Ground & Pound: A Best Friends To Lovers Romance (Fighting For Love) Read online

  A Fighting For Love

  Spin-off Novella

  Copyright © 2021 by Harley Reid

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission from the author, except for the use of short quotations in a book review or graphic for social media.

  For more information, please contact [email protected]. Ground & Pound is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Playlist

  Ground & Pound

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Author's Note

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Enjoy this book?

  Want a free book?

  About the author

  Have you read Fight Like A Girl?

  Invisible Man ~ 98 Degrees

  Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely~ Backstreet Boys

  I Want It That Way ~ Backstreet Boys

  Tearin’ Up My Heart ~ NSync

  If I Let You Go ~ Westlife

  I Love The Way You Love Me ~ Boyzone

  Flying Without Wings ~ Westlife

  All I Have To Give ~ Backstreet Boys

  Fool Again ~ Westlife

  I Want You Back ~ NSync

  Because Of You ~ 98 Degrees

  Listen on Spotify here

  When she walked into my life with her gigantic smile, I didn’t expect her to become my best friend. But here we are ten years later and friendship is no longer enough.

  A twenty-one year old virgin. I waited for the one person I can picture myself building a life with, but it turns out she’s been right in front of me this whole time.

  There’s only one problem… she’s dating someone else.

  They say you should never blur the line between friendship and relationship, but what happens when you cross it?

  If you have ever felt insecure in your own skin, this one is for you!

  xoxo,

  Harley

  “A friend is one who knows you, and loves you just the same.”

  ~ Elbert Hubbard

  Dear Reader,

  Hey, I am so happy that you have picked up this little novella. I know how precious your time is and words cannot describe how much I appreciate you choosing to spend a little of it with me and my characters.

  Here’s a few important things you should know about Ground & Pound:

  It is a spin-off story from Fight Or Flight so I highly recommend that you read that first for maximum enjoyment.

  It is much shorter than my usual books. At around 15k words, it is really just a little quickie that you can read easily in one sitting.

  Profits from sales are being donated to BLISS for premature and sick babies, as chosen by my official Facebook Group.

  Oh, did I also mention that there will be some scenes of a sexual nature as well as strong language that is not suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised.

  This book also includes references to alcoholism and eating disorders, if these subjects are triggering for you please proceed with caution.

  Okay, with all that said, please enjoy.

  xoxo,

  Harley

  “Wait here. I’ll only be a second.” I tell Stephen as he gets out of the driver’s side to follow me across the road. I saunter towards the gym entrance, leaving him casually leaning against his car. I can’t believe my best friend is finally going to meet my boyfriend.

  Boyfriend. Wow that feels so strange to say. Especially considering I’m almost twenty-one and he’s the first person I’ve ever referred to as that.

  I know, I know. Being a twenty-year-old who has never had a proper relationship is weird, right? But here’s the thing. I was ill growing up and my parents never let me go anywhere. Sucks, huh?

  Plus, for the past nine years, I’ve had a major crush on a certain somebody. Can you believe, I somehow convinced myself that one day we would end up together. But that day isn’t coming any time soon.

  I enter the huge open space and glance towards the weights section. I’m sure Tyler said they were scheduled for resistance training this morning. Obviously not, because they’re nowhere to be seen. After a few more steps, I spot them by the hanging punch bags.

  Even in a crowded gym, they are almost impossible to miss. A stocky, long haired, tanned God-like Mateo certainly stands out in a crowd but put him next to a dark, brooding, tattooed biker Cam, and your eye is naturally drawn in their direction.

  And then there is Tyler. At five foot six, he’s quite a bit shorter than both of them and a lot leaner in build. With more of a muscular runner stature, he isn’t as beefy as either of his training partners, but he is every ounce as handsome. Oh, who am I kidding, he’s fucking gorgeous. Short blonde hair with a slight side part, dark blue eyes with dancing amber flecks and strong arms. Although considering he looks like one of my favourite boy band members of all time, you could say I’m a little biased.

  “Hey guys.” My grin spreads from ear to ear as I stride over to them. I’m fairly sure Tyler is driving them insane with tales of what he got up to at the weekend and what ladies he’s had the pick of this week. I love him to bits, but the guy can have any woman he wants, and from what he tells everyone, he absolutely takes full advantage. I just don’t understand where he finds the time. “You boys look like you’ve been working up an appetite.”

  “I’d like to think so, we’ve been at it for the last two hours.” Saliva practically drips from Mateo’s mouth as I approach. I can’t blame him though. For something I threw together in a hurry, it smells amazing. “What’s on the menu today then?”

