“Oh, okay. Can you give her a message for me, please? I’ve been trying to reach her.”
“Yes, ma’am, I sure can.”
“Please tell her I’ve been in touch with her father, and he wants to sit down and talk to her before he puts himself in rehab. He wants to meet in a public place so it’s not awkward. You are more than welcome to join for support if you’d like, just please let her know that’s why I’m calling. He really loves her more than anything, Garrett, and I worry about the two of them. All that matters is he’s trying to be better. He knows he’s made some very poor decisions.”
“I understand. I’ll make sure she gets the message.” In the back of my mind, I’m blown away by the whole thing.
“Thank you, Garrett,” Nancy says, sounding relieved.
When I head back out, Lance has just won his fight and is talking to Raegan minutes before she steps in the ring. Her opponent, Layla, is tough; I’ve seen her fight before and she definitely gives the females a run for their money. At least Layla is in her weight class unlike Stacy. Her gaze meets mine but she looks away quickly. I wasn’t even trying to show her I was pissed. I just got her; I won’t fight with her and drive her away.
I watch as she steps in and shakes Layla’s hand before the fight begins. She maneuvers around trying to get the best angle for a shot at her. She blocks the first hit she throws, and my stomach is cutting flips. I can’t breathe watching this. The first hit she gets in has Whitney and I fist-pumping in the air like a couple of Jersey Shore rejects. Howard is in his own little world cheering and hollering tips to her. She’s in there because she feels she has to prove herself. I know she probably thinks she looked like a coward the night she was supposed to fight Stacy. She’s proving herself rather well, and I hope this is over soon.
The minute Layla’s fist connects with her jaw, I catch myself wanting to jump in there and defend her but Howard grabs my arm to hold me back. I almost walk away when her little body hits the mat with enough force to have everyone in the crowd gasp. I close my eyes, blinking back a tear, almost certain she’s lost.
But when I open my eyes, I spot Raegan with Layla on her back and the crowd was going wild. Layla tried to get up, but after a few seconds she tapped out and Howard, Whitney, and I all jumped up screaming. I could see Lance across the ring jumping and screaming like us. Holy shit, she did it.
I jumped into the ring so fast, pulling her into me, crushing our lips together. “That was fucking crazy, Raegan, I can’t believe you did that. I wanted to be mad but I’m just glad you were okay.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you, Garrett,” she says over the roar of the crowd. “ I just had to do it.”
“I know you did.” I pull her in again, kissing her head.
Blaize pulled her away to congratulate her, and the crowd continued to chant her name. Lance ran up in the ring alongside us and suggested drinks to celebrate. But because of the way Raegan is looking at me, I knew that even if we went, we wouldn’t be there very long.
Chapter 26
Raegan
Garrett had every damn right to be mad at me. We’ve been together two weeks and for someone who never dated before, he’s awfully good at it. We’re a team, like Batman and Robin. I know I hurt him, I could see it on his face. His eyes betrayed his weariness, but more than anything I saw the frustration there. Seeing him lose his match was unbearable for me. If it were unbearable for me, I don’t want to think about how it made him feel. I knew it was my fault and I should have discussed this with him, but at the table this morning he was so adamant about me quitting. I understand he cares, and I’m grateful, but I’m a big girl and I don’t need him to monitor every single thing I do.
Layla was what I expected and more. She was quick on her feet, but so was I. I knew Garrett was standing ringside, and that told me everything was going to be okay. Howard served as my personal cheerleader as well as my coach the entire fight. I tried to make out what he was saying but anytime I tried, my focus left, and that’s when I was taken by surprise. When Layla tapped out, I was elated, ecstatic. The moment got a thousand times better when Garrett ran into the ring, kissing me some kind of fierce.
As the crowd chanted my name, Blaize grabs my arm, pulling me away from Garrett. He lifts my hand into the air, causing the chanting and cheering to escalate. I throw my other hand in the air, cheering about as loud as everyone else. As exciting as this was, my body was exhausted, and I wanted out of this ring.
Joe’s is packed. Garrett bought us a round of shots. “I’d like to give a toast to my stubborn, sexy girlfriend. She’s one badass woman and I love her so fucking much.”
“I fucking love her too!” Lance chimes in.
“I fucking love you too Lance.” I clink my shot glass against theirs and let the liquid slide down my throat, then pull Garrett in for a kiss. “I love you way more though.”
“I hope so or we’re going to have issues.”
Lance gags, then starts scoping the crowd for any girl in a short skirt who might look his way. He finds a brunette at the bar, and that’s the last we see of him.
I hope Garrett understands I had my reasons for fighting. This wasn’t the place to have this conversation, but the thought weighed heavy on my heart. All I want to know is he still loves me, and forgives me for my selfishness.
“Garrett, I know how mad you must have been.”
“I don’t want to talk about that right now.”
“We need to eventually. I know I should’ve told you.”
“Babe, I was upset. It’s not worth arguing over.”
I leaned in until I could feel his rugged breath on my lips. Although proving myself wasn’t worth losing Garrett, I got in that ring and did the best I could: I won. I also had a good chunk of change in my pocket to show for it.
I called the bartender over to order a beer for Garrett and a panty dropper for me. Before I could savor the first sip, my phone began vibrating in my pocket. Nancy.