Now, gore rose to my throat as Johnson’s trainer and the doctors rushed in to check him out. The world tilted sickly.

Get up. Get up. Get up.

But he was out. I knew that. I could barely see him though the group of working docs, just his legs, stretched out, boxing boots pointing away from each other.

Someone grabbed my arm. Jimmy. “Great hit, kid!”

My ears were ringing. I couldn’t breathe.

Get up. Get up.

Dean came to my other side, his voice tight but firm. “He’ll be all right. Just a hard hit.”

Hard hit. To the head. Why’d I do it?

Johnson’s dark brown legs changed in my mind to pale ones. His red and white shorts became blue. Jake lying there, gone.

I was going to be sick. The crowd jostled. A camera pushed in my face.

Get up.

But then another touch, soft on my lower belly, a gentle stroke. I blinked and looked down. Parker stared up at me with wide brown eyes. “Rhys. It’s okay.”

Was it? I couldn’t answer her.

She leaned into my side, heedless of the sweat. “Just breathe, baby.”

Breathe. Was Johnson breathing?

But then … movement. Johnson stirred, and I swear my legs nearly gave out. Slowly, they helped him sit up. He was dazed, his bell clearly rung. But he was alive. My breath finally came, exploding from me in silent sob.

I didn’t fucking care what impression I made. I stalked forward and crouched down. His gaze was unfocused, and I put an arm on his shoulder to steady him. “Hey, man. You all right?”

It took him a second, but he answered slowly. “Good hit. Fucked me up.”

A laugh, broken and weak, left me. “Yeah. Good match.”

His gaze was still bleary, and I doubted he’d remember this. But he huffed, “Next time.”

I knew what he meant. He’d return the favor next match. But this was it for me. As much as I loved the sport, I was officially done.

I had a new life now. For the first time in years, I couldn’t wait for it to get started.

* * *

“I know I shouldn’t talk about it,” Parker said the next day as she curled up next to me on my bed. Sunlight streamed in through the wall of windows and turned her skin a deep, glowing honey. “But watching you fight was sexy as …” She bit her pink bottom lip.

“As fuck?” I supplied with a brow wiggle.

Her cheeks plumped on a grin, and she spread her hand over my abs. “Well, yes.”

I chuckled but stopped as a shard of pain shot up my side. “Shit, don’t make me laugh.”