TKO: Total Knock Out (TKO 1)

Howard is in my ear giving me last minute instructions before I step into the ring and nod in agreement, but my anxiousness creeps back in and I hardly hear a thing. The last thing I hear is the music playing overhead. “Girlfight” comes blasting through the sound system. Really? They can’t come up with anything better than that?

Marley stands around my height and doesn’t look too powerful but that first hit catches me by surprise. The crowd’s gasp fills my ears and I realize my first mistake. I’m brought back to that day when Lance got me. I was too worried about the crowd; I block them out. I shuffle around the ring focusing on her and her alone.

She swings again and I block her hit, trying to decide my move. The minute her hands go down, my fist connects with her jaw. Adrenaline courses through my veins as I begin to get a better feel for this. Being in the ring and sparring with the guys in the gym are two different things. I have to be focused in here. Now Marley is pissed and the fighter in her emerges. Most times I’m able to block her hits and keep myself on my feet. Sweat drips down her face and her breathing is a little ragged but I know she isn’t ready to give this up. The last hit I get in knocks her a few steps back and when she begins to fall, she takes me down with her. Air escapes my lungs and my side throbs right where Dad kicked me in. I struggle to regain my breath and fight the pain. As she pins me to the ground, I try to wiggle underneath her looking for a way out and I can hear Whitney and Howard yelling something but I can’t make it out.

Defeat isn’t what I wanted, especially with Garrett watching, but it’s happening. After struggling to get out from under her and back in the match I finally tap out. Marley is announced the winner and pulls me in for a hug.

“Good job, Raegan.”

Before I can tell her thank you, she’s out the ring. I follow almost as quickly, wanting to escape. My breathing remains uneven, and I want to cry.

I lost. I fucking lost.

Garrett appears out of nowhere almost giving me a heart attack. The quick pitter-patter of my heart is enough to make me stop in my tracks. He takes my hand in his and I give him a confused glance until I realize he’s just helping me remove the gloves I’m struggling to get off.

His eyes are laced with concern and without a doubt I know it is heartfelt. He scans my face thoroughly looking for any sign of Marley’s hits. If only I could act on what I’m feeling, if only I could tell him he’s all I think about—but I can’t.

“You okay, Raegan? She got a good hit in.”

“I know, I felt it. I’m fine. I fucked up, I don’t know what happened. I really could have used that money.” Tears fill my eyes and I turn so he can’t see me. Then I see James and Adryian making their way over again. Great.

“Wow, Raegan. That was interesting. You okay? We just wanted to say goodbye.” He looks sincere, but I know he doesn’t really mean we; Adryian doesn’t give a fuck about me.

“I’m fine, James. Bye.” Calling him James just doesn’t seem right anymore, and if she called him that and I heard it, my heart would shatter worse than it already has. After a moment, they’re gone. Thank God, because I can only hold these tears back for so long before they spill over. This has been the worst night ever.

Chapter 7

Raegan

Garrett can see I’m upset but he doesn’t push to ask what’s going on. He couldn’t anyway; he has a match to get ready for.

“Hey girl, don’t stress. You should have seen me in the ring my first time.” Whitney puts her arm around me, with Howard standing beside her.

“You looked stupid like I just did?”

“Girl, yes, if not worse. And for the record, you didn’t look stupid. Just ask Howard. Want to know a secret? Marley was who I was against that night too.”

“She’s not lying, Raegan. She went up against Marley the first time and I’ll just say you got at least one more hit on her than Whitney did.”

Whitney nods in agreement. They’re doing their best to make me feel better, but it isn’t working. That money could have been the start to me getting out of the house, but it’d have to wait until the next match. Then, I’ll be ready, and losing won’t be an option.

“She’s tough, Raegan, and considering you’ve only been introduced to this, you did better than I thought you would.” She hugs me and I let myself relax. Blaize’s voice comes over the speakers announcing Garrett’s match. Watching everyone in this little building get worked up into a frenzy is rather exciting.

As he makes his way to the ring, I notice his whole demeanor has changed; he’s intimidating, and if I didn’t know who he was, I’d be scared shitless. I remember seeing him like this the first night I ever saw the fights. He focuses on nothing but the fight and it was almost a total knockout.

Garrett’s movements are flawless; I can’t take my eyes off him. This poor guy Brady doesn’t stand a chance and when Garrett takes him to the ground, it’s over. Whitney and Howard immediately run to his side helping him make his way through the crowd of people. I fall in step behind Whitney and follow them to the same dressing room I was in just earlier. My clothes are still on the chair so I scoop them up and run to the restroom to get comfortable again.

When I walk back into the dressing room, Garrett is standing there shirtless. Something feels different. Of course I’ve seen him shirtless in the gym and during his fight just moments ago, but now that we’re alone, my mind is racing and it shouldn’t be. He grabs his shirt and flashes a grin my way as he pulls it over his head. My breath hitches as I try to pull myself together. My insides flutter causing me to lose any inhibitions I had.

“I’m sorry. I t-t-thought Whitney was s-s-still in here.” Shit, I hate when I stutter.

“They left. She thought you did too. I was going to ask if that was your boyfriend tonight, but by the looks of the girl beside him, I’d say not.”

“He’s my ex.”

“Sorry. So, Raegan, got any plans for this evening?” That somber look turns into a wicked grin. Yeah, he’s sorry to hear James is my ex but only for reasons that benefit him.

“Nope. I think I’m going home.”