Page 40 of Bruised Hearts

“Girl, she’s good. I need to catch up to yall.” I gave her a smile, and grabbed my phone to send Landon a message. “I’m not about to be out with yall all night. You know my nigga waiting on me.” I smiled as my drunk ass tried to find our text thread. I felt her one hundred percent.

“I told you, I’m not buying it. If you and Breaker together, why did he post that girl?” That caught my attention, so I shifted in my seat to lean closer. Maybe my drunk ears were hearing his name because he was on my mind.

“It’s what he does. She’s a boxer and has a fight coming out. He’s trying to get her name out there. If they are together, why don’t they have more intimate pictures?” Now I know I wasn’t crazy. She was talking about me and Breaker.

“Bitch, you’re delusional,” her friend said confidently. I was hoping she was right. The girl next to me pulled out her phone, and began showing her pictures.

“No, bitch. I’m paid.” Slamming a black card on the table, she slid it to the bartender. “Be grateful that’s my nigga, cus the whole day has been on him.” I looked towards Charly to see if she was hearing this, but her face was so far in her phone, her eyelids were damn near scrolling the page for her. Turning back towards the girl, I noticed she was still showing them pictures.

“Damn, that nigga dick big as hell. If you ever want to share, let me know.” I damn near had my neck in her lap I was stretching so hard trying to see.

“If you wanted to see, all you had to do was ask. You about to fall off the chair.” I gave a fake laugh, but I waited for her to show me. Sure enough, Landon was sleeping naked in the pics with her. Not one of those sleeps where you can say someone looked drugged either. He was laying on his stomach on a few, looking peaceful just how he be with me. I went to get up, but I bumped into somebody behind me. Turning around, Charly’s ass was all on me trying to see the pics as well. “You okay? Look like you seen a ghost.”

“Naw, that’s her,” her friend finally recognized me.

“Who?”

“The girl he posted. Nova.” The girl finally looked up at me and laughed.

“Oops. Guess that’s our man, sis.” Not saying another word, I swung. I wasn’t really mad at her, but I was mad at myself for believing his lies. For Stone being right. I continued to swing until someone grabbed me in the air. Realizing it was the police, I couldn’t stop the tears. I was just given a chance to prove myself, only to throw it away on a nothing ass bitch, and a nothing ass nigga.

****

“Stevens.” Hearing them call my name, I exhaled. Charly must have come to the station and bonded me out. That was the least she could do since her scary ass hid. I saw her hiding in the corner when I was getting my ass dragged out of there. When I walked out, I was shocked to see Stone. He passed me a hoodie, that I immediately threw on. Thankfully, we made it outside and into the car without being seen. I wanted to beat Charly’s ass for calling him because I knew he was about to do the most.

“Are you okay?” I looked up at him shocked.

“Yeah.” I didn’t know where this conversation was about to go, so that was all I said.

“I called in some favors, so tonight didn’t happen.” He was back in agent mode, so I rolled my eyes.

“Thanks.”

“You don’t have to pretend to be hurt. I know you think I’m a hard ass, but this was what I was trying to avoid. Seeing my baby girl with this look on her face. I’m sorry.” Hearing that, I couldn’t stop the tears from slowly falling down my face.

“I feel so stupid.” Stone placed his hand on mine and squeezed.

“Tell me what you need me to do.” I thought about what he said long and hard.

“I don’t know how to train and be around him. Cancel the fight.” He didn’t yell or get mad and that stunned me.

“Breaker doesn’t have to win. You don’t have to give everything up because he doesn’t know what he had. There are other gyms, and other fighters that can train you. I’m representing someone over at Knock Outs. That’s the gym where Danger fights, so we know they are legit. You worked hard for this, and you deserve it. He doesn’t get to take that from you.”

“Okay, set it up.”

“I got you baby girl.” Closing my eyes, I tried my best to hold it together.

I don’t trust no nigga; I don’t fear no bitch. Whole life, been through some fucked up shit. They say I’m too that, oh I’m too this. When you seen what I’ve seen, you end up like this. I walked into the label where the check at? Cardi B on the charts ain’t expect that. Where that bitch that was claiming she a threat? I’mma put a Louboutin where her neck at… Man I said we gone win. Knock me down nine times I’mma get up ten.

- Cardi B

Round 8 Nova vs Tricky

24- Ariyah “Nova” Stevens

“Bestie, I love you, but I am not a replacement.” Charly answered the phone on straight bullshit.

“Girl, what the hell are you talking about?”