Spent - Part 1 (Spent, a New Adult Romance, MMA Series) (4 page)

Richards is moving much slower than before. Derrick notices and brutally thrusts his knee against his thigh, causing his leg to give and sending him down to the ground on his knees as the round ends.
 

Subdued, and in pain, Luke Richards submits, giving the victory to the man who cheated. Richards’ handsome, battered face looks so blank and confused. I want so badly to reach out to him and tell him that I’m so sorry.
 

The crowd erupts into a fit of applause and cheers. Derrick eats right into it and starts jeering at Richards by giving him a gloved thumbs down and mockingly laughing at him. Cameron squeezes my hand, I can tell from her expression that she already knows that I’ve made up my mind about my relationship.
 

“Let’s go,” I whisper into her ear, “I just want to get out of here.”

“Okay, Sweety,” her compassionate expression makes me want to cry, but I’m too angry for tears right now, “What about Derrick?”
 

“He can get a ride from one of his trainers. Riding in a car with him for several hours is the last thing I want to do right now. I’ll get Big Mike to tell him that we’ve left.”
 

Cameron nods, “Okay, honey. I’m so sorry.”
 

For a moment, mine and Derrick’s eyes lock. He’s still mocking Richards, who has already walked out of the arena. I shake my head, trying to show all of the disappointment and sadness that I’m feeling. His shoulders shrug as he stares apathetically at me and turns his attention back to the crowd.
 

“I’m done,” I mutter to myself, for no one in particular to hear. Cameron side hugs me and leads me away from the arena.
 

Big Mike is standing at the doorway. Even he looks at me with pity. I can feel my face flush from embarrassment.
 

“Hey Mike, can you do me a favor?”
 

“Anything, Tash.”

“Could you tell Derrick that he needs to find a ride with someone else?”

“Sure thing. You better hurry up and get gone. He won’t be too happy when he hears that,” Mike embraces me, “Take care of yourself, Tasha.”

“Will do. Take care, Mike.”

As we make our way through the back, copper hair catches my eye. Richards has been somewhat cleaned up already and is packing up his gear. Only a few gashes mar his beautiful face. He notices me looking at him and smiles; a half-hearted smile that makes me want to run up to him and hug him. I edge closer, preparing to tell him that he fought well.
 

A hard hand grips around my arm, yanking me away from Cameron’s grasp, “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Derrick barks far too loudly, causing several heads to turn to look at us.
 

“I’m leaving,” I whisper, trying to break my arm away from him. Derrick’s eye is still swollen shut, crimson smeared across his face.
 

“Like hell you are…”

“Is there a problem over here?” Luke Richards is beside us, his voice deep and challenging.
 

“Get the fuck out of my face, Richards,” Derrick makes a fist at Richards. The bigger man doesn’t move, but stands his ground, his expression stoic.
 

“I think you need to let go of her before you do something you’re going to regret, Baptiste.”
 

Big Mike is behind Derrick in an instant, hooking his bulking arms through Derrick’s and yanking him away from me. Derrick is on the ground, Big Mike penning him down with his massive body.
 

“Get out of here, Tasha. Mr. Baptiste won’t be following you. Ain’t that right, Derrick?”
 

“Yeah, yeah,” Derrick mutters under his breath, his dark eyes burning into me with an unspoken threat.
 

I nod my head at Richards and Mike, mouthing
thank you
to them. Richards nods back in reply, but Big Mike is too busy barking into Derrick’s ear. Cameron grabs me by the arm, pulling me away from the man I thought I loved.

As I shrug my green cardigan over my shoulders, I stare out my bedroom window. A light sprinkling of snow is falling on the ground, but so far, none of it is sticking. I sigh, realizing the first day of the spring semester likely won’t be getting canceled today from the snow. Despite the fact that I finally have a reason to get out of the house since I dissolved contact with Derrick, I just don’t feel like facing an early morning filled with biology.
 

