Nothing Without Love

Josie's POV

“Would you stop tapping your feet?” Adam scolds me from the front seat. I don't respond, just roll my eyes, a silent rebuttal as I lift my butt up and pull my dress down again. I wasn't a huge fan of it, but the event always seems to call for it. I remember going to boxing match after boxing match when my father was a fighter. He couldn't always find babysitters for his few days away so we would go with them. He'd pull us out of school, hiring a tutor to come with us so she could keep us up to date on our work. And we would watch fights. Watch my dad get beat up, watch him beat up other people, I'm sure for others it's something they wouldn't want their children to see but this was my life. That's how Adam and I grew up.

And now Adam has continued. He didn't want to be a boxer like my father so he dabbled in it all and became a UFC fighter. I always try to attend his fights. When I was a teacher it was a little more difficult because I couldn't always fly to see him but when he only fights four times a year, I made it work. It's still a family affair because dad is his trainer. I'm still the cheering section. We've just all gotten older.

The sport is a little more gruesome. I've seep too many compound fractures. I've seen Adam himself dislocate his shoulder, twice. He's come off a fight covered in someone elses blood. He's taken kicks to the face, fractured some of his ribs, dislocated ankles. But I've seen him do worse to others. He's a beast. But he trains hard, for hours a day to get where he's at.

And now here we sit, dad driving, Adam in the passenger seat, and me in the backseat, pulling at the tight dark purple dress. I do love this color. I don't dress up very often so when I do I feel like I need to go all out at times. So my hair is in a slick backed high pony tail, the dress, and some high nude heals. Ophelia usually picks out my things because I can't seem to pull a fancy outfit together. This dress was her choice. I'll have to thank her for that later.

“And we're here.” The after party. I usually just make an appearance. I used to stick around longer when I was freshly twenty-one because the alcohol was free. But I swear in just four years I'm usually tired of the party scene. Adam won tonight, with a knock out so I'll stick around later but I usually like to be in and out.

Adam makes his way out first, a small crowd has gathered and they erupt in cheers over his appearance. I groan as he's rushed by women in scantly clad dresses, trying to take a picture with him or pass them his number. He usually never goes home alone when he wins a fight. I used to make it my mission to bug the shit out of him during these parties so he wouldn't go home with someone, just because I thought it was funny. That was before I was twenty-one.

I plop myself down on the VIP couches while my dad makes the rounds. He's been in this industry for so long that he knows everyone. Or knows someone who knows that someone, or knows their parents, the list goes on and on. He'll come to these events and won't make it to the couches until three hours later. I could be like that, but I'm a girl that's wearing high heals, I like couches.

I cross my ankles and lean back just slightly, observing everyone in this club. I've learned that sometimes when people learn who your brother is or better yet who your dad is. Everyone in the world grew up watching or hearing about Tommy “The Gun”, and she's listen to hours upon hours of people describing their feelings and thoughts from his fights. As if she wasn't there and had no idea what they were talking about.

Drinks are flowing and I'm still waiting for Ophelia to get here. She said she would stop by but you just never know with her sometimes. Her and Adam had a thing when we were in high school, and even though it's been close to ten years, they're still awkward around each other at times. They do their best but I feel like a lot of things didn't get said when they ended it. Plus they were so young it really shouldn't matter. But it's not my relationship, I'd just rather have my best friend here to make impressions of people we see or at the very least just get drunk with.

But I'm so proud of my brother. He works hard for his victories. He's not one of those people that has had everything handed to. I've been with him during a training session and they're brutal. It surprises me when he doesn't throw up. So he deserves these nights. It doesn't last, maybe a weekend and then he's back to training. He's already twenty-eight, days are numbered in this profession.

I'm already bored.

The waitress comes over and drops off a tray of drinks and I make my selection wisely, a Captain and coke, champagne is on ice in the corner, but Adam always insists on getting drunk and shaking the bottle, spraying it all over as the night goes on. I used to stay that long, now I'd rather not go home sticky with dried champagne all over me.

I've decided I'm done with sitting by myself for the time being as I set my empty drink down and make my way to the restroom. By my calculations I'll only be staying for an extra hour. Weaving in and out of drunk people, trying not to get drinks splashed on me, it's always a challenge. I duck into the bathroom, surprised their isn't a line as I do my business quickly. I've never been a fan of public restrooms. I decide that I should maybe have just one more drink then skip out. Ophelia sent me a text and said she was out at another place so unless I tag along with Adam or my dad I'll be alone for the rest of the hour.

Adam is chatting with some friends that I recognize so I decide to grab another Captain and coke and make my way over to socialize.

“Hey brother.” I greet him and stand next to him, half listening to their conversation and sipping on my drink, looking around the room. I swear I'm more of a people watcher than a people person.

“Having fun?” Adam asks.

“Um, yeah.” I fake a smile and I know he knows I'm not entirely truthful but he smiles and gives me a one arm hug anyway.

And that's when I see him. Holy shit, can I just ever get away from him? I swear, it's like he's everywhere I go. He looks over and I can't hide myself quickly enough so I know he sees me. I let out a breath and I hope that he doesn’t come over to me and try to talk to me. Things are just awkward and I really don't want to dredge it all up because I work for his friend now! The world needs to be a hell of a lot bigger as far as I'm concerned. Like, why couldn't he have just stayed in London? Now he lives in LA.

He's chatting with a rather large group of people, they're all talking, laughing. I keep stealing glances but trying not to have him notice me. I know that day when I went to Niall and Erica's he told Niall he wasn't attracted to me. So that made me feel nice. We slept together and he wasn't even attracted to me, probably just an easy lay. It grosses me out. I've slept with four people, and three of them I was in a relationship with.

I shake thoughts out of my head and lean against my brother just a little more, trying to involve myself more in the conversation when I discover my drink is gone.

“I'm going to head out.” I turn to Adam to let him know.

“So soon?” He asks.

“Yeah, I'm just tired, I've had my two drink limit.” I smile and give him a one arm hug. “You did good today brother. Meet you tomorrow for lunch?” I ask, it's always our tradition. Lunch or dinner the day after his fight with dad.

“All right. Be good sis.” He kisses me hair and I'm off with a few more goodbyes to the group. I find my dad easily enough and let him know I'm on my way, we've been here for an hour and he hasn't even made it to the bar yet.

“Josie!” I hear my name from behind and I just know it's Louis trying to get my attention. I squeeze my eyes together and I just don't know if I want to deal with this. I mean, right here? This isn't the place nor the time.

I look over my shoulder and I can't see him or anyone whose actually trying to get my attention so I take this as the opportunity to make my great escape from this party.

Notes

Soooo they haven't interacted yet, but I swear, next chapter, it's coming! And for a few chapters so it's happening. :)

Hope you are all having a wonderful day! Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments, votes, subscriptions, and reads! You are all so important to me. Have a great Friday!!

xoxoxox