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“Wanna switch outfits?” I teased while he tied his shoes.
“No.” He stood and pulled a piece of fuzz off my suit jacket. “Though, it wouldn’t matter what you wear, you’ll still stand out in the crowd.”
“It’s my height and build.”
“No, but that helps. You just look like you’re someone,” he said as we walked toward the door. He stopped short and turned to look at me. “Oh yeah, you’re Hollis ‘The Dragon’ Ward.” He playfully punched me in my arm and opened the door that led to the hallway.
When we stepped into the hallway, Steve, Alfonso, Zed, and Jacobi stood.
“Good morning, Mr. Ward,” Steve said and then nodded. He looked at Patrick and greeted him. “Good morning, Mr. Dawson.” Steve returned his attention to me. “The car will be ready when you are. Corey arrived moments ago and is on his way up.”
“Great, thanks.”
Moments later I heard the bell announcing the arrival of the elevator down the hall. I smiled and waved when Corey came around the corner. He wore a black suit, white shirt, and a gray and aqua tie.
“Hey! There he is!” Corey said as joined us. As he spoke with us, the door to my parents’ suite opened. My parents stepped out all dressed up. Dad wore a black suit, white shirt, and a black and gray tie. Mom had on a pastel-colored floral dress. “You all look fabulous,” Corey complimented us. “Let’s go introduce you to the world, Hollis.”
* * *
TCF headquarters was a massive complex,and as we pulled into the busy parking lot, I noticed several sea-green banners on the building. There were a few that read Team Dragon with the dragon logo, and some banners had me in my sea-green shorts wearing a black t-shirt with the sea-green Team Dragon logo.
“Are there other events going on today?” Patrick asked.
“No, why?” Corey asked when Patrick’s forehead wrinkled as he gazed outside.
“I was just wondering what that line was for.”
“That?” Corey pointed to a line that started near the main entrance of the TCF doors and wrapped around the building. Patrick nodded. “That’s the start of the people waiting for this afternoon’s session to meet Hollis,” Corey announced.
“Come again?” Dad asked Corey.
“Are you kidding?” Mom asked.
I just stared at the line. This was for me?
“As I mentioned last night, Hollis is unlike anything this sport has seen. Right now, there isn’t anyone hotter than Hollis Ward.” Corey smiled at me. “Ready, Hollis?”
“I’m ready. I’ve been waiting for this since I was nine. Let’s go.”
Corey pressed a button on the door and then announced, “We’re ready.”
The driver got out of the limo and stood beside his door. Moments later, the security guys exited the car behind us and Jacobi opened our door. Corey exited first and I was to exit behind him. I got out of the backseat and buttoned my jacket as I walked toward Corey. The doors were open, and there were a lot of people walking around the huge sidewalk area in front of the building. Through the fanfare that lined the walkway, Vin Hasselbeck and a few guys walked through the doors toward us.
So much happened in those few seconds that it was difficult for me to catch all of it. Corey stepped a few feet toward the TCF building, and when I followed his lead, Steve and Alfonso stepped forward with us. While Corey pointed out the banners to me, cheers and even some screams from girls carried over from the huge line. From behind me Steve seemed to be speaking to someone else.
“Mr. Ward is in front of Alfonso and me. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins and Mr. Dawson will be flanked by Zed and Jacobi.”
As soon as the limo door closed, Corey casually began walking toward Vin and the others. I walked beside Corey and smiled and waved to the crowd in general.
“Hollis, welcome!” Vin said as he stretched his hand toward me to shake mine.
“Thank you. This is all really wild,” I said honestly.
“Everyone has been anxiously waiting for your arrival,” Vin said. Corey walked on the other side of me as we headed inside.
Women in short black shorts and gray TCF tank tops lined either side of the open doors. Some of the women shook shimmering pom-poms while others held professional signs that had my name, logo, or Team Dragon on them.
Everything this morning went like a blur to me. I was introduced to a ton of people and was so busy talking to Vin and some current TCF fighters that I didn’t have time to eat anything. So many fighters came over to me during the breakfast and were all very welcoming. When I saw Brendan Rowe heading my way, my throat went dry. Brendan was the current title holder for the light heavyweight class, and if I was lucky, I’d be the one to take that title from him.