Glancing over at my phone resting on the end table by my bed, I look to see if I have any messages. Two missed calls and three text messages are written across the dimly lit screen. Sighing, I pick it up to see who's chasing me. Right now I’m at a weak point in my tribulation that I know I might feel compelled to go to him if Derrick asks me to.
 

Clicking buttons, I scan through the text messages. They’re all from Cameron. Ignoring them, I move on to the other messages. I purse my lips, pressing the speaker button so I can hear the voice messages while I finish getting dressed. My mother’s voice quickly fills the room.

“Tasha, honey. It’s your mom. Cameron told me what happened between you and Derrick.”

I roll my eyes.
Of course Cameron did…

*“I’m so sorry, baby. Call me back as soon as you can. I want to know that you’re okay. Love you, Pumpkin.” *

The next voicemail begins to play, again, my mom’s voice fills the room,
“Tash, it’s your mom. I need you to call me. Vincent and I are planning a trip in the next few weeks and we really want to see you. Love you! Call me soon!”

Hitting the delete button, I shove my phone in my back pocket. I know I’ll have to call my mom back eventually, but right now, I just want to focus on getting through the first day of university. If I can make it through today without breaking down and crying, then I should be able to survive the rest of the school year, and possibly even survive a trip with my mom and stepdad.
 

I slide my feet into my flats. My toes will probably get cold, but the added benefit of being able to slip off my shoes while at my desk is worth a little chill. Leaning over, I pick up my bookbag. I take in a deep breath when I notice what was lying underneath the it.
 

His towel.

Typically I wouldn’t have allowed a bath towel to go unwashed for a week, but I just haven’t been in the mood to keep up with laundry, or any kind of cleaning, for that matter. A soft smirk makes its way across my face when I think about Derrick and his inability to pick up after himself. At least I won’t be dealing with any more dirty clothes in random corners of my apartment.
 

It’s been over a week since I last saw him. He messaged my phone a few times, mainly leaving nasty messages about how much of a bitch I am and how he had to beg his trainer to take him home. After day two of the breakup, though, I stopped hearing from him. A sinking feeling overwhelms my body for a moment when I think about how he wasn’t at all interested in fighting to keep me, but instead was more focused on calling me out. But I’ve finally realized that it doesn’t matter, because it had always been a one-sided relationship.
 

Gingerly, I pick up the towel. It’s stiff, ridiculously stiff. Sighing, I toss it over into the overflowing laundry basket. I’ll have to tackle that project, along with all of the other things I’ve been neglecting this week, when I get home. Slinging my bookbag over my arm, I take in a breath and walk out of the place that has been my refuge for the past week.
 

Cold air hits my face like a brick wall. Even though the sun is dim, my eyes still squint when the natural light shines down on me. The crisp winter air makes it difficult to breathe and the added weight of my hunkered down bookbag certainly isn’t helping. I make a mental note to myself to never become an actual hermit. My one week experiment in hermitism was more than enough for me to realize it isn’t the most optimal lifestyle for my health and overall well being.
 

Walking briskly, I make my way towards the science building for my first class, trying my best to get out of the cold air as quickly as possible. On a day like today, I realize that having an apartment on campus, even if it’s a slightly dingy one, is better than having to drive to school every morning.
 

As I enter the science building, I’m immediately greeted with a warm blast of air from the central heating. My skin begins to wrinkle against the sudden temperature shift, causing me to feel like it’s beginning to crack. As I make a mental note to bring lotion with me tomorrow, I quickly realize that I’ll likely have a long list of mental notes before the day is over with.
 

Getting back into the swing of attending school daily after a break has always been difficult for me and this semester will likely be no exception, since it will be my first week without Derrick in over a year. My only hope is that Derrick and I don’t inadvertently end up in a class together, but the chances are pretty low since I’m almost positive he’s already taken this course.
 

