Committed by Alycia Taylor Read Free Book Online

politics and religion and scoffed at each other’s taste in
music, but agreed on our taste in books. Then we talked about what each of us
wanted for the future. He talked about his computer business and me my photography one. Neither of us mentioned the elephant
in the room, his MMA fighting, or the fact that I still hadn’t really responded to his
expressions of love.

All the while we talked my attraction for Braxton
grew. I watched him as he spoke, fascinated by the
simple movement of his lips. I couldn't seem to stop
smiling.
    I finally told him, "Braxton, I'm really glad you asked me to go out on a
real date with you. I would have never had the nerve to ask you on a real
date.” I was only half-kidding. “This means so much to
me and I'm having a great time." Braxton beamed back at the stupid grin
that was stuck on my face.
    When the waitress came over with dessert menus we
both politely declined. My chicken alfredo was delicious and I had eaten every bite. I was
stuffed so full that I could barely move. We were both surprised to hear that
the bar was about to close, neither of us had realized how late it had gotten;
we had so much fun just passing the time talking.
    While Braxton drove me home, I realized how tired I was. I tried to stifle a
yawn behind my hand, but Braxton noticed.

"Tired, huh?"

"Yes. The long week is catching up with me," I said with a grin in his direction. He knew exactly what had been keeping me up at night.
    "Me too," Braxton agreed, looking at me and flashing a grin before focusing again on the road.

When we got to our apartment building, Braxton parked the truck.
    “I’ll walk you to the door,” he insisted.
    I snickered, but he did just that. I didn’t say anything
until we reached the door.
    I unlocked it and said, “Would you like to come in?”
    "I'd love to, except I know you’re tired, maybe
next weekend?” He grinned, still in his role.
    Yes, definitely next time. “I'd better give you my
phone number so there can be a next time," I joked. We both cracked
up.  
    He went in for the first date kiss, kissing me soft and sweet on the lips. Shivers spread across my skin.
    “I love you,” he said. That wasn’t quite going with
the theme, but I let it go.
    That night he went to his bed and I went to mine. It had been a fun night. It was nice to dream about how things
might have started differently. However, I never
wanted to take back how we ended up together.

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    B RAXTON
    The audience at the round of four was extra loud. I noticed that with each new round, each time I climbed a
little bit closer to that championship, they seemed to get a little more
excited. Maybe a little more blood thirsty. As I stood in back behind the curtains waiting for them to call
my name I could hear them talking about my last fight and how there hadn’t been
enough action.
    “No blood,” one guy was saying, “Nobody comes to a
fight like this to see a couple guys dance around each other until one finally
lands a lucky punch.”
    “Yeah, but you should have been here for the one
before that,” his friend told him. “He looked like Rocky Balboa that night when
he got done. He’s got the Doberman in him he just needs an opponent to unleash
it on.”
    I wasn’t sure if I should be proud or insulted by that conversation. I decided the best thing to do would be to ignore it. I didn’t want to come out looking for blood like an angry
bulldog, just to turn on a couple of old guys with beer bellies who had
probably never been in a real fight.
    Sam came up behind me and
gave me a slap on the back. “You ready, kid?”
    “I’m ready,” I told him and
I really felt like I was. Things were right in my world and my head was completely in the ring.
    I heard them call my name and Sam said, “This is it,” as he propelled me forward
and through the curtain. I heard them clapping and
chanting my name, but the only thing in the audience I was truly interested in
was sitting in the second