TKO: Total Knock Out (TKO 1)

“What do you mean, it’s different? All this time I’ve been treated as if I was one of the guys and all of a sudden you’re in love with me and you want me to change.”

“I’m not asking you to change anything, Raegan.” I begin to wish I’d kept my mouth shut. “I’m just saying I don’t want you getting hurt. I’d quit in a heartbeat, don’t think I wouldn’t. If you wanted me to, I would. You think I need to be in there doing that? No, but I love doing it.”

“I’m not going to get hurt. I happen to enjoy fighting. Plus, if something happens, it can’t be anything worse than what my Dad has done.”

“I love you, Raegan. I’m sorry I brought this up. I’ll get over it, okay? I’m getting ready to head to the gym. Want to ride with me?”

Her eyes flared with anger, but then her shoulders slowly relaxed and she sighed. Leaning forward, she planted a kiss on my cheek, lingering there for a minute. “Yeah, babe, let me get changed.”

Howard pulled her into the office the minute we walked in. The only one who paid me any mind was Whitney, who ran up and threw her arms around me. “I know I’m late with this because of everything that’s happened, but I love the baby’s room, thank you so much!”

Instant gratification spreads across my face. “You’re welcome. Hey, what are they in the office for?”

She glanced toward the open door and shrugged. “I’m not sure. So, how are things going?”

It’s great.” I paused for a moment, hoping I wouldn’t set Whitney off. “But I upset her this morning because I asked her to quit fighting.”

Her eyes grew wild as if I’d told her I committed murder and hid the body in the woods somewhere. “You did what? What did she say?”

“She said no. I just worry about her, Whitney. The same way I used to worry about you.”

“Garrett, that’s her decision, and I know she will make the right one. Don’t think too hard on it.”

“I know,” I grumbled as Raegan came walking out the office. She briefly grins at me before making her way to Lance who just walked in. I should have guessed that would happen. I guess old habits die hard. It was probably for the best since we were sleeping together now.

Howard joined me on the mat, helping me get ready for the fight tonight. I was ready to get back in the ring; it’d been a while and there’d been too much going on. I missed it. I thought about how Raegan had asked me why I hadn’t quit. Well, she didn’t understand.

***

The crowd was heavy tonight. Blaize and Howard stood in the corner getting the list together for what was sure to be a good night. Lance was supposed to be fighting tonight, and he and Raegan were too busy goofing off when he needed to be preparing himself for this. I know his mom isn’t doing very well, but I was glad to hear his dad got the job he interviewed for at the lumber yard. It wasn’t what he really wanted, but it was helping them pay the bills.

“Hey, babe.” I kissed Raegan on the head. “Make sure you stay by Whitney or Lance once I’m in the ring tonight.”

“Got it. You’re going to be awesome.” I knew I loved this girl for a reason. She believed in me.

“Hey, hey, party animals,” Blaize exclaimed over the loudspeaker. “Do we have a lineup for you! Tonight we have Lance Miller against Harley Trent, Garrett Johnson against Blaine Smith, and our main event is one we can promise no one is backing out of this time.” The last part caught my attention as I tried to find Raegan. I didn’t see her anywhere. “Get ready for our main event tonight, y’all…the one and only Raegan Montgomery against Layla Green!”

Not even the crowd roaring could keep my thoughts from exploding in my head. What the hell? And she didn’t even tell me about it. Before I could find her, Howard pulled me toward the back to prep me since I was up first.

“What the hell, Rock? No one was going to tell me?”

“It was her decision, Garrett. She came to me this morning and said she wanted back in the cage.”

Motherfucker. He finished wrapping my hands and helped put the gloves on. I better not lose tonight because I’m already far from focused.

In the ring, I was more than thrown off. Blaine got more hits in than he should have. Howard kept screaming at me to put my head back in the ring but I couldn’t get it there no matter how hard I tried. I swung at Blaine, missing him completely. The crowd reacted wondering what the hell was wrong with me. I tried to focus as I maneuvered, but the other time I tried to move, Blaine took me down, and I lost.

Lance tried to talk to me before his fight but I wasn’t having it. I walked into the room where we prepped, and punched a hole in the wall. Sheetrock crumbled and crashed to the floor. I’d be in trouble over this later, but right now I don’t care. Raegan betrayed me. After I told her I loved her, she still betrayed me.

I notice her phone on top of her clothes, and a call is coming through. I see Nancy’s name, and wonder if she ever called her back like she said she would.

“Hello?”

“I’m sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number,” a woman’s voice says. “I’m trying to reach Raegan.”

Raegan had never called herself that, but I’d guessed it was her real name.

“This is her phone. I’m her boyfriend, Garrett.”