  “I’ve gone with baked chicken, grilled asparagus and aubergine, lightly tossed in olive oil with a side of black beans. Lots of protein, slow-release carbs and it tastes delicious.” As I hand the bag over to Tyler, a group of guys walk past.

  Everybody knows the type, complete D-bags who think they are better than everyone else and that women like me have no place in a gym. They think that just because I am a little heavy, they can make fun of me but the jokes on them because I love my body.

  It might not always have been the case but over the last couple of years, I have learned to love every stretch mark, every inch of jiggly skin and even the flabby folds that form when I sit down. It’s been a long road to get here but I can honestly say, I adore my size sixteen self, flaws and all.

  Tyler’s brow furrows, his expression grows darker, with animalistic rage. I can tell he’s about to retaliate—and I love that about him—but I’m a big girl. I can look after myself. “What’s the matter boys, are you intimidated by a woman with a bit of meat on her bones?”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Mateo, Cam and Tyler watching as the idiots get a taste of their own medicine and scurry away sheepishly. That’ll teach them.

  “You’ll have to fend for yourself for the next day or two because I’m going aw
ay for a few days.” The guys nod, digging into the food I brought without a second thought. Except Tyler. I’m almost certain I told him I was going away with Stephen so it’s not exactly a surprise. Maybe he forgot. “I’m going away with my boyfriend. He’s outside if you want to meet him, Ty.”

  I’ve been meaning to introduce the two of them for a while now, but I wasn’t sure. Although, I’m still not sure it’s such a good idea. But me and Stephen have been dating for almost four months, so I guess it’s time for him to meet the people I care about most in the world.

  Dad set us up after the company he works for did a little work on re-branding the bakery, so he’s already met my parents. He even got their seal of approval so now; it just leaves Ty and the girls. So, what if it isn’t that serious, I can’t put it off forever.

  Without responding, Tyler races towards the entrance and I struggle to catch up. I really need to start running again, or at least go swimming more than once a week. “Ty, wait up!”

  Catching up to him as he stops dead in his tracks outside the gym, I hunch over, gasping for air. It was only about a hundred metres so why is my heart threatening to burst out of my chest at any given moment?

  Once my cardiovascular system recovers enough to function, I straighten up and glance at Tyler. The tension in his muscles is visible for the whole world to see as he glares at Stephen with an expression I can’t quite read. What on earth has gotten into him today? “Bloody hell Ty, where’s the fire?”

  “You can’t be fucking serious?” He spins to face me, darkness building behind his aqua blue eyes. “You can’t go away with him.”

  “Last time I checked. This was a free country.” We stand eye to eye, caught in some kind of Mexican standoff, my hand poised and ready to slap him if he continues with this nonsense. “You don’t even know anything about him. Just speak to him.”

  “I don’t need to hear a word from him to know he is not right for you.” Not right for me? What the fuck is wrong with him? “You are not going away with him.”

  Stephen is a great guy. He’s got a good job that pays well, owns his own house and even my dad likes him. And my dad growls at any male that so much as glances my way. So what if we don’t have a lot in common. Don’t they always say that opposites attract anyway?

  “The hell I’m not!” I spit through clenched teeth as Stephen pushes off the wall and approaches. “You’re my best friend and I love you Ty, but right now, you’re acting like a dick.”

  Please be nice. Please be nice. Please be nice.

  “You’re my best friend and I love you Ty, but right now, you’re acting like a dick.” She’s doing the thing where she gazes up at me with puppy dog eyes through those thick, dark lashes of hers and my resolve to hate this guy melts.

  I knew she was seeing someone, but I had no idea it was serious enough for her to be going away with him. And calling him her boyfriend. What the fuck is that all about?

  Maybe I should give him a chance. There’s got to be a reason she’s dating him. Surely, he has some redeemable qualities if she likes him, right? Too bad I can’t spot any.

  When I first saw him, he was leaning casually against a car on the opposite side of the road in his expensive suit, his dark hair slicked back with a shit ton of gel. And what’s with the aftershave? I can smell him from all the way over here.

  She’s not supposed to end up with someone like him. What could she possibly see in the guy that’s currently walking towards us? And why do I even care who she dates? It’s not as if I like her in that way.

  She’s just a friend. A very close friend who I trust completely and share everything with. Well, everything except what goes on at home.

  “Hey, you must be Tyler?” Stephen holds out a hand, which I ignore. I know blokes like him, and they look down on guys like me. We’re not, and never will be friends. “Paige has told me so much about you.”

  Paige has told me so much about you. Urgh. Seriously, who does this guy think he is? Running a hand through my dirty blond hair, I stand in silence, waiting for her to somehow realise what a mistake she’s making. But she doesn’t.

  “Come on, we better get going if we want to miss the traffic.” She grabs his hand, interlocking her fingers with his as they turn and head to the car. “Catch you later Ty.”

