…
Julie drew in a deep breath before she opened the door to Mike’s gym, carrying a white paper bag that contained two chicken salad sandwiches and chips. The nerves that hit her as she stepped inside were ridiculous, considering she’d walked into this gym on numerous occasions in the past without a second thought.
But this time it was different. She was here as someone other than Tommy’s friend. Before, she’d known exactly where she stood and had acted accordingly. Now she wasn’t sure what her role was. She was his girlfriend now. But what did that mean? Was she supposed to go up to Tommy and lift her face as if she expected a kiss? Would he be okay with that?
She hated the fish-out-of-water feeling. It would probably be best just to take her lead from Tommy.
As she scanned the gym, she realized her anxiety was unfounded. He wasn’t there.
Maybe he was in the locker room?
She spotted Mike at the back of the gym talking to a younger fighter. He glanced up, and his brows knitted together. He made his way over to her. “Hey, Julie. What’s brought you to this side of town?”
“I’m meeting Tommy for lunch.”
Mike glanced at his watch. “He’s been with that reporter for more than an hour. He should be wrapping it up soon.”
More than an hour? That was an awfully long interview. Most lasted twenty minutes tops.
“Okay. Can you let him know that I’m waiting for him when he’s done? I’m going to go ahead down the street to where we said we’d eat.”
“Sure, but you may see him before I do. They went outside to do the interview.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll keep an eye out for him.”
Nodding, Mike turned, then he looked back at her. “It’s good to see you, Julie. Didn’t realize how much you were around until Tommy left. Glad he didn’t somehow fuck things up with you and you’re still friends. Good that we get to see your pretty face again.”
Her smile slipped. Had he not told anyone they were dating? He wasn’t hiding it, or he wouldn’t touch her in public. But it didn’t sit well with her that the people he spent a majority of his day with, people he considered his team, didn’t know about them. Was he trying to keep MMA and her separate?
“Thanks, Mike. It’s nice to be back.”
After she stepped outside, she veered to the left and made her way down the sidewalk. As she got closer to their lunch spot, she noticed a couple had already claimed the bench, and her steps slowed.
No, not a couple, because he was supposed to be hers.
Tommy was exactly where he was supposed to be—sitting with another woman on their bench —and he was smiling that smile she hated. The one that made women throw themselves at him, fight for his attention, and be proud to be the arm-candy of the week. The I’m-a-confirmed-bachelor-and-I’ll-gladly-fuck-you-but-not-marry-you smile.
She fisted her hands, fighting the insane urge to storm over and whack him upside the head and make her presence known.
Julie glared at the woman. Gorgeous. Petite. Long blond hair. Tommy said something and the woman threw her head back on a laugh as she placed her hand on his knee and patted. Tommy didn’t seem to mind the touch. If anything, that smile widened.
When he never took his eyes off the reporter, her jealousy grew. No wonder the interview had lasted as long as it had. That woman was the epitome of every woman Tommy had been with over the years. And he’d brought her to their bench. If the crumbled white bag sitting beside the reporter was any indication, he’d already eaten lunch, too.
Ass. Hole.
Taking a calming breath, she squared her shoulders. She wanted to see him squirm, to have to look at her after he’d ogled the woman sitting beside him.
She strode up to them. When she was just a couple of feet away, Tommy finally dragged his eyes off the reporter and looked at her. And the smile immediately transformed into one full of warmth and happiness. The real one. The one she loved.
Some of the fight went out of her. Until he stood and kissed her on the cheek. The freaking cheek.
“Hey,” he whispered against her skin.
A kiss. To the cheek. What. The. Hell?
The reporter looked at Julie from head to toe. She knew that look. God knew she’d seen it many times in the past when she’d come up to Tommy and a new girl. She was being sized up, seeing what kind of competition she would be. Apparently, the woman saw something to be worried about because she stood, too, her fingers laying against Tommy’s forearm as she breathlessly said, “Thanks for the interview.” She cast a pointed look at the bag of food Julie was carrying. “And lunch.”
“What?” Tommy finally looked back at the reporter. “Oh, yeah. You’re welcome.”