He wanted to win another title. He worked his ass off, putting in hours of training and sacrificing literal blood and sweat to win. Selfishly, I wanted to be in his corner when he did.
As the arena attendee handed me my ticket stub and pointed in the direction of my seat, I sighed, feeling the weight of this night. I pushed the sadness aside in order to focus on what was important. At least I would get to see the fight in person.
As took my seat, I glanced around and pulled out my phone to send a ‘thank you’ text to Tanisha. She really did have a great seat. It gave me a perfect view of the cage. In fact, as I looked down the row, I spotted Skittles taking her seat next to Pit. I’d only met both of them once, but they’d made an impression. From the looks of it, the rest of Luke’s crew was with them.
I immediately recognized Tak as the lead singer of Rejected One. There were two other guys. From the looks of it, the one with the tattoos had to be Deacon, leaving the last member to be Kelex. Before I could look away, Skittles caught my eye. Her eyebrows lifted before narrowing slightly and she turned to Pit to say something. He glanced down at me, his eyes narrowing also.
I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and turned away. My mind began wondering what type of things Luke told them about me. I couldn’t imagine it was anything pretty. Thankfully, before I could fully go down that road, the lights went dim and the announcers began welcoming the audience to the fight.
The music signaling the entrance of the athletes into the arena sounded, causing the crowd to ignite in cheers. My heart pounded when I spotted Luke and his corner emerge from the opening into the arena and walk down the aisle toward the cage. Lenny and David were in his corner. That had me releasing a small sigh of relief. At least, he had someone with him. Lenny wasn’t much of a corner when it came to fighting but he was a friend, and David had some familiarity with Luke’s training.
Straining to get a better glimpse of him, I lifted my gaze to one of the overhead flat screens in the arena. I stared into Luke’s eyes, trying to read them. Fear pierced my belly at what I saw there. He didn’t look focused on the fight. He almost appeared bored as if he just wanted this over with.
That wasn’t a good sign.
“C’mon, Luke,” I mumbled.
I twisted my hands in my lap, feeling the energy from the crowd course through me. If Luke could pull it together, after the next twenty-five minutes were up, he would have the title belt. I knew that he could do it but stealing another look into his eyes as he entered the cage, I wasn’t fully certain that he believed it.
My heart hammered in my chest from the start of the first bell. I watched intently, mumbling calls that I would’ve told Luke directly if I were still in his corner. I clasped my hands at my chest, squeezing them while keeping my eyes glued to the action happening in the cage.
“Pull it together, Luke,” I said at the end of the second round.
When the bell for the third round went off, both fighters moved with more intention than they’d started off with. Rodriguez was swift, but Luke stayed with him. I gasped when Luke made the first move this time, to take him down. Rodriguez wasn’t expecting it and he went down hard. However, he recovered well. Too well.
Luke was suddenly on his stomach, Rodriguez moving in to climb on his back. The worst position for Luke to be in.
“Get up,” I shouted, forgetting that I wasn’t supposed to be there. Rising to my feet, I yelled for Luke to get up when I saw Rodriguez moving to put him in a chokehold.
Catching a glimpse of Luke’s face, my body filled with fear that he was on the verge of giving up.
“Waltz, Luke,” I called out, moving as close as I could to the cage before the security stopped me.
“Ma’am step back,” the security guard warned.
I did so, but only a few inches, before cupping my hands around my mouth and yelling again.
“Waltz, with him, Luke!”
I breathed heavily, hoping beyond hope he somehow heard me above the rest of the crowd and the chaos in his own mind.
“Waltz,” I said again.
I gasped when Luke managed to regain leverage forcing Rodriguez to his right side.
“Yes,” I yelled when Luke held onto Rodriguez’ left arm and wrapped his leg around his upper waist. “Do it,” I said as I waited for Luke to catch his other leg around Rodriguez’ body, locking in the triangle.
My belly filled with butterflies when he did. I held my breath, just waiting as Luke tightened the triangle hold around Rodriguez. Seconds went by and eventually, right before the bell signaling the end of the third round, Rodriguez tapped out.
“Fuck yeah,” I cheered and raised my arms over my head.
“Skullcrusher. Skullcrusher,” those who were fans of Luke’s began chanting his fighter name as he rose to his feet with his arms lifted overhead.
He glanced around the outside of the cage, looking for something. I stopped breathing when our eyes connected. He dropped his hands as he continued to heave, his chest rising and lowering rapidly.
His attention became focused on the commentator as two other arena employees wrapped the belt around his waist. I took a step back and then another, until I grabbed my purse from underneath my seat and started for the exit.
I didn’t stay to hear the final speeches. I doubted Luke wanted me there. My heart grew heavier with each step I took, but I refused to look back. Luke got his win and that was enough for me. I could go on and nurse my broken heart at home, by myself.
