"No, Eddie. I asked you for something!" Maisie shouts the first part, her voice gradually softening.

  It’s one in the morning. Theo’s asleep, and Eddie’s hunched over a bowl of chicken soup that smells amazing and is cooked so deliciously by Maisie that he wonders how he’s the cook in the family and not her.

  But the topic’s something else.

  "Didn’t I tell you something?"

  "I couldn’t not call Rex. It’d be an insult. We’re friends, after all."

  "Some friends. He makes money off you, and you come home with a head twice its size, and I have to hide you from Theo so he doesn’t remember his dad as a freak."

  Maisie’s beautiful even when she’s mad. She’s petite, with neither big breasts nor a big backside, the kind that’s all the rage these days. Her lips are thin and pursed, but her dark eyes are large, and when she feels any emotion—happy or bad—they seem to take over her whole face. Her black hair reaches just below her shoulders, but she almost always wears it tied up because of the heat around here. Maisie’s a strong woman, even if she looks fragile from the outside. And when she yells, Eddie can’t drown her out. But usually, when she’s shouting, it turns him on even more. That’s why he laughs.

  "You’ll wake Theo," he says quietly.

  "If I wake him, I’ll put him back to sleep. You, on the other hand, don’t seem to know how that works."

  Maisie isn’t usually hot-headed and rarely gets angry. So he shifts his tone. He knows she’ll calm down soon and slows the conversation.

  "There were a ton of reservations today. Almost every table had at least two orders. I jokingly asked Cork if he’d ever cook for you if I brought you in. He laughed, so he’d probably agree."

  Eddie knows Maisie isn’t listening. She’s staring at him with a look that could shoot fire right through him. And she can’t wait to bring the conversation back to Rex.

  "Fine, let’s clear it up." Eddie gives in without her saying anything yet. "I didn’t say yes to Rex."

  "What did you talk about?"

  "If I’d cheated on you, you wouldn’t grill me this much."

  "If you’d cheated on me, you’d be drowned in that soup by now."

  "If you’re gonna drown me, at least warm it up."

  Eddie waits and sees he’s almost got her. Maisie’s eyes narrow, and her lips widen. She lowers her head but can’t hold it in and starts laughing. Warmth spreads through Eddie’s chest. He smiles too and takes a spoonful of soup.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Can we talk calmly now?" He knows his wife well and knows she can’t stay mad long. And her sense of humor is brilliant. That’s why he knows how to loosen her up.

  "I don’t want to, Eddie." Maisie’s voice is calmer now. "The last time I saw you..."

  Maisie stops and rubs her eyes.

  Eddie vaguely remembers the last time. He was in the ring with a guy trying to revive his career. He doesn’t recall the name, but he remembers the guy had a record of about twelve wins and six losses. Something seen as more bad than good. The good ones didn’t have that many losses, especially in local matches. That’s why they’d roped Eddie into facing him for just fifteen hundred bucks. Rex was behind it all again back then, but Eddie had only himself to blame. After the first knockdown, he got up. Then took a second and stood again. Which was pointless. The last thing he remembers is old Ballard yelling, "Stay down, stay down." But Eddie got up. And woke up in the locker room, sprawled on the wooden benches. Ballard told him he didn’t want to see him again but then spent the whole night with him at the hospital. Eddie felt indebted to him and hasn’t seen him since.

  Almost a year now.

  "It won’t be like that this time, Maisie."

  "You decided that the moment you called Rex. I get it." Maisie knows him better than well. "Tell me what I can do to change your mind."

  "Ten thousand dollars, Maisie."

  "I don’t care about the money, Eddie, don’t you get it? Even now, you make enough with Cork. Speaking of Cork... Are you thinking of quitting?"

  "No. I’d ask him for time off."

  "And you’ve decided that too?" Maisie’s at least speaking calmly now.

  "I can’t decide anything without talking to you. And if you’re dead set against it, I’ll say no."

  "Who do they want you to fight?"

  "Rory Flint."

  "Who’s Rory Flint? Some kind of star?"

  "Rex said he’s a young star with no losses. He wants..." Eddie pauses. It’s obvious he’s supposed to lose, but what exactly does Rex want from him? "The kid wants to show his managers he’s good."

  "And your head has to take the hit? Don’t they have someone else?"

  "Rex said I’m the best at this." He feels like he sounds childish, but he doesn’t know what else to say.

  He’s never been afraid of anyone in his life except Maisie. As small as she is, she’s got so much strength in her—not so much in her body, but in how she handles him. The way she talks and stands her ground. And she’s almost always right. That’s what annoys Eddie the most.

  "I’ll tell Rex no tomorrow." He agrees.

  "Don’t even call him. He’ll figure it out."

  "We’ve got a meeting. I’ll go and tell him no. Otherwise, it’s disrespectful. Rex has helped me a lot."

  "If you go, you’ll say yes. I know you, Eddie. You can’t say no. Especially when it’s about boxing. And even more when it’s about money."

  "It’s ten thousand dollars. I’ve never even made half that."

  Maisie doesn’t say anything this time. She leans back in the chair across from him, hands on her thighs, staring at him with a look screaming distrust. Eddie meets her eyes and waits for her next words, but they only come when they’re in bed, and she’s pressed against him.

  "If I find out you said yes, Theo and I are going to live with my mom."