Page 37 of Bruised Hearts

“They sold out for you. Money can get you almost anything.” She looked at me curiously before grabbing her phone. She typed something in before her eyes popped out of her head.

“You paid eight hundred for these shoes?” she shrieked. “And what’s in these boxes.” I shook my head because she was all over the place. It’s as if me doing all this for her overstimulated her ass.

“Ariyah, you will know everything soon enough.” Grabbing her hand, I held it while I stared out the window. Every now and again, I could feel her looking towards me and staring. She wanted to ask more questions, but realizing I wasn’t going to answer, she didn’t say anything. We finally pulled up at our destination and you could feel the nervousness bouncing off her ass. Titan opened the door and grabbed the boxes, while I got out and wrapped my arm around her waist.

We walked into the Miccosukee Casino & Resort and I almost bust out laughing from all the confusion on her face. I’m sure she knew what happens here, so she was trying to piece everything together and figure it out. Not saying a word, I walked over to the elevator. Her ass started doing breathing routines as if she was getting ready to do a walk out. Climbing on the elevator, we made it to the second floor.

“Wait.” I’m guessing she realized it was too quiet and empty up here for it to be a fight going on. “I thought you were bringing me here to spar and show off my skills.”

“That’s what you get for thinking.” Her nerves were now back in high gear. Titan opened the door to the ballroom, and we walked inside. The room was completely empty, but the ring was set up. It was a dinner table, and server waiting for us. I walked her over where I introduced us.

“I’m Breaker, and this is Nova.”

“I’m Vernon, and I will be handling all your needs on tonight. The chef is almost done with your meal, and your champagne is already chilled.” I gave him a tip before pulling her chair out. Her ass was blushing, and thinking this was the surprise. She had no idea.

“How the hell did you get these people to set it up for a fight, and there is no fight?”

“Pops pulled some strings.”

“Landon, this is too much. This date has already cost a fortune. You didn’t have to do all this.”

“I know, and quit pocket watching. Enjoy your night beautiful, you deserve it.” I let that land without saying anything else. The server brought out a salad, so we began eating. Ariyah kept looking up at me blushing. Grabbing my phone, I took a pic of her and the set up. I never do social media like that, but I wanted everyone to see what I saw. Posting my pic, I captioned it ‘On a first date, kinda nervous’, then tagged her ass in it. When the alert went off on her phone, she grabbed it, and her eyes fell out of her head. Her fingers were moving fast typing, while I watched her smiling hard as if I wasn’t sitting right here. Refreshing my page, I looked for her notification.

This ain’t our first date. Pasta and tires. Ring any bells? Laughing out loud, I closed out of IG. My notifications were already going crazy, and it was half the reason I barely made posts. Our entrée came, and I knew we were getting close to my reveal, so now I was getting nervous. By the time we were done eating, my hands were sweating and I hope I didn’t mess this up.

“Okay, I’m full. Can I open my gifts now?” Laughing, I grabbed the first box.

“Here, damn! Thirsty ass.” Her eyes lit up as she tore through the packaging.

“I love these.” It was a pair of custom boxing trunks for when she had her first fight. Stevens on the back, Nova on the front in white and black. It was the only colors I’ve ever seen her wear, so I stuck with that. “Thank you for believing I’ll get to have that fight one day.” I just smiled, and passed her the next box. I knew this gift could go a few different ways, so I waited for her to open it nervously. “How? Landon, how did you get these?” It was her dads gloves.

“Charly. The day I came for our first date, I asked her to steal them for me. Please don’t be mad, I wasn’t trying to invade your space or intrude on your past. I just wanted you to have something of his when you have your first fight.” The gloves were restored, but I kept some of the fire damage to give them detail while keeping her father present. Jumping up, she ran around the table to me before hugging me. I didn’t feel bad when I felt her crying. I knew they weren’t sad tears, so I let her have her moment.

“This… I… Fuck!”

“You don’t have to say anything. I know. Plus, you still got one more gift.” Wiping her eyes, she looked around for another box.

“Landon, dick is not a gift.” Shaking my head, I motioned towards the server. A few seconds later, the lights came on, and there were posters hanging along the walls. Tricky vs Nova. Jumping up, she looked around with her mouth open. “Landon, is this real?”

“Yeah, your first professional fight. One month from today.”

“But I didn’t do my presentation for the reporters and booking agent yet.”

“I’m Breaker, baby.” She kissed me hard with tears flowing down her face.

“Take me home. Now!” Jumping up, I threw some bills on the table and was out the ring in ten seconds. She laughed as she grabbed her gifts and followed me out. One brick at a time.

It could all be so simple, but you rather make it hard. Loving you is like a battle, and we both end up with scars. Tell me who I have to be, to get some reciprocity. See no one loves you more than me, and no one ever will. Is this just a silly game, that forces you to act this way? Forces you to scream my name, then pretend that you can’t stay. Tell me who I have to be, to get some reciprocity. See no one loves you more than me, and no one ever will. No matter how I think we grow you always seem to let me know it ain’t working. And when I try to walk away, you hurt yourself to make me stay. This is crazy!

- Lauryn Hill

Round 7 Breaker vs Nova

22- Landon “Breaker” Mercer

“What’s up?” Tan had been blowing my phone up all night, but I was with Ariyah, so I couldn’t answer. I was sitting outside of the steak house about to go in, when she called again.

“Really, Breaker?”