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my list of room numbers for this semester, trying to figure out where in this academic labyrinth, biology class is in. For three years, I’ve managed to avoid this building, but my senior year finally snuck up on me, forcing me to take the one science subject I need for my English major.
 

Room 218.

I look at the numbers on the rooms beside me, and realize that I’m still a floor and a corridor from class. I’m suddenly grateful that I had the idea to leave home fifteen minutes early. I should be able to manage to make it right on time. My damp flats click against the marble steps as I quickly make my way up the stairs to the second floor.
 

The room I need ends up being the first room on the left from the stairs, saving me time and as I place my hand on the cold metal door knob, I take in a deep breath. This semester isn’t starting off the way I would have wanted it to, but I allow confidence to find it’s way through the fog and make a determined decision to enter the room with the resolve in knowing that things are going to get better. I open the door and walk inside.
 

Apparently I’m not the only one who signed up for basic biology this semester. The entire room is filled with students, nearly to its maximum capacity. I scan the room, trying my best to find at least one empty seat amongst the crowd of students. Managing to spot two empty chairs near the back, I rush towards them, hoping I can get to at least one of them before the other students who are filtering in can get them.
 

I grin when my butt sits down on the hard wood of the school desk chair. The view of the podium is perfect from this range, while not being too close to the teacher to have to potentially make eye contact with him. Somehow I managed to arrive to a class on time and even find a seat in a spot I like. This has to be a new record for me. Already the semester is getting off to a good start. I kick off my shoes and pull out my biology textbook and binder from my bookbag, feeling fully prepared to tackle my worst subject.
 

“Is the seat beside you taken?” a deep voice asks from behind me.
 

“All yours,” I don’t look up, my eyes are buried into my binder as I look over the syllabus.
 

The tight butt that scoots past to get into the seat beside me catches my eye. Whoever this guy is, he certainly knows how to wear a pair of slacks. Greedily, my eyes take in as much of his firm behind as I can before he moves past me entirely. My eyes dart back down to my binder once he’s past me. I don’t want him to notice that I was gawking. I make a mental note to wait to leave until he gets up, just so I can catch a peek of that adorable backside again.
 

“Have we met?” his deep baritone voice hums besides me.
 

Ugh. Cute ass aside, I am so NOT in the mood to get hit on today...

His voice does sound slightly familiar. Turning my nose away from my binder, I look up at him. I freeze. My eyes widen as I take in his handsome face. His copper hair glistens against the bright lights of the room. A small cut remains on his face from the fight, but it is quickly healing.
 

“Richards?” I whisper.
 

He stares at me, quizzically, as if he’s trying to figure out who I am. Suddenly, his eyes widen. His lips part slightly when he realizes who I am. I flush with the heat of his gaze, feeling both desire and embarrassment all in one lethal dose running through my veins.
 

“Good morning.” The professor's dry voice booms into the microphone, “I’m Doctor Greyheart. Let’s begin.”

I quickly turn my gaze to the professor as my heart races. It would make sense that my day would have started off so perfect, only to result in me having to share a class with the hot guy that my ex-boyfriend beat the crap out of.
 

I tempt a peek out of the corner of my eye. Luke Richards is still staring at me, but there’s a different look written across his face than what was there before. I would take an angry or indifferent look from this man any day, but the despondent gaze laced along the beautiful hue of his blue eyes is making my stomach churn.
 

The last thing this poor man should be feeling is sorrow towards me. I still want to hug him and tell him I’m sorry for what Derrick did, but I hold back. I grip my textbook tightly, trying my best to keep my gaze on the lanky professor as he drones on about what he’ll be covering this semester.
 

“Want a Twizzler?” Richards whispers near my ear, causing goosebumps to surface along my skin.  

I look at him, my eyes wide. In his hand is an unopened package of Twizzlers. My mouth quickly begins to salivate. The stash I had in my apartment ran dry on day two of my escapade into hermit living. I had failed to plan out stocking up on my favorite treat before locking myself away in my apartment.