Otherwise, he’s only going to set himself up for failure.
I need to talk to someone. My first instinct is to call Beth, because she’s usually the person who can help me rationalize how I’m feeling. She can always bring calm to the storm, and is willing to talk through it all until I’ve got a clear mind again.
My finger hovers over her number, itching to press it, but I can’t seem to swallow my pride. A deep frown tugs on my lips at the thought of not being able to call her whenever I want anymore—not when the yearning of her comfort comes with the fresh scars of her betrayal.
Instead, I dial Brent’s phone number and wait for him to answer. If there’s anyone who understands what I’m going through with Kayden, it’ll be his brother. When he picks up, his smooth voice immediately puts me at ease. “Hey, Sienna.”
“Hey,” I say. “Is Kayden with you?”
“No. But he texted saying he’s gone out to cool off,” Brent tells me. “He’ll be fine.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “I don’t know what to do, Brent.”
I’m used to training with guys who commit to the fight.
MMA is not only a sport; it’s a consistent and steadfast lifestyle. If my students can’t get used to that, then there is no space for them here.
“Cut him some slack,” he says. “I don’t think he’s used to someone like you.”
I raise a quizzical brow. “Someone like me?”
“Who pushes him. Makes him confront things about himself that he doesn’t like to think about.” He pauses for a beat to let those words sink in. And sure enough, my heart does a mini-somersault in my chest. “But don’t worry. Give him some time to adjust. After today, he’ll realize how badly he treated you and he’ll be sorry about it. Trust me.”
“I don’t know . . .”
Trusting seems hard when it has to do with Kayden. But then again, trusting is hard when it has to do with anyone right now. Every time I decide to put my faith in someone, I end up losing more of it.
I let loose a breath. “No. I think I’m gonna stay. Work out the frustration.”
“Okay. You know I’m here to talk if you need someone.”
I bite my lip in contemplation. Talking it through seems futile when there’s a punching bag a couple of feet away from me waiting to get brutalized by my fists.
“Maybe some other time,” I say in a rush. “I gotta go.”
As I hang up, I drop the phone on the mats. I need to stop shadowboxing myself into this ridiculous mental corner. There’s no use getting this worked up over a guy I barely know.
If Kayden’s interests no longer align with mine, he needs to tell me soon, because my patience is paper thin. Nothing is going to get in the way of me seeing Jax lose everything he holds dear.
Pinching my gloves off the floor, I strut over to the punching bag.