Oceans Collide Read online

  “Yes, ma’am. You sure you don’t want to be my personal assistant? I’ll let you work from here if you’d like.” The offer sounded good, but I couldn’t accept it. He already had four personal secretaries that I knew of.

  “No more freebies, Dad.”

  “Okay, okay.” Giving me one last squeeze and a kiss on the forehead, Antonio Acosta climbed into his Mercedes rental and drove away. Love you, dad.

  Chapter Two

  Lawrence

  “Lawrence! Lawrence, wake up!”

  “Ten more minutes,” I growled into my pillow.

  “Law, get your overgrown butt up, you’re going to be late!” I loved my mom but she had the most annoying voice in the world! “Lawrence Grant Hawthorne, get your ass up! You’re going to be late!”

  Flinging my comforter off me, I sat up. Why couldn’t the woman wake up and go to work. Note to self. Find an apartment today! “I’m up, I’m up!”

  “Don’t you raise your voice at me, Law! What you need to do is make yourself useful and move out!”

  “Love you, too, Mom!” I really did love that woman. No matter how annoying her voice was.

  Looking at my radio clock, the time read seven twelve a.m. I didn’t have to be at the studio until nine a.m. Abruptly, I got up and stormed out of my room in search of my mom. The smell of fresh coffee hit my nose, and I followed it into the kitchen. There she was. My mom was frantically searching the kitchen drawers for something. She wore her burgundy RN scrubs, and her auburn hair was perfectly clipped up into a neat bun. She was a tiny woman. Five foot two on a good day, but boy, could she pack a punch. I would know! How she was the mother of a six foot two handsome lad like me was a mystery.

  She had delicate features and fair skin. I loved the freckles on her cheeks. It made her look so cute when she was mad and frantic. Like right now. “You know, Mom, just because you’re running late doesn’t mean the whole world is, too,” I said leaning against the counter crossing my arms over my chest. Her head snapped up to look at me. When I saw her flustered freckled cheeks, I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You know the rules, Law. If I’m up, you’re up, end of story. Now help your mother and carry those boxes in the living room out to my car.” I sucked my teeth at her out of bad habit. She froze from rummaging through her purse. “And Law, that means putting the damn boxes in the car. Don’t just leave them in the drive way.” She stormed off into her bedroom mumbling random things about my lazy ass. She was the only woman I would ever take shit from, no doubt, so I did as instructed. Once she was gone, I figured I could sleep for another thirty minutes.

  ***

  My alarm clock went off at eight a.m. I slammed my hand over it to silence the ridiculous rooster. I didn’t think it was funny but my mom was corny like that. I reached back to grab my cell phone, and the led indicator was going crazy. Shit! I had a feeling breaking up with Julissa wasn’t going to be easy. No break up should be, but unfortunately, my girlfriend for the past year was crazier than most. I probably would have stayed with her but opening my own martial arts studio was a big step in my life. I honestly didn’t see where she fit into that kind of lifestyle.

  I cared about her a lot, but I wasn’t in love with her. The sex was good, but it wasn’t earth-shattering sex, so a clean break for me was easy, I guess. I think what sent her over the edge was when I gave her the ‘we can still be friends’ line. As cliché as it is, I really meant it. We started out as friends, so I didn’t see why we couldn’t end it as friends. I exhaled a loud breath, afraid to open the twelve texts she’d sent.

  Rubbing the scruff on my chin, I searched through my missed calls. I had four voice messages from Julissa, which I was planning on deleting. There was no need to encourage her crazy tantrums. My body stiffened when I saw a missed call from the studios landlord. I quickly selected the voice message to hear it.

  “Hey, Lawrence, it’s Mackenzie. I just wanted to let you know that something came up at my property downtown. If you don’t mind, I was wondering if you could meet me at the Starbucks downtown where my office is. I will have the lease and keys ready for you. I promise it’ll be quick. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll be waiting for you at Starbucks at noon sharp. See you then, son.”

  Relieved that he wasn’t backing out, I set my phone down and made my way to the shower. My cell phone went off again, and it was Julissa’s Lady Gaga ringtone. Another note to self: Find an apartment today and change my phone number ASAP.

