I zone out during the introductions, déjà vu hitting me from the last fight. There are more precautions now, with security and the whole nine yards, and the attack at the last event has only made this one so much more successful. It’s the biggest arena I have ever been in, which is intimidating as hell, and when I go to touch gloves with Lucas, he grins.
“Ignore it and let’s have a good fight. May the best man win.”
Nodding in respect, I touch his glove and head back to my corner to wait for the bell. He’s right. I need to ignore everyone and everything else. This is just about us. I zone out the noise and the crowd, pretending like I’m back in Nexus with the others.
The first round is much like the initial time we met. We work each other out, but in the second round, Lucas comes out swinging. It takes me by surprise, which is what he wanted. It’s obvious he wishes to end this quickly after our last bout, and I barely hold him back. All I can do is hide behind my gloves and grunt under the bombardment of brutal fists that push me back into the ropes. He’s pulled away, and I recover, meeting him in the middle. I get a few hits in, but so does he, punching my healing shoulder. The pain causes all the breath in my lungs to whoosh out as it goes numb.
My guard drops a little from the onslaught, but it’s the opening he needs. I see it just as he does, but I can’t move in time to avoid the brutal uppercut. It sends me flying back to the mat, my face pressed to the side as I feel my eyebrow split open. My ears ring, and everything fades around me. It’s only a few seconds, but I hear the ref starting to count.
I need to get up or it’s over.
The audience is so loud, I can hear them over my buzzing ears as I turn my face, my chin hitting the mat as I try to dislodge the confusion and dizziness.
Lifting my head, I find Zia. He’s on his feet, his eyes worried and hard, his lips tight, but when he sees me looking, he smiles and nods at me. I see complete confidence in his expression. With myeyes on him, I climb back to my feet and shake off the hard hit I just took.
I can’t lose, not with him watching.
I will be a champion, and my boy will be here to watch me win.
Energy surges through me, and I advance on Lucas. His eyes narrow, but he grins around his mouth guard in respect. His hands go up as I drive my fists into him, our feet dancing across the ring as I drive him back into the ropes until I’m pulled off him.
Back in my corner, I spit out my mouth guard and guzzle some of my water before splashing it on me. Blood drips down my head, but we ignore it as I look at my dad. “You’ve got this, son,” he says as he rests his hand on my sweaty shoulder. “You were born to fight, Nikko, so show the world that.”
The bell rings, and he helps me shove my mouth guard back in before I’m up on my feet. This time, I’m on the attack, ferocious like a dog with a bone. I don’t let Lucas get away until the bell rings.
Meeting his eyes from our corners, I notice he’s sweating and bleeding, and his chest is heaving. His coach is speaking to him, but he’s staring at me with respect and fear. When the bell rings again, he tries to take the advantage, but I’m faster and more determined. He’s on the ropes again before he knows it, and I’m pulled off. When we meet in the middle, I dance around him, exchanging blows. I drop my guard like my shoulder is hurting, hoping he will take the bait. It’s time to end this. When he turns, his arm descending to give his signature uppercut again, I drive my fist into his unprotected face. For a moment, nothing happens, but then he drops back to the mat, his eyes rolling into the back of his head.
I stand above with my guard still up, waiting for him to get to his feet as the count starts. The stadium falls silent as he groans and opens his eyes. Lucas tries to recover, tries to get up, but he falls down. I wait, barely able to breathe as the ref counts to ten, and then it’s all over. The next few seconds are insane as my team surges into the ring and grabs me. I hear the announcement, but it doesn’t seem real as they help me remove my gear and give me a drink. Lucas is led to his corner, still shaking his head, but his eyes find me and he smiles.
“Nikko! Nikko!” The announcer puts the mic to my mouth as the crowd cheers, and I’m tugged to the center of the ring. “You did it! You are the new world champion. What do you have to say?”
Clearing my throat, I try to calm down enough to talk, my brain still not catching up to the truth.
I did it.
I knocked him out.
I won.
Gripping the microphone, I stare into the crowd, feeling both disbelief and happiness. “I want to say thank you to everyone who came tonight to watch me fight. I want to thank Lucas, who was the best opponent I have ever faced and truly a champion. I also want to thank my father and my team at Nexus. I couldn’t have done this without them. There’s one other person I would like to thank. They came into my life and made it so much better. They support and push me. He’s the reason I’m standing here, and he’s the love of my life. Where are you, baby?”
The crowd screams, and I scan the audience for him when a light lands on him, no doubt thanks to Charlie since he’s in on this plan. Zia’s eyes widen as every gaze and camera turn to him. “There he is. Come here, baby.” I crook my finger, and he glares. “Don’t be shy, it isn’t your style.” The crowd laughs, and Yuki and his father push him up.
He glares at me, shaking his head, but walks to the ring where Trent and my father hold the ropes. He slips in, and I offer him my hand, which he takes before I pull him to me. The mic is between us, but my eyes are only for him. “I love you more than anything in this world. Before I met you, I didn’t even know what love was. All I knew was boxing, and you made my world a better place. Even without the win tonight, I am the happiest man in this room, well . . . almost.” I hand him the mic. “Hold this.”
I drop to my knee, the box Charlie slid to me coming out as I open it for Zia. His eyes widen, his whole face twisting in shock. “Zia Xander, I have loved you since the moment you chaotically crashed into my life, and I will love you until I can’t speak that word anymore.Our lives have not been easy, and I have no doubt it will never calm down, but all I know is that I love you and I want to spend every moment with you from now until the end. Will you marry me?”
I wait anxiously for his answer. I was going to do this regardless of whether or not I won. My boy likes showy things, and I want to give him everything he wants. He deserves to be loved loudly and openly. He deserves to be pampered and treasured, and I plan to do that for the rest of my life.
“Is that my mothers ring?” he asks.
“It is,” I reply as I lean into the mic. “I’m waiting.”
The crowd chuckles. Zia’s lips twist in a smile, his eyes turning glassy. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
The screams are as loud as my thunderous heartbeat as I surge to my feet and slide the ring onto his finger before wrapping him in my arms and spinning us around. His laughter fills my ear. “You idiot,” he mutters only for me.
“You love me,” I murmur as his feet touch back down, our eyes locked together as I stare at the most important person in my world.
