“Morning.” I looked from her to Jordyn who waved silently.
“How are you? I know Belize was beautiful and being back here is so bleak.” She made a sad face.
“Yes it was. Everything was so beautiful and quiet.” I reached for the coffee pot and poured myself a glass.
“Yeah, I could only imagine. With everything going on, a few days in paradise is necessary.”
I shook my head. “I just can’t believe people are so invested in the business of others.”
Journee cackled. “Given they have no business of their own, it’s easy to be invested in yours. You’re handling it well though, especially with such a narcissist for an ex.”
“Money made him big. Money filled him up and made him feel like he was untouchable.”
“Some people can take fame and some can’t. He talks so much that I wonder how he trains when he spends so much freaking time in front of a camera. How did you deal with that?”
I laughed because she had it down pat. “I wouldn’t know because I was never really around him then. He has all of those people around him and in his face, I wasn’t one of them. I value my privacy, space, and peace; he didn’t. Funnily, I thought he did and was protecting me, but I was wrong. He was using it to cheat all over the damn world.”
Journee’s expression was sympathetic.
“Well, I’m happy you’re here now, away from that prick.” Jordyn’s tone had me smiling before I sipped my coffee.
“I am as well. He might not say it, but Indiri needed you. Right now things may seem rocky with the media and everything, but it’ll blow over. Stick with him, his heart is good, even though sometimes his head is hard.”
Chapter
Fourteen
Indiri
A couple days later
I kissed my teeth, tired of hearing somebody telling me which direction to look in. I hated the politics of boxing. All I wanted to do was box, but there were several events scheduled with a million motherfuckers wanting to be in my face when all I wanted to do was prepare for the damn fight.
“Over here, champ. I need you to mug the camera in your stance.” The photographer’s eyes were on me and his camera as he waited for me to mug him.
“A couple more shots and we can get out of here, Indi. Don’t throw a tantrum.”
I cut my eyes in her direction at the same time she chuckled.
“Selah said she’ll make me a lemon tart cheesecake.” She tapped away on her phone.
“Yo, why don’t you tell her ass to b?—”
“I knew I heard trouble in here.” Remy’s voice alerted us to him entering the room.
“Trouble, no. Somebody being difficult, yes.” Jordyn cut her eyes in my direction before walking over to hug her brother.
I struck a few more poses for the cameraman while they spoke. He stopped and removed the camera from his face.
“That’s all for now, Mr. Jones. I’ll be in touch if I need any more shots.”
I nodded, moving toward the water cooler to grab something to drink.
“Of all the women you could fall in love with, you chose your upcoming opponent’s fiancé.” Remy laughed at his own statement.
I finished the bottle of water in my hand and shook my head. “She was never his.”
Remy laughed. “So, you admit you’re in love?” He had a grin on his face. “This is a press nightmare, you know.”
