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“I don’t want to get down.” My voice shakes on the whisper. Images of Jim’s unconscious body flood my brain. “I’m scared.”
“You can’t come in with me, babe. I’ll be okay, I promise. Get down. Let me go get my belt back, then I’ll buy you a milkshake.”
“I swear if you get hurt, I’m coming in there to knock you both out.”
His eyes sparkle with fun. “I’m counting on it. I love you. Be good. Do. Not. Move. From. This. Spot.” He looks to the ground, then back to my eyes. “Do you understand? I want to see you anytime I look back to my corner. Don’t move.” He lowers me to the ground and settles me on my feet.
“I won’t. I promise. Good luck. Kick his ass, baby.”
Bobby nods, kisses me one last time, then turns to the official waiting to pat him down.
Meanwhile, the presenters continue talking about us like we aren’t there. “Kincaid’s girlfriend was attacked and taken against her will…” My body tenses, not because they’re talking about me, but because they talk about me in front of Bobby. “Reports say she fought her way out of there. Literally!”
My eyes stay glued to Bobby. He’s tense. His jaw grinds back and forth as someone pats him down. But he doesn’t move. He simply stares at me. Jon takes his robe off and passes his mouthguard.
Although Jimmy and Aiden are right there, they don’t interrupt. It was planned that Aiden is Jimmy’s corner man today, and Jon is Bobby’s. Jim and Aiden are here for support, but they won’t interject without being asked.
Given the go ahead, Bobby moves up the steps and enters the octagon at a run. He laps the perimeter and swings his arms to warm up.
Fort Minor cuts out, Linkin Park begins, and the lights go out.
It’s pitch black except for the spotlight on Thomlassen, Bobby’s opponent, as he dramatically enters the arena. My breath catches in my throat as I look to my left, and then my right; I literally can’t see a thing, not even Iz, who I know is right beside me. Eventually, after thirty seconds or so, the lights come back on and I jump at the sight of Bobby’s face pressed against the cage.
His deep brown eyes stare.
His angry features relax when he refocuses on me. Poking his fingers through the wire, he waves and sends me warm all over.
Moving back half a foot, he points at me, then back at his eyes.
I’m watching you.
My heart catches as he turns to prowl and watch Thomlassen approach.
“Your current world heavyweight champion, Tony Thomlassen!”Daveshouts into the roaring crowd. The men list Thomlassen’s height, weight, and fight record, then they discuss the fight that never happened last year and speculate on why his camp took so long to sign the contracts.
I turn to where I was supposed to sit tonight, and find Jack and Casey, and a seriously nervous Nell. She just watched one son get knocked out, and now waits for another son to give it a go. Jack looks like he might wet his pants with excitement, and Casey looks like she’s interested only because she knows the people.
If it wasn’t a Kincaid fight, she probably wouldn’t be here.
Izzy takes my hand in hers and brings my attention back to Bobby. Jon is officially in Bobby’s corner, but Aiden stands beside him, and though Jimmy angles forward to be a part of their formation, he doesn’t release Iz.
The referee – a new referee, different to the one Jimmy had – stands in the center and calls the two men over. “Gentleman, I want a good, clean fight. Listen to my commands at all times, defend yourselves at all times. Touch gloves and step back.”
Is it normal to swoon for your own husband? Should I stop feeling so deeply now that we’re past the dating stage and into marriage? I don’t know, but as he walks back toward me all puffed up on adrenaline, sweaty chest, mouthguard in, sweaty hair, my heart does a pitter patter and sends me into a swooning frenzy.
I’m so fucking happy he chose me.
The referee points at Bobby when he turns to the center. “Are you ready?”
Bobby nods.
The referee turns to Thomlassen. “Are you ready?”
He nods.
“LET’S GO!”
He steps out of the way as Bobby and his opponent rush toward each other. This fight is immediately different to Jimmy’s. No one is circling. No one is wasting time. They’re both going for the win.
