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The first timeCrucible sponsored this exhibition, my dad had no idea what he was doing. We figured it out as we chugged along. That first year, we were able to host it at the gym because it was a new and relatively small event, but we still managed to raise a few thousand dollars for charity and were happy with the result.
By the time we started planning it the following year, I had begun making a name for myself in professional fighting, and we were able to leverage that to draw in a bigger crowd with deeper pockets. That meant we needed a larger space to accommodate everyone. That was the first year we moved the exhibition to the 2300 Arena in South Philly, just a few minutes away from the legendary Blue Horizon boxing gym. That place may have closed when I was a kid, but its legacy is a Philadelphia legend.
The 2300 Arena seats two thousand, and this year, we sold the place out.
I’d hoped my parents would fly up for the event. I’d like them to meet Scarlet. But they had other plans. Mom said they’d be up for a few weeks once Scarlet had the baby. She said they’d be more helpful then. Not that I can imagine Scarlet accepting help, especially from a virtual stranger.
Imogen and I watch as they finish setting up the cage in the center of the arena. The event doesn’t start until seven tonight, but we all have to be back to mingle before the doors open at six. Each fight consists of three, five-minute rounds between two professional fighters. One retired, and one up-and-comer. It’s all for charity, but one of the up-and-comers will likely attempt to take the opportunity to make a name for himself.
I’m not worried.
But I hope my opponent isn’t that guy this year.
I don’t feel like embarrassing him in front of two thousand people.
“You about ready to leave?” Imogen bumps me with her shoulder, clearly already over the amount of work that’s gone into today.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done to pull this together, Gen. You really did a great job.”
She stuffs her hands in the pockets of her shorts and doesn’t look up. “Yeah well, having Scarlet to bounce some things off this year really helped. I hate to admit it, but she’s good.”
“You ever gonna tell me what you’ve got against Scarlet?”
Imogen mumbles something, but I can’t understand her.
“What are you, five? Just say it.”
“Fine. Whatever. I was always a little jealous of Hudson’s sisters. They make it look so easy.” Imogen’s pale skin turns a flaming red to match her fiery red hair.
I tug her back around, forcing her to look at me. “Make what look easy?” Sometimes I fucking hate being a man because if growing up with two sisters has taught me anything, it’s that they speak an entirely different language than me.
And I learned early on to tread lightly when trying to translate it.
“The whole fancy girl thing. They know how to dress. They know how to speak. They know how to attract every man in the room. It’s annoying and frustrating and so fucking intimidating. And Hudson and Sawyer both hold them up on pedestals, like they’re the most precious things in the world.” She looks up at me like I’m stupid. “It’s really annoying.”
I wrap an arm around my sister that she promptly shakes off. “I hold you up on a pedestal.”
“No, you don’t. You treat me like one of the guys. Just like Dad did. Just like everyone in the gym does. And everyone in the band and bar do.”
Oh, shit. This may be a bigger issue than I thought.
“Whatever, Cade. It’s fine. I guess I just really didn’t want to like her in the beginning. I convinced myself she was a stuck-up bitch and you were too good for her.” I try to interrupt her, but she doesn’t give me a chance. “But I was wrong. She’s not so bad. She’s actually pretty cool once you get to know her. And she loves Brynlee.”
Gen hip-checks me, then wraps her arm around mine. “I think she even loves you too. So I’ll admit I was wrong. But if you tell her I said that, I swear to God, I’ll cut your balls off with dull kitchen shears, then make you watch while I pop them like tiny little balloons.”
The pain I feel in my abdomen from that horrifically detailed visual has me covering my balls and turning away from her. “What is wrong with you?”
Her brows lift as she smiles. “I was raised in the gym. Did you expect anything less?”
“Are you telling me this is going to be Brynlee in twenty years?” Jesus. I think I need to lock my little girl in a tower.
“Maybe.” But as Hudson approaches us from the other side of the cage, her smile fades. “I’m outta here. I’ll be waiting in the car.”
Gen walks away without looking back as Hudson joins me.
“What’s up with her? You two have a fight or something?” The words leave my mouth before I think better of it.
“Yeah. Or something.” He stands next to me as we watch the final pieces of the octagon being put together.
I’m not sure why I’m asking. I don’t think I actually want to hear the answer. But I must be a glutton for punishment because I ask anyway, “Do I want to know?”
“Nope.” Hudson pops the “p” at the end of the word and shoves his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts, the same damn way my sister just did.
I drag my hand down my face. I can’t fucking believe I’m about to wade into these waters. “What happened?”
“Not happening, Saint. Remember what you told me a few months ago?” When I look blankly at him, he continues, “If you’ve got questions, ask your sister. But know that absolutely nothing happened between the two of us.” He turns to leave. “I’m outta here. I’ll see you tonight.”
The women in my life are driving me crazy. And the guys aren’t any better.
