Page 11 of Bruised Hearts

“My spot.” He looked at me confused, but I tried to ignore it.

“The hotel or-…”

“My house, mufucka.” He laughed as I climbed in the car. Scrolling my phone, I responded to pops letting him know I was on my way home before I looked at more sport highlights and interviews.

“You said no boxing talk.”

“I didn’t say sports. You hear what you want to I see.”

“You right.” We both laughed, but I appreciated how she was always willing to own her shit.

“You’re sexy.”

“You’re corny.” This time, I laughed and owned my shit.

“Hey, sometimes corny works. Is it working?”

“Maybe.” Looking up at Titan, I smiled hard as hell.

“That’s all a nigga like me needs. A toe in the door.” Sticking my foot out, I wiggled it in her direction. Ariyah smiled before stomping my shit.

“You gone fuck around and lose it messing with me. Keep on.”

“Then you gone be mad cus you gotta push your man around in a wheel chair. It gets hot as hell in Miami. Them lil baby hairs gone be stuck to your forehead.”

“You’re rich. I’m hiring an aide. You got me messed up. I get irritated when I’m hot.” I looked at her and smiled hard as hell. “Fuck you laughing at? I’m serious.”

“I don’t care who you hire, long as we together.” When she realized what she said, her ass looked shook, but not more than me. I showed my hand and I had no idea how she was going to take it. She was about to respond when her face turned up.

“Where are we?” Turning to look out the window, I saw that we were in my driveway.

“Home.” Nothing else needed to be said as we got out of the car.

8- Ariyah “Nova” Stevens

Walking inside, I slowly looked around. From the outside, I could tell it was a mini mansion, but I still expected it to look like a bachelor pad. Pizza boxes and beer bottles everywhere, a leather recliner with a tv mounted on the wall, and maybe a few naked hoes walking around. Instead, I see big plush couches, art on the wall, dolls and trucks on the floor. I looked at him awaiting an explanation, but he gave none.

“You got kids?”

“Naw.” Was all he said as he walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. His ass downed it as I continued to look around. There was a drawing taped to the fridge obviously done by a kid. “What we eating?”

“Why did you bring me here? I thought we were going out to eat.” He shrugged before sitting down at the counter and scrolling his phone.

“I know I may seem corny to you, but to the world, I’m the heavy weight champ. Sometimes the noise out there be too much for my mental. Especially when I’m training. I’m lined up for a big fight, so everyone wants a sound bite. I’m just trying to eat.” He never looked up, so I sat in front of him at the island.

“We can do some pizza. Wait, can you eat that while you train?”

“I’ll cheat tonight, and the next time you’re here, you can meal prep for me.”

“You better hire a chef.” I laughed before he could shake his head. I already knew what he was about to say.

“Gahh damn, you difficult. You gone make sure you bust a nigga’s balls at every turn. When I’m outside, I’m the champ. When I’m home, I try my best to be Landon.” Titan walked in the house bringing him his gym bag causing us both to laugh. “I said I try.”

“All I’m saying is, if you gone try and tell me how to drive, you’re more than welcome to do it next time.” Jumping, I looked at Landon to see if he was alarmed, but he didn’t move. I had no idea who’s voice it was, but he didn’t seem worried.

“I don’t have to drive in order to tell you to slow your ass down. I woke up and thought they had go carts in heaven. I didn’t even put on my good wig. If I’m going to see the Lord, let me know so I can wear my heavenly hair.” An older lady was going off, and if I wasn’t confused on what was happening, I would have laughed.

“Can I have cookies?” A lil boy rounded the corner looking as cute as he could be.