“But I’m not,” I reminded him playfully.
“Spill it, James.” Troy used my last name as if we were best buds. “What’s your secret to getting access to the champ?”
I crooked my finger at him and he leaned closer. I crooked it again and he came even closer still. I leaned in the rest of the way until my mouth nearly touched his ear. “It’s our deep admiration for Superman and our immense dislike for assholes like you.” I sat back in my chair and looked into his stunned eyes. I wasn’t a guy who was easily pushed around and it was time he learned it. “Get. Lost.”
Troy started to speak, but Seth returned from the bathroom then.
“I believe you heard the man,” Seth said when it looked like Troy had no intention of moving.
Troy looked him up and down, as if calculating to see how big of a threat Seth was to him. “Who are you?”
“None of your damn concern,” I told Troy.
Troy acted as if he hadn’t heard me. “Are you his boyfriend?” he asked Seth.
“Yep.”
It was all I could do not to groan out loud. I knew if I did, it would only encourage him more. “Don’t tell him anything, Seth. He’s a fucking photographer for Dirty Laundry. He’s looking for an exposé on my life.” It was partially true.
Seth’s eyes darkened with anger. “Do as the man suggested and get lost or I’ll help you along the way.”
Seth was several inches taller than Troy and had a much bigger frame. He could appear quite menacing when he wanted to be, and that night was one of those times. It worked because Danvers got up without another word. I saw the question in Seth’s eyes, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, we went about our night as if Troy’s intrusion had never happened.
It was too late to reply to Macio’s message when I got home. I was a little bummed because I knew he would be on lockdown, as I referred to it, for the twenty-four hours leading up to the fight. I chose to focus on the bright side, which was that I would be in his arms in just two more days.
I was both excited and nervous when I was shown into Macio’s dressing room. I had seen him at pre-fight conferences, but never so close to the actual event. Only Barry, Rupert, and Kathy were permitted to be around him minutes before a match. As happy as I was to be in the same room as him, I was bummed that I couldn’t give him a good luck kiss or even a fucking fist bump. We couldn’t take any chances with the commission officials in the room.
I made certain not to look into Macio’s eyes when he answered my questions. I feared I wouldn’t be able to keep the longing out of my expression, so I chose to keep my eyes on the notes I was taking. Before I knew it, Macio was taped and ready to go. He followed Barry out of the room without a backwards glance at Kathy, Rupert, or me. I smiled inwardly because I might not have received any pre-fight affection, or even acknowledgment, but neither did Kathy.
I turned to face Kathy, prepared to thank her for what she did, but my gratitude dissipated as soon as I saw the calculating smile on her face. She was a woman with an agenda. I had no idea what she was up to, but I was sure I’d be the first, or second, person to know.
“Busy week?” she asked me. The innocuous question didn’t match the sarcastic tone of voice she used. I looked questioningly at Rupert, but he shrugged as if to say he didn’t know what was going on.
“Sure was,” I replied. I had no choice but to play along.
“Me too. I’ve been fighting off reports that I’m pregnant.” Before, her words would’ve been a knife to my heart, but I was smarter and stronger.
“Wow, another immaculate conception,” I replied with wide eyes. Rupert snorted, earning a death glare from Kathy.
She turned her smirking glance back at me. “This is how you repay my kindness?”
“You’re right, Kathy. I should be more appreciative.” I took a deep breath. “I appreciate how you put yourself on the line by going out to fancy dinners and parties wearing expensive shoes and dresses that Macio feels obligated to buy for you.” She blanched at my words, obviously unaware that Macio had told me every single fucking detail of their agreement. He felt strongly that Kathy shouldn’t have to pay for any expenses related to her part in the charade.
She smiled acidly, then said, “I meant for not showing him the photos of you on the town with yourboyfriend.” She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to go in for the kill. “I understand why Macio has a beard, but fail to see why you need one too.” I was about to ask what she was talking about, but she didn’t need prompting. “I’m talking about your dates with Seth this week.”
“Seth is just my friend, Kathy. Macio knows that.”
“Well, according to the article on Dirty Laundry’s website, you’re much more than friends.”That fucking twat Troy Danvers!“There were a few pictures included that made it look like you and Seth couldn’t wait to go home and rip each other’s clothes off.”
I rolled my eyes at that one. “Because every photo posted in the media is the truth and should be trusted.” I looked pointedly at her and smiled inwardly when I saw some of her confidence unravel. “Like the pregnancy bullshit,” I said, in case I wasn’t clear enough.
“You’re lucky he didn’t see the article before his match. He needs to be focused on his opponent in the ring and not doubting your loyalties. If he lost a match because of you…”
“First of all, I resent that you think Macio is so fucking weak that he can’t block out the bullshit and focus on his fight. Unlike you, I trust him to be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction.” The balls on that woman riled me up to levels I had never experienced before, but I wouldn’t let her ruin my weekend with Macio. She was about to see the side of me that first caught Macio’s eye. “It’s in your best interest to make sure that he’s not bothered by that shit anyway.”
“How do you figure?” She looked at me like I was dumber than a box of rocks.
“Who do you think the media will blame if Macio stumbles in the ring? Me, who they don’t know about, or you, who they see on his arm multiple times a week?” I laughed derisively as what I said started to sink into her pretty head. “You forget that I’m a sports reporter, honey. I’ve lost track of the number of times a wife or girlfriend got blamed for an athlete’s poor performance. They go from media darlings to pariahs in a blink of an eye. They get booed in public, harassed on social media, and lambasted on the internet. Is that what you want?” The sour look on her face was the only answer I needed.
