Fight From The Heart (Heart Collection #4) - L.B. Dunbar Page 0,25

Mandi because they are total opposites, for the better.

Then I think of the guy in the bar.

Fucking surfer dude.

I know his type. He’s all gnarly and cool, dude and what’s up. Is that what she wants? Perhaps I’m not her type. The brainiac literature lover wasn’t much of a stud back in the day, not until I started working out and boxing. I’d never been a fighter, and my father was quick to remind me how much of a wimp he thought I was. Whenever I didn’t play in all the sports he signed me up for, it was always the fault of a coach. They didn’t see my potential, but even my father didn’t believe I had athletic talent. In public, the coach was to blame. In private, I was the issue. I wasn’t stronger, faster, better equipped. I wasn’t the star athlete he wanted me to be, and he thought beating it into me would work.

It wasn’t until I was older and desired the strength and speed on my own terms that I learned to fight . . . and fight back. He never saw that first punch coming, and it was the last one he spent on me.

Shaking off the memories, I quickly walk back to my car in the freezing night air. Slamming my door after falling into the front seat, I start the engine, listening to the deep purr of the SUV.

She pushed me away.

I was close enough to kiss her, and she pushed me.

She doesn’t think we need to see one another. Fine, I can respect her wishes.

Only the next day, she almost runs into my stepsister and me on the landing between the second-floor apartments over the pharmacy and an empty storefront.

“Ella?” Pam questions before stepping up to her and wrapping my sister into a tight hug. This is another thing about Pam. Since the moment my sister came to live with me, Pam opened her heart to my sibling and ignored her scars. With patience and kindness, Pam befriended Ella as much as Ella would let someone in, and this endeared Pam to me even more. My sister has been through a lot, and Pam accepted her.

Ella wanted to show me her new office and future storefront, which is located next to Pam’s apartment.

“What are you doing here?” Pam questions, implying the second-floor balcony.

“I’m renting this place,” Ella states with pride in her voice, and I’m equally proud of her. She’s come a long way from all that’s happened.

“You need to tell me everything,” Pam insists, giving Ella a puzzled expression at first but then reaches out for my sister’s arm, encouraging her to be open.

“Let me talk to Ethan. We need to plan a girls’ night,” Ella cheerfully suggests, and Pam gives me a skeptical look. I ruined her outing last night.

“I’d like that,” Pam states, her attention still directed at me.

Ella looks back and forth between the two of us, and my mouth opens.

“Aren’t you going on that date soon?” I’d kick myself if I wasn’t still worked up over the possibility that she might say yes to that douche with his blond wavy hair and his fake tan in February. He’s taller than me by a few inches, but I could totally take him. In fact, I might enjoy the fight, but he probably doesn’t know how to pack a punch.

“What date?” Ella asks, turning to Pam in surprise.

“Ignore him,” Pam moans, reaching out for Ella and giving her another hug. “I’ve got to get to my mom’s, but I’ll call you.”

She turns for the staircase without another word to me. My sister and I stand still, watching Pam’s retreat.

“Pam’s going on a date?” Ella asks me, narrowing her eyes.

“I don’t know,” I huff, scrubbing a hand down my face.

“When are you going to admit you’re in love with that woman?” Ella teases me.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I state, taking a step forward. The lie I tell myself actually hurts for some reason. I don’t know how to love someone, and even if I did, I’m certain I’d ruin it.

“Keep telling yourself that,” Ella jokes behind me as we descend the stairs from her new office space. “But let me tell you, there’s no point in denying something wonderful, Jacob. Perhaps it’s time to take the risk.”

While I’d like to think my sister knows what she’s talking about—she didn’t ever think someone would love her nor would she love—it doesn’t seem so easy for me. Ella’s scars