Undisputed by A.S. Teague Read Free Book Online Page A

though, ’cause you almost knocked her dude out.”
    Shaking my head, I tell him, “No. She wasn’t his. That’s why I hit him. I think. Fuck, I drank too much. Man, how the fuck did we get home?”
    He waves his phone at me. “You wouldn’t give me your fucking keys, so I shoved your ass in the back seat of a cab. You should have just let me call one in the first place.”
    “You left Velma downtown overnight? You know I don’t leave her anywhere!” I bark, though I should be grateful that Tripp stepped up and played the responsible one for the night.
    Again.
    Tripp cracks his neck as his face starts to turn red—the telltale sign that he’s close to losing his temper with me.
    Trying to diffuse the situation before I end up in my second brawl in twelve hours, I cut him off as he opens his mouth. “Yeah, yeah. I know you were just trying to watch out for me. Look, let’s just go pick her up before the city does.” Then I turn to leave the kitchen.
    Tripp grabs me by the arm, forcing me to stop and face him. “Brec, we have been friends for as long as I can remember. You know I consider you my brother at this point. Mainly because I want to use your fame to my advantage, but also because I love you.”
    I can see where this is going, and I desperately want to stop him. I don’t do feelings. Not with chicks, and definitely not with the one guy who’s always had my back. A scene from last night flashes, and I remember wanting to tell him that I loved him. Grimacing at the memory, I silently thank God that those words did not make it out of my mouth. I don’t think I could stomach his spilling his guts to me.
    I smirk and wave him off. “T, I’m not gay. Stop hitting on me already,” I say in a lame attempt at humor but really just to get him to stop this conversation before it gets started. But it looks like Tripp isn’t taking no for an answer this morning as he holds his hand up to shut me up.
    “I’m not joking with you right now. You are my brother, and as your brother, it’s my duty to tell you this.” He closes the distance between us, stepping into my face until our chests nearly bump. “You need to stop. You’re partying too much, too hard. You’re lucky we were somewhere that the owners knew you.” He pokes my chest. “You’re lucky I was able to get you in that cab. And you are damn lucky that the other guy threw the first punch. What the hell is going on with you lately? Something’s been going on with you outside and inside the ring. Is there—”
    I interrupt him before he can press me further. He’s right, but I refuse to acknowledge that my fights have suffered.
    “Tripp, I’m fine. I had one bad fight.” Waving him off, I continue trying to prove my point. “Which I still won. So, even at my worst, I am better than the rest. There’s nothing for you to worry about. Now, let’s go get my truck. And can we please stop talking about last night? I need something to eat to soak up this alcohol.”
    And, with that, I effectively end the conversation about my partying habits. Tripp isn’t buying it, but he doesn’t press me any further.

 
    Three weeks later…
     
    T he last few weeks of Connor’s dialysis treatments have been tough on both of us. In an effort to keep a sense of normalcy, we’ve allowed him to continue to attend school. His sessions are in the afternoon, three times a week. This has been beneficial to me as well because I’ve been able to continue to go to work every morning and attempt to get everything done before leaving to pick Connor up from school.
    However, the sessions usually leave him exhausted, and by the time we get home, he’s too tired to even eat, instead going straight to bed each night. He’s even lost a little bit of weight; his clothes are beginning to hang on his already slim frame.
    Once he goes to bed, I stay awake half the night, trying to catch up on paperwork from the office or researching anything that might help with his