  Chapter Three

  Livie

  I woke up to the soothing sounds of waves crashing from the hotel’s fancy alarm clock. The time read 9:45 a.m. Rolling over onto my back I stretched working out the kinks of my muscles. I could not believe a week had gone by since my dad dropped me off at the front door to the Four Point at Sheraton. Every day I pretty much hit the hotel’s gym for at least three hours. I ran on the treadmill and practiced my rusty yoga poses. Keeping myself busy and exhausted was the only way to keep my brain occupied. I was afraid to be idle for too long. I was afraid of what I would do to myself.

  Today was Friday though, and I decided I would start my quest on figuring out my future. I figured I would take baby steps to start out with. I couldn’t picture myself working an office job or nine to five. So I made a list of the closest gyms and studios to apply. I didn’t mind getting hired at any of the gyms on my list given my personal training experience, but there was one studio I couldn’t stop thinking about. It was featured in the paper as the next local soon to be hotspot for mixed martial arts. There was no grand opening date or contact information in the article. Only the physical address. That was good enough for me because it was a start.

  My dad would text me about twice a day to check up on me, and Skype me at least once a day. I knew he was worried about me, and I did my best to be brave for him. I hadn’t told him of my nightmares I was having about Mom, and I probably never would. A vision of my mother covered in blood flashed before my eyes. I squeezed them shut pulling the pillow over my head. No! No! No! I screamed into the pillow. My heartbeat was thrumming against my rib cage trying to bust out. My head was pounding and I had to ball my fists into the mattress to keep from thrashing around. I was having a panic attack. I needed to cut! It was the only thing that could take the pain away.

  Willing myself, I jumped up off the bed and headed for my bathroom. I flung open the medicine cabinet and froze when I saw the silver razor blades staring back at me. I took several deep breaths to calm my heart. If I didn’t calm down, I was sure I’d pass out soon. Before I could change my mind, I grabbed one of the razors and doused it with the alcohol I kept on the counter. I frantically pulled down my sweats and leaned back against the wall.

  Taking one last look at my pitiful self in the mirror, I slumped down hard to the bathroom floor. Steadying my gaze on the blade, I took a deep breath and slid the razor against my upper thigh near my panty line. The burning and the pain were instant. My breathing slowed as I saw the blood pool out of the cut and trickle down my thigh. One cut was not enough so I made another cut under the first. The pain was euphoric to me. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I let the pain take over erasing all my thoughts and taking away with it all my emotional pain.

  The sound of a text coming in on my cell woke me up from my sedated sleep on the bloodied bathroom floor. I knew it was my father, and I didn’t want to give him reason to worry. Looking down at my thighs, the blood had dried so I crawled over to the nightstand. Grabbing the phone, I opened my dad’s text.

  Dad ~ hey kid u up yet?

  Me ~ yeap now I am 

  Dad ~  kid its noon! U ok?

  Me ~ never better im fine old man 

  Dad ~ wat r ur plans 4 2day?

  I never knew my dad texted like a teenager until now. He always had me laughing. I felt like I was texting my best friend… if I actually had one.

  Me ~ find JOB apartment…boyz

  Dad ~ LIVIE MARIE ACOSTA!!!

  Me ~ ouch dad
j/p. job apartment n gym.  gotta run have a gr8 day Clooney <3 U!

  Dad ~ LOVE YOU TOO KID

  Tossing my phone onto the bed, I crawled back to the bathroom. Okay, Livie, clean up this mess, shower, and off to find a job.

  After cleaning the crime scene in the bathroom and showering, I decided I needed to head out right away. The less time I had on my hands the better. Making my way over to the walk-in closet filled with my nicer clothes. I frowned at my selection. I didn’t really consider myself a tomboy, but there was no better attire than some comfy sweats and a cami. I was going to be applying at gyms, so showing off my physique was probably a good thing. My dad started my martial arts and jujitsu training when I was eleven. I always appreciated the lifestyle. Staying in shape was important to my father and me.

