“Always.” Lifting him into my arms, I stride toward my bedroom to remind him of just that.
FIFTY-TWO
A week later . . .
We give Faiz a big funeral. It’s what he would have wanted. I promised to remember him, and I’ll make sure the world does as well. It’s televised, with mourners coming from everywhere. I shake hands through it all, standing tall and strong thanks to Nikko, who never leaves my side.
It’s crude to think it here, but he looks good in his black suit, the pearl on his sleeves matching the shirt I’m wearing.
We made sure Faiz’s parents were buried quietly. There was no ceremony for them, but Faiz gets it all. The entire city closed down for it, and once the mourners and cameras depart, leaving just his true friends and family, I approach the grave and stare down at it. Nikko steps back, allowing me to say goodbye.
Julies stands to my left, and Chen to my right, leaving a space between me and him where Faiz always stood. That reminder hurts, and tears fill my eyes.
Faiz was many things in my life, but there is one thing that remains true—he was my constant. He was my best friend growing up, then my lover, my enemy, and my friend again, but he was always there in somecapacity and willing to do anything to have me in his life. We lost our way from one another, but that didn’t mean we didn’t love each other. I will always love Faiz. He was my first everything, and my life seems empty without him. There is no justification for his death. It was a product of greed, plain and simple, and in the end, the ones who were meant to love him were the ones who dealt the final blow, but we are here, surrounding him with the love he deserved.
I lean down and toss a rose onto the coffin. “I love you, Faiz, and I always will. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m glad I got to be your brother,” Chen says as he tosses in a baggie of drugs, making us laugh.
Julies goes next, and he takes a swig of the most expensive bottle of whiskey I’ve ever seen. “Fuck you for leaving us,” he complains, but then he sighs. “See you on the other side, brother.” He pours the alcohol in.
Nodding at me, they walk away, and a hand slips into mind, more familiar than my own, and I glance up to see Nikko, but he’s looking at the casket. “I know we didn’t get along, but I want to thank you. Thank you for saving the man I love, and thank you for loving him until I came along. I’ll take it from here. I promise I’ll make him happy and keep him safe so you can rest now.”
I tear up, and Nikko tugs me into his arms as I stare at the coffin. “Goodbye, Faiz,” I whisper, then I let Nikko steer me toward the car, away from my past and toward my future.
A month later . . .
I can scarcely believe it’s been a month since Faiz died. Time has passed quickly. I don’t think of him every day, but when I do, it’s good memories. I remember him like I promised, but I live my life as well. I’m finishing our quarter and dedicating it to him. I am back at work and busy as hell, despite Nikko’s and my father’s concerns, but I feel the need more than ever.
Nikko moved in with me, since I didn’t want to be alone, and coming home to him is what keeps me sane. I know everyone is worried, including Yuki, but I’m trying to move on with my life. It still hurts, and I miss Faiz, but I said my goodbyes, and I refuse to live with pain and grief forever.
My phone rings, and Nikko’s smiling face lights up my screen, making me smile.
“Hey, baby.” He sighs into the phone, sounding nervous.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask.
He’s quiet for a moment, so I sit up straighter. “Nikko?” I prompt.
“He accepted,” he blurts. “I’m going to fight for the belt next month. Lucas agreed to a rematch.”
Since his last fight was interrupted, his father decided to skip right to the challenge again. I wasn’t sure, but Nikko was, and I’ll always support him. This is his dream. No one knew if the champion would accept after last time, but it looks like he did. Luckily, Nikko wasn’t implicated at all. We got all the footage, and the attack is being deemed as a tragedy. We even handed over the gunmen who were alive after the assault, ensuring they never spoke of who employed them. It was all taken care of, all but the fact that Nikko never got his fair chance at the title. It has been eating me alive since.
“You’re going to win that belt,” I promise. “Now get back to training. I want my boyfriend to be the champion.”
“Yes, baby.” He chuckles. “See you at home?”
“See you at home,” I reply before he hangs up.
FIFTY-THREE
A month later . . .
My whole life has been leading up to tonight. Either I will walk away a champion or a loser. I guess I should be more worried, but the truth of the matter is, I’m prepared. I’ve worked my ass off to get here. I’ve trained to be the best I can be, and if it isn’t enough this time, then there is always the next one. I won’t stop until I have that championship and make myself and everyone else proud. Lucas is an incredible fighter, and my respect for him has only increased after our last run-in. When it came down to it, he risked his neck to help me and others out. He might be a stern-looking, cold, cocky bastard, but he’s a good person, and when we sent the challenge, he personally called me. He informed me he was looking forward to the match and even sent me a gift basket. If we weren’t competing for the title, we might have even become friends.
The crowd just wants a good show, but for us boxers, this is about pride, willpower, and strength. My father is anxious, knowing what this means for us. My friends and other fighters are here, ready to support me all the way, and the most important person in my life is here too.
My eyes find Zia, who sits with his father on one side and Yuki onthe other, just beyond the ring. I smile at him, and he presses his hand to his chest to let me know he’s here.
