“I haven’t seen you smile like that in a long time,” she says thoughtfully.
“I haven’t really had a reason to smile,” I reply, reflecting on everything that’s happened the last few months. I wish I could go back to December of last year and never leave home. I’d talk Andi into staying home, getting married, and we’d be well on our way to having a baby by now.
That’s all just a pipe dream now.
“So, tomorrow night, huh?” I ask dismally.
“Yes. I’m sorry. I know it’s painful,” Syndi says sympathetically.
“Fine. I’ll be there.” I regret the words the instant they leave my mouth.
“Thank you, Luke. It really means a lot. I’ll have the tailor come up to your room right away so your tuxedo will be ready by tomorrow night,” Syndi says, clicking a message out on her phone.
“Tuxedo? To a concert?” I ask incredulously.
She laughs at my response. “Well, it’s not just any concert, Luke. The place will be full of Vegas royalty. It’ll be the high rollers who don’t blink at dropping millions of dollars on the table, the casino owners, the CEOs of major corporate sponsors, and all of their guests. So, basically, anyone at billionaire status and the lucky people who get to count them as friends. This is not a time to wear jeans and a T-shirt.”
“Fine. Monkey suit. Got it.” I roll my eyes.
“I bet you’ll look very handsome in a tuxedo,” Syndi says without a hint of flirting.
“Oh, yes. I’m sure I’ll be stunning, really standing out in a sea of black and white,” I quip.
A knock on the door prompts Syndi’s departure, and she says she had to go shopping for a dress to wear to this shindig. Since I’m being forced to go, I’m making Brandon go with me. After the tailor takes all of my measurements, I have Brandon step up to get his, too. The tailor disappears with a promise to have both tuxedos and shoes ready by the time I return from the gym tomorrow.
* * *
“Wow. You look stunning,” I compliment Syndi when she opens the door. I insisted on picking her up from her condo since she is technically my date tonight.
She’s wearing a floor-length, strapless navy blue evening gown. The top is ruffled with a rhinestone design that enhances her ample cleavage. The body of the dress fits tightly, like a mermaid, while the bottom flares out slightly. The simple pearl necklace she wears gives her jewelry an understated look but only enhances her overall beauty.
Her long, black hair is pulled up off her neck, showing off her dangly earrings. She really is a beautiful lady with her green eyes sparkling as she gives me a once-over.
“You look so handsome in a tuxedo,” she gushes. “Maybe you should fight in a tuxedo, too. I’d go to more fights then.”
I laugh at her attempt to put me at ease. “Yeah, I’m sure that’d work out well for my fights. At least I’d have one more fan in the audience, though.”
“You know I’ll be there anyway. Right?”
“I hope you will. I’d like for you to be,” I answer honestly.
Part of me feels like I haven’t given her a fair chance because she just isn’t Andi. Maybe what I need to get over Andi is someone who is the exact opposite. Someone who makes me feel things I haven’t felt, think things I haven’t thought, and do things I haven’t done. Getting me out of my comfort zone and all.
Offering her my arm, I smile. “Shall we?”
“Why yes, let’s,” she laughs.
Walking into the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the same place I’ll be fighting tomorrow night, I murmur to Syndi, “I thought you said there wouldn’t be that many people here.”
“I never said that,” she whispers back, a smile plastered on her face as we move through the crowds of beautiful people.
“You said it would just be the billionaires and their friends,” I retort.
“It is, Luke. Billionaires have a lot of friends.”
Waiters and waitresses are circulating with trays of champagne and various types of hors d'oeuvres. When we find our seats, I’m somehow not surprised to learn that my seat is center stage and as close as I can get without actually being onstage.
No doubt in my mind that this was all done on purpose now.
