“He loved you,” Mrs. Yan says to me, squeezing me tighter.

“I loved him too,” I answer.

“Then you better not be a stranger now.”

“Promise.”

From then, I go through the procedure of checking his vitals one last time, just to confirm, and then I call the medical center that will be taking his remains. Mr. Yan donated his body to science, because of course he did.

I spend the next few hours with the family, which is not something I usually do, but today was supposed to be my day off and since I don't have to be at the gym until four, I have the time. We sit around and drink coffee and eat the casseroles everyone has brought over, and for the first time ever, I feel like I’m part of a real family. I feel welcome.

And then I think of Rafe.

I should tell him about my match. I should, but I don’t. I don’t know why, but it’s just been so long since we last spoke that I’m afraid he’s moved on and probably wouldn’t care anyway.

I also don’t tell Ezra because I don’t want him getting all worked up about it. Tonight is about me, and what I’ve trained for. He’ll just get mad or try to talk me out of it. They both would.

So I made a deal with myself instead. If I win tonight, I will call them both. I will mend what we broke six months ago, assuming they’ve changed.

If I lose, I’ll keep at it. Keep fighting. This break wasn’t just for them. It was for me too.

And if I have something to fight for, I stand much more chance of winning.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I have been watching them both a little. Rafe doesn’t use the gym downstairs anymore, and according to Vic, he doesn’t fight anymore either. Well, not here at least, since they officially shut down the illegal betting.

When I see him out the window as he gets off his bike, I notice the way his body has changed. He’s filled out and his skin looks about three shades tanner from those early morning runs I’ve noticed he’s been taking.

He’s changed. I can tell, and he did it for me, so the least I can do is text him.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Rafe

It wasn’t just getting a text from Shelby that threw me off. It was the fact that I got six in a row, which would have been fine if the third one didn’t outright say she would be fighting in a match at Vic’s tonight.

Hey. I know this is out of the blue, but I hope you’re doing well.

I didn’t mean for that to sound so formal. I’m not good at this. For all I know you’ve completely moved on, and if that’s the case, just completely ignore this.

Dammit. The whole point of this was to invite you to Vic’s tonight. I’m having my first match. I’ve been training for six months, and I’m really nervous.