  It’s as if we both needed the thrill and adrenaline of martial arts in our life. It was in our blood to fight. Turning around on my heels. I headed for the dresser. I pulled out my drawer that held my dearly beloved Joe boxer sweats. I glanced over at my yoga sweats, which were much, more form fitting. Nope. Can’t look like a slut for my first impression. Who was I kidding? My mother’s reckless behavior with men cured me of wanting to have sex. I was still a virgin and saw no need to change that anytime soon.

  Just because I wasn’t sexually experienced didn’t mean I couldn’t love my sexy as hell body. I worked hard for it, and I very much enjoyed googling at myself. I was five foot four. A little on the short side but who cared. I could handle myself with the best of them. Knocking assholes flat on their backs was second nature to me. My dad made sure of that. Since I worked out so much I had great abs, and my ass was perfect. It wasn’t Jennifer Lopez massive, but it was a nice round solid ass. My skin was naturally tan, and my straight jet-black hair fell a little past my mid back. I always had it in a ponytail, so the length never bothered me.

  Settling for the black and pink Joe boxer sweats and a pink tap out fitted sports top; I quickly dressed myself. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and side whipped my bangs over my right eye. I applied a natural tinted shimmering lip gloss and grabbed my fairly new air force high top sneakers out of my gym bag. Just to be safe, I put extra surgical tape over the gauze covering my cuts. I would be extremely embarrassed if it bled through, so I always took extra time dressing my cuts properly. Taking a satisfying glance in the mirror, I grabbed my across-the-shoulder Hello Kitty bag and phone. Reaching for the doorknob, I took a deep breath.

  Today is going to be a great day. Stay positive, Livie. You can do this.

  Chapter Four

  Lawrence

  Too excited to sit around and wait at home, I decided to head into downtown. I was so amped up I needed to burn off some of this nervous energy. It was ten-thirty-ish so I figured I had enough time at least to go get my number changed. Julissa hadn’t stopped texting me shit and leaving ridiculous voice messages. I get that she was hurt, but acting like a fucking schoolgirl wasn’t getting her anywhere.

  She even had the nerve to insult the size of my dick on her last text. The same dick, of course, that had her ass balled over in pain every time I fucked her. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a front either, because every time I went Rambo in her pussy, she cried after she came.

  Nothing she could say would hurt my ego. If my shit were that small, she wouldn’t be trying so desperately to get back on it. I pulled into the closest spot nearest the Starbucks where Mackenzie would be in a little over an hour. Switching off the ignition, I just sat in my truck. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Two years after graduation I had saved all my money and suffered the embarrassment of living with my mom. Now, I was going to finally own my first martial arts studio. The world of MMA fighting was nothing new to me. My father was a beast in his prime. When he still gave a shit about me, he taught me everything he knew. He trained me to be a champ, and a champ I was.

  By the age of seventeen, I was ranked number three in the Strikeforce heavy weight class. There was only one son of a bitch that could out rank me in my own weight class. That just so happened to be Ocean Nathaniel Hawthorne, my cousin. We practically grew up together and did most everything together. We trained, fought, cried, laughed, loved, hated, and even screwed the same chicks. That all changed when Stormie died, and then Ocean wasn’t Ocean anymore. I shook away the memory, swung open the door to my F-150 Raptor, and jumped out. Time to get this day fucking started.

  ***

  Heading into the Starbucks, I spotted Mackenzie right away. He was an old school dude with a chick’s name, but he was an honest man, and I trusted him. “Hey, Lawrence, glad you could make it. Ready to start the business?”

  “Hey, Mackenzie,” I greeted him and shook his hand. “I’ve never been ready for anything in my life. You know that.” I joked. Mackenzie knew my dad and my history as a successful fighter, so I could be myself around him.

  “All right, have you gone over the draft I gave you at our last meet?”

  “Of course, I read that damn contract every flipping night, just to make sure it was real.” I wasn’t joking about that, but he didn’t have to know.

  “You have any questions son?”

  “No, sir. I just want my keys, Mack.” He laughed his hearty southern laugh.

  “You got it kid. Sign and date.” He said tossing me three sets of keys. My heart was in my throat and my sight was blurring. Fuck this was really happening!

