Tapout (The Submission Fighter Book 3) Read Free

corner—something that Alice had feared would happen. She positioned herself in a spot where she could slip out through the hallway and back to the kitchen if need be. Using her handheld mirror while she placed her strawberry blonde hair up in a high ponytail, she could also spy who was in the kitchen in case she needed immediate help.
     
    The relationship between Pete and Alice had always been a bit rocky. Ever since she started waitressing, she had suspected that Pete had developed a crush on her. It was all innocent until the night she met Micah. Caroline’s boyfriend had invited the two girls and Pete to an MMA match where she eventually ran into Micah. Not really knowing where their relationship was going (or even if it was one), she continued to tag along with Pete, Jace, and Caroline. And while she was honest about her intentions, she knew that she had played a part in leading on Pete.
     
    Then, one evening, a staggering Pete attempted to force himself on her. She fought back, just enough to get him to leave her alone for the evening. But Alice was left bruised—both emotionally and physically. She attempted to push it out of her mind, to forget it ever happened. But the reality lingered as Pete took his anger out on her work. Nearly a month later, Alice still could feel the weight of his hands around her arm and the smell of his breath upon her cheek.
     
    It was not until Micah found out that matters went from bad to worse. Her knight in black armor took it upon himself to defend her honor. The punch to Pete knocked everything right and everything wrong at the same time. It had made Alice feel Pete’s presence even more, and she was left to wonder if he would still attempt to take his embarrassment out on her.
     
    So far, she hadn’t found much to be afraid of. She attempted positivity at every turn, attempting to smooth the huge folds between the employer and the employee. While Alice realized that Pete would never forget, she had hoped he would let go. And for the most part, he had seemed to do that. Slowly, he had begun talking to her again. He had allowed schedule changes and was flexible about her hours. Instead of putting her to task doing dirty work, he trusted her again to pick up her shifts like the pro-waitress she really was.
     
    Still, being in the locker area with him left her feeling vulnerable and unguarded. The hairs on the back of her neck instinctively rose at the root.
     
    He sat down on a white plastic chair across from her; his legs folded one on top of the other. He stared at her, as she twisted the knot of her hair. His voice, slow and twangy, broke through: “Listen, Alice. I’m real sorry about everything.”
     
    Alice took two steps back. The last thing she was expecting from him was an apology. She staggered, as she replied, “There’s nothing to apologize for. We both did wrong. I just want to get back on a good foot.”
     
    “No, I really do need to apologize. I was an ass, a real big one. I shouldn’t have put you in that position that night, and I should not have disrespected you. You told me it straight, and I was too stubborn to listen.” His voice was firm, as if he had practiced his speech many times before.
     
    “And I’m sorry about the punch. I really am. I did not ask Micah to do that.” Alice wasn’t sure what she should apologize for herself, but she did feel obligated to own up for Micah’s actions.
     
    Pete held up his hand to stop her. “Yeah. I thought you didn’t have much to do with it. He seems like he does what he wants and thinks about it later.”
     
    “That would be him.” Alice was unsure if she was agreeing on an insult or if she was just admitting to her boyfriend’s character flaw. Either way, it did not excuse his violence.
     
    “Let’s just start over. I want us to be okay.” Pete stood up and offered his hand out to her. She looked at it hesitantly and then shook it firmly as she stared into his blue eyes. “After all,”