  Shit. Would it have really killed you to be nice to him for a few seconds?

  With one hand tucked firmly into the pocket of my sweats and the other rubbing the back of my neck, I follow their every movement. A glimmer of hope ignites when she glances back at me. But disappears as soon as she turns her attention back to him.

  What the hell is wrong with me? Why do I wish it was my hand in hers?

  Hopefully a few days apart will do us both the world of good.

  Watching them drive away before heading back into the gym to grab some food is excruciating. The guys have finished eating when I get back and although Cam is chilling on his phone, Mateo is nowhere to be seen.

  “Where’s Matty?” I ask, as I take a seat on the mats, pick up my microwavable tub, peel the lid off and shovel the delicious meal into my mouth.

  “He had a call.” Cam glances up from his mobile and gives the place a quick once over before returning his interest to the device in his hand. “What the fuck was that all about, man?”

  “What?” I know exactly what he means, I struggle to find the right words to answer.

  “You and Paige.” Placing his phone back into his bag, he sits down beside me. “You like her.”

  “She’s been my best friend as long as I can remember. I’m only looking out for her.”

  We were only eleven when we met in Hyde Park, both of us on our way home from school (different schools, because she’s posh and well, I am not). Some older lads were giving the new kid a hard time and she was the only one who ever bothered to stand up for me. We’ve been friends ever since.

  “Yeah, I’m sure that’s all it is.” He eyes me curiously. I’m pretty sure both him and Mateo think there is something more going on. I don’t know how many times I have to tell them it’s not the case. Yes, of course I think she is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. She understands me more than I get myself and when I think of her with him, I want to scream, but we’re just friends.

  Me and Paige have never been anything more than friends and I would never do anything to risk losing her. Until I fucked everything up today, that is.

  “Hey guys, I’ve got an appointment this afternoon. Are you both okay if I do a bit of cardio and then shoot off?” Mateo appears from the direction of the changing rooms, clutching his phone. “We might have a great opportunity to get more exposure for the charity, so...”

  “Go. We’ll be fine here. Didn’t you say you needed to pop out to visit the doc anyway Cam?” He nods, checking his messages again. “I’ll finish lunch, do some cardio and if Cam’s still not back, I’ll practice some wrestling drills on the throw bag with one of the guys.”

  Mateo knows how grateful I am to his charity and everything it has done for me.

  When my gran died, I was fourteen and pretty much left to fend for myself. She raised me because my mum couldn’t even bear to look at me. You should have seen her face when she realised she would actually have to be a parent or put me into care and risk losing the house. The house that as of my twenty-first birthday, I now own.

  She chose to be my mother, but sometimes I think that a foster home might have been the better option. I started acting out, got in with the wrong crowds and picking pockets for a little extra cash. And that’s how I met Mateo.

  He was one of the people I tried to steal his wallet, only he noticed and tackled me to ground before putting me in a choke hold. Obviously, I fought like hell. Using all the wrestling skills I had at my disposal as a championship level junior wrestler. But he was too skilled of an opponent.

  If it wasn’t for him, I would more than likely be in prison by now. He saw something in me, something I didn’t even see in myself. When I
was trying to burn my world to the ground, he helped me turn my rage into something constructive. And for that, I will always be grateful.

  Now look at me. I’m ranked in the top fifteen at one of the most successful fighting leagues in the UK and earning money to fight and promote products. Of course, I give back a little by teaching a daily wrestling class to others who were once like me, but I will always be thankful for the second chance his charity gave me.

  Leaving me alone with my food and my thoughts, the guys go about their business. I should apologise to Paige and make things right. I know she’ll only worry if I don’t and as much as I hate him, I can’t stand the thought of me ruining her first time out of the city.

  Stuffing the final bite into my mouth, I grab my phone and type the message out on my screen’s keypad. She probably won’t reply but at least I can say I tried.

  Tyler: Sorry for being an idiot

  I wait for a few seconds but when nothing comes back, I clean up and set up some cones in the empty studio space so I can do some sprints. Most of the guys spend ages on the treadmill, but I can’t stand the things. I prefer to run with a purpose of getting from A to B, not jog on the spot.

  One final check of my phone after I’ve finished setting up and there it is. One new message from Paige.

  Paige: Apology accepted but I’d say you were more of a dick tbh.

  Phew. Thank fuck for that. For a second there I thought I’d ruined everything. Rapidly, I tap out a reply and without thinking, hit send. No, no, no.

  Tyler: You win. Enjoy your time away & see you on Friday. I love you x

  I stare down at those three little words. Why did I send that? Why the fuck did I even type that? It’s no secret that I luv Paige. But do I love her?