  I quickly scribbled my signature and grabbed the keys. My legs started to shake bouncing up and down under the booth from the excitement. “Calm down son. You’ll end up giving yourself a heart attack before the grand opening.” I laughed nervously.

  “Mack, you know I don’t like being rude, but are we done here. I really want to go to my studio.” Shit, I just said my studio. Mac’s laughter had my face feeling red from embarrassment.

  “Go on, son, get out of here. You need anything, anything at all, you just let me know.”

  “Got it!” I yelled back running out the door.

  Livie

  Finally reaching downtown, I decided to park in the parking garage. I wasn’t sure what the day had in mind for me yet, so I figured it was the best option. Wouldn’t want my precious Lucy to be towed. Yes, I named my beat up car. Walking out of the parking garage, I pulled out my phone. It was a little past eleven. I pulled up the list of gyms I saved on my phone, and scrolled down the list reading the names again.

  ~ Cross Fit Gym

  ~ DeFrancos Gym

  ~ Peak Performance

  And my list went on. The only name that stood out to me was the new martial arts studio located on Placid Drive. It was about a forty-minute drive, and I loved a good drive. Deciding to follow my gut feeling, I walked back to Lucy, jumped in, started her up, and out of the garage toward the studio I headed.

  Merging onto the highway, I plugged in my phone and opened my Pandora station. Scrolling down the hundreds of the stations I’d created over time, the Pink station called out to me. I selected the station, and of course, the first song that played immediately spoke to my soul. Grabbing tightly onto the steering wheel, I belted out the lyrics to Sober as I raced down the highway toward a new beginning.

  Coming off the highway, I was minutes away from the studio. I started to get nervous. The studio wasn’t even open. There was a good chance that no one would be there. I tried to convince myself, but I still felt jumpy. I slowed down not wanting to miss my right turn onto Vineland Street. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to calm my nerves. Come on, Livie, there probably isn’t anyone there. The damn studio isn’t even open! Turning onto Placid Drive I saw the studio up ahead. It was in a nice area and the maintenance of the building looked really good. The previous owners had really taken care of the place. The large glass windows that covered the complete front of the building looked really attractive, and the studio looked huge from the outside.

  As I pulled into the lot, I noticed a badass truck parked up on top of the curb. It was a totally customized all black Fo
rd Raptor. The huge rims were gunmetal black. Even the taillight and headlight caps were black. Darth Vader all the way. I parked Lucy and opened my door looking around. I didn’t see anyone outside, so I guessed the owner was inside somewhere. I took a quick stretch and grabbed my portfolio. I wasn’t a professionally licensed trainer, but I had the experience and the recommendations to be qualified. When my dad was still home, he introduced me to the world of martial arts. I like to think I trained with the best. I squared my shoulders and closed my car door behind me. All right, girl, let’s make this happen!

  Chapter Five

  Lawrence

  As I pulled up to the studio, my heart was threatening to fly out of my chest. I rode up on the curb by the studio��s front door and I didn’t give a shit. This place was mine, and I wanted to get inside! I jumped out of my truck quickly grabbing my phone and new sets of keys. Sprinting to the door, I unlocked it pausing for a second to take a deep breath before I walked in.

  As my eyes took in the main entrance, I knew I had made the right decision. The place was still in really good shape. Mackenzie was a bastard when it came to the maintenance on his properties. The previous owner tried to establish an athletic training facility but failed miserably. Usually, the people that failed were the people that honestly knew nothing about fitness training. Some of the equipment was left behind from the looks of it. It was equipment I wouldn’t need or have any use for, but I wouldn’t get rid of it right away.

  I flipped on the lights and my heart stopped all over again. I felt the tears sting my eyes, fighting to be released. I knew I was acting like a little bitch, but I couldn’t help it. I was twenty-five years old and had nothing to show for my life besides my MMA titles. I still lived with my mom, which was going to change soon. Very soon. Still, this was big. It wasn’t just a big accomplishment for me but for many people. For all of the people who supported my decision and put up with my shit until this point. It meant something to them, too. I knew it did.