Chapter Twenty-one

~🖤~

He nodded.

I decided to position my thumb outside my fingers, deliberately but quickly threw the idea. I didn't want him to touch me. Not now, at least.

So, I positioned my thumb over and behind my fingers. It was extremely important, so that, it didn't get dislocate.

We both turned towards each other and started circling each other. This time, I didn't hesitate to look into his eyes.

That was and always has been, my speciality. During fighting and boxing, adrenaline flowed like hell through my system. I kept a steady glance and his was the same. Determination.

"You know, don't you?" He smirked and I smirked back.

Of course, I knew. Thanks, to my brother, who made me learn all these.

He threw a punch, I ducked. It went for a few minutes and I knew, he thought me weak.

So, I threw a punch, straight at his jaw.

He quickly recovered from his shock, by again circling me and this time, he knew, we are equal.

We maintained our stance and our balance, for the upcoming power and mobility. He threw a punch at my abdomen, suddenly, but I spurted just a blood.

We began to punch, duck, use all our uppercuts, some kicks for quite a moment. His jaw was wounded and so was my abdomen, but the adrenaline in our bodies were too high to care about crap. Both of our lips were busted.

The boxing was still on mode.

He kicked a leg on my abdomen, but I jumped on his shoulder and tried to make him fall. Keyword: tried.

He quickly hooked his arm in my thighs and we both fell on the boxing ring.

His weight was pressing on me, my boobs in tight contact with his smooth chest. He was quiet heavy, his arm pressing on my abdomen, and I winced, audibly.

He quickly, pushed a little back, his strong muscled arms, caging me, on the ground. Then, I realised, his groin was pressing hard on my stomach, but that was the feeling I wanted to avoid, I couldn't.

Our breathings were already fast, due to all those adrenaline rush, but this time, they were breathless.

He stared right into my eyes, burning me into flames. I felt too hot, not only by the fighting.

His knuckles brushed my warm cheeks and he smiled. A genuine smile.

But like the 'Black Widow' I am, my instincts followed and for me, I twisted his wrist and pushed him back.

He landed on his butt and I quickly stood up, my cheeks burning, red, from embarrassment, I guess.

I looked down, helped the heavy body aka Heath from the ground and avoided his gaze. Being the nervous wreck, for ruining, my beautiful moment, with him, I tucked a strand of hair, behind my ear.

"Jeez! You're something, Precious!" He smirked.

I rolled my eyes, all embarrassment forgotten. I looked at him.

There was nothing. What was a precious moment, for me, a moment ago, it didn't matter to him. And, I was beginning to hope, again. He never felt, anything.

He was laughing at me, for my instincts and I couldn't help but admire his carefree look.

This same man was attacked a few days ago, and now, it seemed like he was someone different from that day. He looked, strong, young and vibrant, all stress from earlier, forgotten.

His attack, brought a dread to me. And, maybe, Ace's too.

I decided then and there, I will do my everything to protect them and I will either keep my feelings very far away, or I will crush them, completely. He is a player, still, if he looks happy to spend time with Anna, let be so.

"You are officially nominated to join the mission." He gave me a salute.

I didn't smile, didn't answer, instead, thinking about the safety of my secret crush, and Ace, I jumped off the ring.

I passed Ace who was teaching Anna about the fighting poses. I was glad, they were not messing around, but Ace kept Anna's safety in his priority list.

I cleaned myself from the towel, drank water and sat for sometime, deep in thought.

"What's up?" I looked up to see Antonio, leaning against the locker.

I shrugged, not answering.

He pushed himself against the locker and came to me, sat beside me. He wrapped his bulky arms around my shoulders and turned me towards him.

"I am here, always." That was my confessing point.

"I think, I'm falling for him." I whispered, leaning on his arms.

"Heath?"

"Ye- Wait. Why do you think, it's him?" I frowned. Was I that obvious?

"You are transparent, Girl!" He winked.

I laughed, nudging him.

