn’t trying to cause more shit. When I see he’s still lying on the ground, I get in the car and start up the engine. I begin to drive away before I say anything to Paige. I can only imagine what’s going through her head right now and with my luck, this is the only date we’ll ever have.

  Chapter 13

  Paige

  What started out as a good first date turned into a nightmare. I don’t blame him for punching the guy. He was a complete asshole. I can’t believe he had the audacity to say the things he did to Austin. I’m at a loss for words right now, though. I was honestly thinking Austin was just going to blow him off and walk away.

  We’re driving away from the burger place. I’m guessing he’s just going to bring me home now. I told him I work early in the morning and I do. I also have to go get Darla.

  “I’m so sorry you had to see that, Paige,” he sighs as he drives. I turn to look at him. His face is beet red and he’s breathing rapidly.

  “It’s fine. He deserved that. I’m sorry you were singled out like that,” I tell him. I want to know how he’s feeling inside. I can’t imagine having someone say such cruel things to me.

  “I guess it was bound to happen eventually. I just wish it wasn’t tonight. I wanted to give you a good date and he ruined it,” he growls, and I’m guessing if he could, he’d punch the steering wheel right now.

  “He didn’t ruin it, I promise, Austin.” He pulls into my apartment complex and parks the car. “I really did have a great time.”

  I unbuckle my seatbelt and do the gutsiest thing I’ve done in a long time. I lean towards him and place my hands on each side of his face.

  “What are you doing?” he asks with a sad tone to his voice. “Remember? I’m a freak.”

  “Well, you’re my freak,” I tell him before I softly press my lips against his. He doesn’t kiss me back at first; I think he’s in shock. I move my lips before bringing them back again. This time, his lips part and I finally get to taste him. The tension in his body eases and he relaxes into the kiss. My heart is beating so rapidly in my chest, I wonder if he can hear it. I break the kiss and gaze into his eyes.

  “I was supposed to do that tonight.” He chuckles.

  “Well, I beat you to it. Thank you for a great night.”

  “Does this mean you’ll see me again?” he asks with a hopeful tone in his voice.

  “Definitely. Goodnight, Austin,” I tell him as I lean in one more time for another kiss.

  I get out of his car and wave to him and walk towards my apartment and go inside while I wait for him to leave. Once he’s gone, I’ll get in my car and go pick up Darla.

  I lean against the front door and bring my hand to my lips. That kiss—it made everything that happened tonight worth it.

  I let about ten minutes pass before I step back outside and head to my car. Raegan is getting out of her car and smiles at me. “Hey neighbor!”

  “Hey Raegan!” I greet her.

  It’s simple as that. As quickly as she said hi, she is heading to her place. She has a few bags in her hands and I turn to see her apartment door opening. That must be her boyfriend Garrett that Austin told me about.

  I get into my car and head to my parents’ house. I can’t wait to see my Darla.

  I pull up to their house and walk straight in. Mom looks surprised to see me. I guess she was thinking I’d be late or something. “Hey Paige, how was the date?”

  “It was fine. We ate burgers and then some guy picked a fight with him.”

  Mom’s eyes widen and I know it’s time to explain. I tell her about how I originally met Austin and how he lost his arm. She gasps, probably feeling sorry for him, but I tell her how sweet he is and how he’s overcome what he’s been through. I tell her the remarks the guy made and how Austin didn’t back down and let this guy walk all over him. I’m waiting for her to tell me I shouldn’t see him again, but instead she applauds his actions. She’s glad he got me out of the way and stood up for himself.