Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,73

that?”

Out of all my brothers, Gunnar is the most like me. He’s smart. Not that my other brothers aren’t, but where Gunnar and I excelled in academics, the others just coasted by until they could graduate. Viggo and Val both have their business degrees from a community college. Ozzi went straight from high school to the gym. By the time he graduated, business was booming. I was fighting, Viggo was managing everyone, and Val was promoting fights.

We were a well-oiled machine.

And I do miss those days.

“He’s graduating in December. He promised Mom he would graduate. He’s doing it,” Val says, but what I feel like he’s implying is that unlike me, Gunnar is graduating.

Yeah, I already know.

I’m officially the failure of the family.

“Besides, he’s twenty-one,” Val adds. “It’s not like he needs their permission.”

True. It’s hard to believe he’s that old, but he is—plenty old enough to make his own decisions and blaze his own path. I’m proud of him for sticking with college and getting his education. I always knew he would, because the other way Gunnar is unlike me is that he actually wanted to go to college.

He even applied to Harvard, but didn’t get accepted.

However, he’s graduating from Rice with a degree in Exercise Science. If I had stuck with college, that’s something I probably would’ve enjoyed, but being at Harvard, I felt stifled. I just didn’t fit in with all of the pre-law and pre-med students. It wasn’t the life for me. And as much as my family, my mom most of all, would like me to feel bad about my decision to quit and start fighting full-time, I don’t.

I made my choices.

I lived my life.

And I don’t have any regrets.

Gunnar is going to be a great addition to the Erickson MMA business. He’ll probably be the one to fulfill all of the dreams placed on my shoulders.

“He’s good, huh?” I ask. I know he is, but I haven’t had a chance to see him fight recently, but according to Viggo, he’s really come into his own in the last few months—more driven, more focused… stronger, faster.

“It’s like he knows he has to pick up the torch, man,” Val says and I can hear the smile in his voice… the pride he feels. “He’s ready to step up.”

And fill my shoes, that’s what he leaves out.

Maybe I should feel bad about it, resentful even, but I don’t.

“And he wants me to train him?”

“We all do,” Val says. “You’re the best.”

“I’ll think about it. And I’ll be home soon, so we can all sit down and talk about it.” I need to make a trip to Dallas to tie up loose ends. If I’m going to stay in Green Valley for the foreseeable future, there’s no sense in keeping my house. Plus, I could use the money from selling it to invest in a studio.

There’s a pause and it’s then I hear the shuffle of feet behind me and turn to see a sight for sore eyes, my sore eyes.

Tempest is standing on the other side of the mats holding a box from the bakery. I haven’t seen her since the day we went to Knoxville and ended up kissing in the truck… best fucking kiss of my life. But that was over a week ago and I was afraid she wasn’t going to show today.

“Hey,” I say to Val. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Think about it,” he says. “And think about coming home for the fight.”

“Fine,” I agree, ending the call and walking toward Tempest.

She gives me a small smile, biting down on her bottom lip.

“Hey,” she says, pushing the box out in front of her, like they’re a peace offering. “I made you these.”

My payment.

So, I’m guessing we’re still on for her reunion. After the kiss and the way she bolted after the call from her realtor, I thought she might’ve changed her mind.

“I wasn’t sure if you were coming today,” I admit and her eyes skitter around the room, looking anywhere but at me, and fuck me, this is what I don’t want. If Tempest gets weird and feels uncomfortable around me, that would be the worst, because as much as I want her body, I want her presence even more.

“It’s been kind of a shit day,” she says, exhaling. “And I really need a friend… and something to take my mind off of everything.”

I feel a tightening in my chest with her words and as much as I want to tell her to fuck being