I’d thought it was going to be weird, seeing my ex-friend in the halls.A part of me had wondered if it would hurt or if I would regret my decision to cut him out of my life.In truth, though, I felt nothing.Not in that numb way I had before Abi’s wedding.I had no lingering animosity, no shoulda-woulda-couldas.All I felt when I looked at Evan was indifference.
And then I walked into AP Bio II and saw Sixx waiting, his bag sitting in the chair beside him to save my seat.
Whatever Roanna and Sin’s reasons for making the move to Malibu, I suddenly fully understood why Sixx had encouraged it.He knew how much I’d struggled in Bio I the previous semester, and here he was, in the class I’d been dreading all day, ready to be my lab partner.It wasn’t just that, though.I’d been feeling vulnerable about going back to school all summer.Realistically, I knew the threat was gone.Gaviria was swimming with the fishes.That didn’t mean my nervousness over walking back into the place that had been a source of so much anxiety vanished.
Until right that moment, I hadn’t allowed myself to think about it.Seeing my boyfriend waiting patiently in class for me, his beautifully menacing face shifting from stoic to warm with a blink once he saw me, I could admit to myself that I’d been dreading returning to school.Knowing Sixx was in the same building, and now the same class, I could fully relax.
Dropping my book onto the table beside his, I grabbed his face between both my hands.“Sixx Sinclair, you are my favorite human in the world.”
Ali
Sixx—17
Ali—17
FEBRUARY
It was happening.Sixx Sinclair was about to be the youngest BJJ world champion.Everyone in the arena knew it, and the air was thick with excitement as we watched, holding our breath as history was made.
The rule books for the event clearly stated that only contestants eighteen and older could compete in the adult division of the tournament, with one exception.If a participant turned eighteen in the current year and before the next tournament.
Sixx was only a few short weeks away from turning eighteen and met the exception-to-the-rule requirement.
Last year, he’d won his eleventh juvenile division world tournament.When he’d entered the adult championship this year, many people scoffed.Just because he’d won his age ranks over the past decade, they didn’t think he could pull off a win the first year in the “big leagues.”That train of thought only lasted for the first few rounds, and then they all changed their tunes quickly.Sixx was focused, determined, locked in on his goal, and ready to take what he’d worked his ass off for since he was a little boy.
Roanna sat to my right, holding my hand so tightly I could barely feel my fingers.Mom was on my left, not squeezing, but holding her breath just like the rest of us.Behind us, London, Genesis, and Aubree all tapped their feet in excitement.Sin was on the floor near the mats with Mestre, Bentley, and my dad.I loved how my father was down there supporting not only Sixx but Sin as well.I wished I could be with them, but I knew it would distract my boyfriend.
Abi, Hayat, and Sammy sat beside Sixx’s aunts in the row behind us, their men close at hand.Especially Vaughn, who had Amala strapped to his chest while she slept peacefully.Jamie and Sammy had a bet going on how long it would take for Sixx to make his opponent submit.
Jamie said three minutes.
Sammy gave it less than two.
One minute and forty-seven seconds later, Sixx had the other guy tapping.As soon as the ref acknowledged it, Sixx released his captive and was on his feet.Slowly, the other man got to his feet, his face red from exertion and defeat.Once he was standing, the ref stepped between them and then lifted Sixx’s hand into the air.
And the entire place went crazy.
Screaming our excitement, Roanna and I threw our arms around each other, laughing and crying at the same time.Sixx did it.He’d succeeded in becoming the youngest BJJ world champion in history.I was so damn proud of him.
When Ro released me to hug her sisters, I looked down to try to find Sixx.He stood with his dad on one side of him, Mestre on the other.Everyone around him was grinning, no doubt congratulating him on his accomplishments.His own smile, however, was absent.He had that shuttered expression on his face, and I knew if I could see his eyes better, they would be blank.
He was struggling.He’d had a lot of physical contact all day with strangers, random people patting him on the back more than once.And with the loudness of the crowd, he was fighting to keep his wall from dropping from all the overstimulation.
Climbing over seats and people, I made it to the end of the aisle and hurried toward the floor.Media was everywhere, along with other teams and a plethora of sponsors.Ducking and weaving, I pushed my way through the ever-growing crowd.
Bentley spotted me first and started moving toward me, clearing a path to help me reach them faster.Dad caught sight of me and said something to the others.Sixx turned, his eyes landing on me, and I picked up my pace.
By the time I reached him, his arms were already open, and I was in the only place I ever wanted to be.He lifted me off my feet, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.Exhaling heavily, he buried his face in my hair, allowing the rest of the world to disappear as he found his safe place.
“I need a minute,” he muttered, his arms contracting around me.“Just a minute and then I’ll be okay to do the media shit.”
“No rush,” I soothed, scratching my nails up and down his neck, earning me a growl-like rumble from him.“I’ve got you.”
“We’re going to take a thirty-minute break and then come back for the awards presentation portion of the event,” Mestre announced to everyone in our vicinity.
“Son, take a walk.Get a drink.Do what you need to clear your head,” Sin advised.“Don’t come back until you’re ready.Anything else can wait.”
“Thanks, Dad,” he muttered.
