Chapter 4
Red
Ihad to get out of there. Julia was just so…
Small.
Small and beautiful, and when she smiled it was like watching a fireworks show on the Fourth of July.
I could pick her up if I wanted to. Bend her over my knee. Run my hands over the dip of her waist and that cute little ass of hers.
Her mere presence and the smell of her floral perfume was enough to drive me insane.
I had to get out of there for my own sake. I couldn’t afford any distractions, not when I was so close to my UFC debut. I needed all my blood in my head, not in my cock.
So, I showered, changed, and got the hell out of there. Cash and Dylan would keep her more than enough company. Besides, I had errands to run, a mind to clear, and my father’s dream to realize.
I stopped by the grocery store with a massive list of things to buy. Mostly proteins. Steak, eggs, a truck load of spinach.
Cash had scribbled a note for me on the bottom asking for a small can of Red Bull. The cocky son of a bitch even signed off with a tiny heart. I huffed as I turned down the narrow beverage aisle and grabbed him one of the smallest versions I could find.
Even when we were kids, I’d always had a hard time saying no to that annoying brat.
I was just about to leave when my phone rang. It was none other than our manager, Patrick Swazée.
“Hey, man,” I greeted, pinching my phone between my ear and my shoulder as I held the door open for an elderly lady. She patted me on the forearm with a smile, mumbling something that sounded likeHow very sweet of you, dearie.
“Red, do you have a minute?”
“As long as you’re not still busy lifting Jennifer Grey.”
Our manager sighed. “For the last time, Smithson, it’s pronouncedswah-zay, notsway-zee.”
“What? I’m not allowed to crack a joke every now and then?”
“You? Crack a joke?”
I started down the street, eight full grocery bags gathered easily in my right fist. “What do you want, Chief? Is this about Bob? Cash and I are lucky Dylan’s here to help us, but we really need our coach here.”
“I’m sorry, no. I haven’t heard from Bob in a few days. He was on his way down to Sunville last we spoke.”
“What’s the fucker playing at? Doesn’t he know how critical this time is? We’ve only got a few more weeks before we ship out for our fights in Vegas.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. We might have a problem, Red.”
The shoulders in my neck and muscles tensed. “What’s going on?”
“A few of our sponsors have caught wind of Bob’s flaky behavior. They’re concerned that he’s going to be a no-show. As a result, they’re worried about how this will affect your performance.”
“Which sponsor is this?” I asked.
“Leo Holistic Lifestyle.”
“They signed a contract.”
“Right, one that’s about to expire. I’m in talks with them now to see if we can renew their sponsorship, but unfortunately all signs point to them pulling out.”
I gritted my teeth.