My hand is at the small of his back, lightly so not to freak him out. He’s cool with the touch from me so long as I let him know ahead of time. This is our normal.
We’re seated at a shaded table on the patio and within seconds we hear the shutters of cameras. They don’t ask questions—yet. They will when we leave. I don’t know how they missed us coming in, but they did. Likely someone more “important” was on their radar.
“And so it begins,” Ethan says softly.
I nod, and we take our seats.
“Can I start you off with something to drink?” the waitress asks.
“I’ll have a Corona with lime, please,” I order.
“I’ll have the same,” Ethan replies.
“I’ll be right back with your drinks,” the waitress twitters, her face flushing when she looks at my guy. She’s obviously star-struck by Ethan.
“How does it feel?” I ask.
“What?”
“Having chicks trip over their own feet because you’re you.”
He chuckles. “It’s odd. I’m just a guy who plays a bass guitar in a band. Granted that band is well-known, but still. I’m just me.”
I nod. I’m feeling guilty for holding back on Ethan earlier. There’s more to moving up than I admitted.
“What’s eating at you?” he asks.
Too perceptive. He knows me well.
“I wasn’t exactly forthcoming with all the information earlier.”
Ethan frowns. “Okay. So, tell me now. I already know I’m not going to like it. I knew it earlier.”
“I won’t be underground anymore. I’ll be official MMA if all goes well. Jabs is trying to get a sanctioned fight so I get a foot in the door, so to speak. Coach and the rest of the team are handling the details.”
“Oh. So, it’ll just be all legal-like?” he asks.
I nod.
He breathes out a sigh of relief. “I was worried. Honestly, this makes me feel better, Knox. I hate that anything goes in those underground fights. Some of them fight so fucking dirty.”
“Your beverages,” the waitress interrupts. After setting them down, she asks, “Are you ready to order?”
We order quickly, and she scurries away.
I chuckle.
Ethan shrugs.
“So, you feel better that it’ll all be legit? I won’t lie, Ethan. It’s going to be one fucking hell of a challenge. It won’t be UFC, but these guys are the real deal not those pussies like the ones I’ve been fighting,” I admit.
Now he lets out a quiet sigh. “I just don’t want you to get hurt like some of the guys in the fights I’ve seen.”
It’s possible—no doubt, but I puff up my chest anyway. “Never gonna happen, baby.”
Ethan nods. We eat our meals, still hearing the camera shutters. I now know why Ethan hates the attention the band gets.
“This sucks,” I admit.
