my spine. “I thought it was sharks that will hunt down something bleeding.”
I could feel the corner of my mouth pull up in a smirk. “Well then, you better hope we aren’t on a boat in the ocean together if you start bleeding, because I wouldn’t be able to lift you back on the boat either.”
“In that case, we’ll make sure Mo is around since you have all these plans to let me die if things get tough. I couldn’t see there being anything the two of you couldn’t do together if she’s anything like you.”
I hated him. I really did. And myself, because I had no business joking around with him, but I couldn’t regret it too much either. Damn it.
“I’m not scared of trying to pull you in, but I’ve torn both rotator cuffs. You should just know what to expect. It’s not my fault you’re heavy.” I tried not to smirk but failed. “But if it makes you feel any better, we’ll be able to pull you back into the imaginary boat between the two of us,” I joked, unable to stop myself.
“Good thing I’m a great swimmer,” he countered playfully. “I’ll make sure to keep my fitness up so you and Mo don’t have to worry if you’re the ones bleeding in the water.”
Me and Mo.
Well, I’d hope he’d try to save the mother of his kid. At least for that reason alone. That’s why he was still here, after all, wasn’t it? Because of her?
Something that wasn’t exactly a knot tried to form in my throat, and all I could do was manage a half-assed smile that had his grin melting into a long, loaded look.
I was worthy of love. I was loved. Just because he hadn’t….
I was fine. Great. We could be friendly. It would be easier if we were.
Jonah was watching me, and his Adam’s apple bobbed before he said, “Have lunch with me, Lenny.”
What? “I’m not going to see Mo for lunch today. Grandpa Gus is taking her to the Children’s Museum.”
Those honey-colored eyes stayed steady on my face. “I know. I heard him last night,” he said just as the door to the building swung open. “We can just talk about Mo if that’s what it takes to get you to come.”
It was second nature to glance over and see who was coming in, but as soon as my brain processed the face, a sigh built up in my chest.
It was a guy I’d kicked out of the gym two months ago.
“Hold on a second,” I told Jonah while focusing in on the man-child, who had apparently immediately spotted me too based on the way his feet seemed to stutter as he walked in. “One sec,” I said again, before turning to head a few feet closer to the door. I was already shaking my head at him. “No, man.”
Shawn’s nostrils flared. “Listen, Lenny—”
“Nope,” I cut him off. “Turn around and walk back out. It’s not happening. You’ve got another three and a half months before you can come back.” I had specifically told him the exact date he could rejoin the gym when I’d had to suspend him for repeatedly elbowing another fighter in the spine while they’d been sparring, even after Peter had told him to stop.
The guy, who hadn’t even been a member of Maio House for that long in the first place, dropped his head back, and I watched his hand tighten around the strap of the bag he had over his shoulder. “Come on—”
I wasn’t going to waste either of our times by letting him spout off some bullshit he thought would let him get away with being here. Even if it was really good bullshit, it wasn’t going to happen. “No.”
“It’s been almost three months, Lenny. Give me a break.”
I shrugged. “It’s been two months and sixteen days. You should have thought about that before you broke the rules.” I knew better than to say I was sorry. I was sorry he was missing out on valuable training, but no one had told him to do something stupid over and over again.
Actions had consequences. Everyone knew that, and if they didn’t, they should.
“I regret what I did.”
So did I.
When I didn’t respond, he managed to get out, “Can I please come back?”
“No.”
He dropped his head back again. “I said please.”
I couldn’t even feel that much remorse in me as I replied, “And I said not yet. You’ve got three months and fourteen days to go.”