"What's the problem? I don't understand." He frowns.

"He doesn't care about me, at all." I sighed.

"He's hot." I scowled, "Okay! He's yours but he's hot." He chuckled.

"Yeah." I rolled my eyes and continued, "Aren't you taken?"

"I am. Ed won't mind for a threesome, though." He winked.

My nose, wrinkled. "You and your fantasies. But no sidetracking. I am not charmed by your gay policies." I punched his arms.

"You got me." He winked, "But really, Heath loves you."

"Love? You never said that. No one said that. And I didn't say, I love him. It's just a teeny bit of crush. It'll go away, I am sure. Plus, he likes Anna, a lot, I can tell. She's beautiful, why woul-"

He cut of my rambling. "Calm down." And rubbed my back, soothingly.

I take two deep breaths and look at him for some advice, explanation, anything.

"He cares about me, I guess. Cause, there's so much tension radiating, others can even feel it." I shook my head, at his crap.

"Hear me." He orders, "You don't have a crush on him. If you had, I wouldn't have found you here, alone, that too, deep in thought."

I lower my head. He was right. My feelings, were growing, within a very short time.

"He doesn't want commitments." I mumbled.

"One at a time. I will come to that." I waited.

"So, here, I don't know, about Anna. Isn't she your best friend? You should talk with her."

I scowled. "Anna and Heath, already slept yesterday. I told you he's a womanizer. My only hope is that Anna likes Ace."

"I understand. You don't want to talk about this to her, cause she's somewhat the reason."

"Exactly." I nod.

"Don't get tensed up. You're a big girl. You can kick ass but you can't do anything, if he doesn't care about you." He smiles at me.

I smile back. Antonio was at least, Seven years older than me, and he's like a brother. I could tell him anything, except my family. No one except Anna and Heath knew about that.

He stood up and waved me a hand.

"Callista! If you want to kick ass, gimme a call!" I laughed and he added. "And, I think I should bring him out of his misery. Ace and Anna already know." He whispered the last part.

Still laughing, I packed my bag of my necessities and slipped on my loose t-shirt, then put my hair in a messy bun.

I exited the room, to find, Ace and Anna, already changed. I didn't even see her changing. Maybe, there was a known reason, cause she was blushing furiously and Ace was smirking.

Antonio was drinking water. He winked at me, as I came close by.

The only person, who's mood was not up to his level, was Heath. Maybe, he wasn't immune to Ace and Anna's flirting.

I quickly pecked Antonio's cheek, Anna did the same and waited for the boys, to complete their handshake ceremony.

Ace grinned at Antonio but when the testosterone level was increasing when Heath and Antonio shook hands.

Antonio looked at me, while gripping Heath's hand, while the later did the same. Their jaws were clenched, veins protruding and it seemed, either one of them, will snap the other.

I nodded, while Anna, Ace and some other people who just arrived, were watching the unspoken contest, with amusement.

Suddenly, Antonio laughed and it echoed my the whole gym.

"Jealous much?" Antonio winked. I scowled, with his abrupt flirting.

"Stay away." Heath growled.

"Jeez! I will or my Boyfriend will kill me."

The shock on Heath's face was a delightful sight. His jaw that was tightened a moment ago, was hanging loose. The chuckles of the onlookers reverberated throughout the gy.

He quickly recovered himself. "Bo-Boyfriend?"

Antonio grinned, "Hi, I'm gay. You're hot." He winked straight at me.

I kept my face blank, as Heath, first scowled at Anna and Ace, then at the audience and then stared blankly at me.

His gaze wasn't solved by me, as he quickly turned away and grinned at Antonio.

"Thanks!" He laughed, "You should've told me sooner."

Antonio and Heath did some manly talk, and I was grateful, Antonio didn't mention me. I was secretly relieved.

Our little gang for the day – Ace, Anna, Heath and I – bid our final byes to Antonio and left the gym.

Just as I was going to cross the car, to drive my car, someone spun me around.

"You have some explaining to do."