Most people know her as Nurse Frankie, although she’s more than that. She’s practically a doctor, with all of her extra schooling and experience. And she really comes in handy around the gym. It’s kind of perfect, actually.
Who knows, maybe one of these days, she’ll be ringside.
Someone from behind the counter calls out Tempest’s name. “Gotta go,” she says, glancing over my shoulder. “The muffins need me.”
Chuckling, I wave her off and then head out.
The muffins need me too, I think as I dig into the bag and devour half of one of the mammoth baked goods in one bite. By the time I approach the gym, it’s history.
When I walk in the front door, Cage is working with a group of local law enforcement personnel, guiding them through some tactical skills. Tossing the bag at him, he catches it deftly with one hand and gives me a nod of appreciation.
I head upstairs for a shower because I fucking stink. As I pass by the new ring, I see Gunnar sparring with Vince and he’s looking good. The kid has moves most people have never seen before. Some of those are thanks to our big bro, but some of them are all his own. He’s a natural.
“Kick his ass, Sea Bass,” I call out on my way up the stairs, earning me a colorful greeting from both of them that makes me laugh.
As I take the steps two at a time, I unfold the newspaper and flip back to the page with my favorite article.
Greetings, Good People of Green Valley.
How is it that one sentence puts such a pep in my step? When I leave to go back to Dallas, I’m going to have to get Tempest or Frankie to mail me a Green Valley Ledger once a week. In secret, without Cage and Gunnar knowing about it, because I’d never live that shit down.
The word around town is there’s a new addition to Viking MMA.
I smile, loving that the feeling is mutual. My good friends Trixie and Tess can’t get enough of me either. Well, us… the Vikings, so they call us. That term isn’t new. Cage was always known as The Fighting Viking. With our Scandinavian blood, we all look the part. Cage, Gunnar, and Ozzi have lighter blond hair and pale blue eyes. Where Viggo and I took more after our mother and have darker blond hair and deeper blue eyes, but there’s no missing the fact all five of us are related.
Well, butter our butts and call us a biscuit, the Ericksons have been busy!
Word on the Main Street is there’s a new state-of-the-art ring inside Viking MMA. Not the kind you put on a finger, although many of us wonder if that’s also in the works for one of the Fighting Vikings, but we digress. The ring we’re referring to today is the kind most of us have only seen on television, think WWE or UFC.
Our question is what are they planning? Other than an invasion, are they intending on bringing more than a healthy serving of Eye Candy to little ol’ Green Valley, Tennessee?
I smirk at their insightfulness.
Well, Trixie and Tess, you’ll just have to wait and see.
After I've showered and am fresh as a baby’s butt, I pull on some clean workout clothes and then make myself a smoothie. The muffins and coffee are great, but it’s all about balance.
With the sounds of the gym filtering up the stairs, I park myself at the wooden table in the kitchen and open my laptop.
The awesome thing about what I do for both Erickson MMA and Viking MMA is that most of it can be done from anywhere. As long as I have my laptop and my phone, I’m good to go. It makes this little sabbatical a hell of a lot easier and keeps my brothers out of my business for the most part. They don’t really care what’s going on as long as business is handled.
However, Viggo and Ozzi know why I’m here. They’re the ones who encouraged me to get out of town for a while. And they also agreed to keep my need to flee on the downlow, letting me have some time to come to terms with my shitshow of a life.
In return, I promised to keep up with all the promo and marketing for Erickson MMA while I’m gone.
Thankfully, Cage hasn’t been too pushy about getting answers, and Gunnar is so wrapped up in his next big fight and Frankie Reeves he hardly notices other people.
It’s been nice to fly under the radar. Most of my life, I’ve felt overlooked. Being in the middle means I’m not the oldest and I’m not the baby. I’m not as talented as Cage and Gunnar. I’m not as driven as Viggo. I’m not as charming as Ozzi.
I’m just… Vali.
Typical middle child.
Up until six months ago, I was happy with my life, content even. I was starting to really love my position at the gym, doing something I felt passionate about. The promo and marketing side of things is definitely more my speed. Even though I’m not competing or fighting on the regular, I’m in the best shape of my life, finally finding a balance between living and breathing the sport and enjoying it as a hobby. And my personal life was great.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Assumed, maybe.
And we all know what happens when you assume.
Or better yet, when you trust someone.
“Val,” a voice calls up the stairs pulling me out of my thoughts. Shutting my laptop, I stand and stretch and then make my way down to see what’s up.
“Hey,” I say, seeing Vince standing there, obviously spent from his time in the ring. “Cage wants to know if you can spar with Gunnar for a few more rounds. I’ve got somewhere to be and he needs to get in at least another hour’s worth of punches.”
I smirk, shrugging. “If he can catch me.”
Gunnar might be stronger than me, but he’s not faster.
After I get some gear on, I duck under the ropes, and Gunnar and I go a few rounds, falling into an easy rhythm. And just like I said, he has to work to catch me.
“Fuck,” he groans as we come to the end. “Can you just stay in one spot for one damn second?”
Laughing through my mouthpiece, I shake my head and feel the sweat dripping down my face. God, this is good. I really do love this sport. And giving my punk-ass little brother a run for his money. Title belts, my ass.
“You gotta work for it, fucker,” I taunt, going for a cheap jab and then hauling ass to the opposite side of the ring.
Once we’re finished torturing each other, we hop down and dry off. Cage shows up just in time to help us with our gloves and give Gunnar some pointers. When the door opens, all three of us turn to see who’s coming in. It’s an off time of day. Most people are at work, so when a woman walks into the gym, everything else stops.
Like the whole fucking world stops.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Gunnar and Cage seem to be going about their business while Tempest greets the woman and they begin to talk, but not before I catch her looking at me.
She’s gorgeous. But she’s not what I’d normally go for. Most of my past relationships have been with petite blondes. It’s not like I searched them out or anything, but that’s always what I’ve gravitated toward. But maybe that’s because I’ve never seen her.
Instead of being obvious about my ogling, I kneel down and take off my shin guards while watching her in the mirror. There’s nothing petite about her. Or blonde. She has long, dark hair that falls in waves down her back… not too far from her luscious ass. Her curves are all woman and in all the right places.
I know I said I didn’t want a hookup, or even a one-night stand, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad… maybe it’s what I need?