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Fighting is also a mental game, and he never realized that. Goliath is big, but he created this whole personality for showmanship. Fighting for me is about the thrill. It’s the rush and the passion of trying to win against someone else. But it’s time for my career to come to its end and I’m okay with that. I’ve had a long career, and this is a young man’s sport. I’m ready to be a husband and a father and put this in my past. I’m thankful for all that it’s given me, but my life is only just beginning. Now that I’ve found my forever with Pepper I’m ready to start living it and put this behind us.
Rico told me to pace myself and draw him out a few rounds. He’s worried I’ll injure myself permanently by going too hard too fast. But I think Rico underestimated just how much I want to hurt this guy.
I break his hold and twist around until I’ve got him face down on the mat with my knee in his back and my arms locked around his. He’s straining under me and I can tell he’s already winded just from a few minutes of fighting. I haven’t even broken a sweat.
Leaning down I get close to his ear so only he can hear me. “This is for my girl,” I say, snapping the arm that he wrapped around her.
He lets out a scream, but I’ve already pushed his face into the mat so the ref doesn’t hear it. I’m surprised he didn’t hear the bone break, but the crowd is ridiculous so that’s probably why.
“Oh, and this if for her, too,” I say, pressing my knee into his rib until I feel it pop.
Another scream comes from Gio, but the ref is behind us and can’t see or hear. Gio is losing strength under me and it’s time to end this.
When I go to roll him over, there’s a little fight left in him, but it’s not much. I get both shoulders on the mat and as the ref slides over and begins the countdown, I look into Goliath’s eyes.
“You ever fuck with her again,” I say, leaning close.
Seven, six, five…
“I’ll make sure no one finds your body. You understand me?”
Three, two…
He nods as the ref smacks the mat and pulls me off of Gio’s limp body. He holds my hand in the air and the crowd that was already insanely loud erupts in cheers.
Suddenly a streak of blonde crashes into my arms and the scent of my woman fills my lungs. I wrap my arms around her as she kisses all over my face until she gets to my lips. When they finally find mine, I slide my tongue in her mouth and kiss her like I’m starved for it.
I hear the crowd roar with excitement and see camera flashes going off left and right. But I don’t care. There’s absolutely nothing that can top this moment and I want to remember it forever.
Then I think about all the moments Pepper and I will have together, and this might just be a blip on the radar of our love story. I kind of like the idea that our story is just beginning.
“Take me home,” I say against Pepper’s lips.
“I’ve got a freezer full of ice cream and clean sheets waiting on you.”
“Goddamn, you know the way straight to my heart,” I say, grabbing her ass with both hands. “I love you, doll face.”
“I love you, too, Bear.”
Epilogue
Pepper
One month later…
I pace back and forth in the bathroom as I wait for the timer to go off.
I don’t care if I’m young. Ever since having Bear’s baby was a possibility, I can’t get the thought out of my head. I place my hand on my stomach, praying I am. We talked about much we both want kids, and I know he’s going to be just as excited as me. Finding that baby blanket under his bed only fueled my desire.
I had Tasha sneak me a test last night and I’ve been dying to take the freaking thing all day. But Bear is always connected to my hip now that he’s retired. He doesn’t fight anymore, but he still hangs out at the gym helping train and mentor some of the kids in the neighborhood. I even tried to do some working out there myself, but after I fell off the treadmill for the second time I was banned from pretty much any machine there. Bear still likes me to come with him just so we can be together, so I guess it’s the best of both worlds. No working out, and I get to be with my man.
Things have calmed down a lot since the fight, but not completely. Once everything got out about what Gio had done there was paparazzi everywhere for a few weeks. They dubbed Bear and me “America’s Sweethearts” after our rush to the altar. Luckily, they’ve been leaving us alone lately. It helps that the neighborhood protects us from them, too. Everyone around here really does love Bear. Not that I can blame them. He’s hard not to love.
