There had been so many social media posts since the airport incident. People were split down the middle. Either they draggedme for fucking with Dove and hitting that nigga in his shit, or they supported me and claimed I was right for what I did. I didn’t really care what they thought, but my team, my family, and Dove cared.
“Exactly what I said, Reighvyn. I needed to put a plan in place to protect you, the brand, the fight camp, and the sponsorships. You may have been cleared of the allegations, but that doesn’t mean that your sponsors and the fight camp aren’t still watching you closely,” Chris Thompkins, my manager, announced.
“Let ’em watch,” I argued. “I’m not about to live my life in a bubble. I haven’t done shit. Shit’s been done to me.”
“I understand, but there still had to be some recompense for what happened. You know that, and I know that, and Sterling knows it, which is why I’m so glad that he called right after it happened.”
“A’ight. I’ll bite. What is it?”
“You can either give them exclusive rights to a story about the doping scandal and Dove or pay a fine of one hundred grand.”
“The fuck! Nigga, why you agree to some shit like that? You know I’m not about to do either. You should’ve told them to kiss my black ass. The fuck they wanna know anything about Dove for? I’m not about to do that shit. Tell them they can take their offer and fuck themselves up the ass with it.”
“I guess you’ll be paying the fine then.”
“I shouldn’t have to pay anything, Chris. It was purely a case of self-defense.”
“Except that your hands can be classified as deadly weapons in a court case, and that man didn’t put his hands on you.”
“I don’t give a shit. If he put his hands on someone that I’m close to, then that’s always gonna be a problem. I don’t regret it, and I’d do it again if it was necessary.”
“How much do you know about this girl, Reigh? Are you sure that she’s not just using you to bail her out?”
“She’s not, Chris. I’ve known her for longer than I’ve known you, and she’s known me and been with me through some of the most difficult periods of my life.”
“You’re talking about foster care. She’s your foster sister or something?” He was the only one in that world who knew about my past.
“No. Nothing like that. She was a neighbor and a friend. She meant the world to me, and she still does. If I had to give it all up tomorrow just to save her, I would do that, in the blink of an eye.”
“Fine, but if you expect to keep your career, you’re gonna have to tread lightly. This isn’t all behind you, and all eyes are on you now, so you’ll have to be careful.”
“Chris, I’m gonna be the man I’ve always been. Nothing has changed. If people change who support me, that’s their choice and their right, but I’m standing firm where I belong, and that includes on the side of one of my oldest friends.”
“I can’t argue with you on it. I can only advise you on it.”
“Fuck that. Do whatever you think needs to be done, but I’m not giving an interview about her. She’s private, off-limits.”
“All right. I’ll call and let them know.”
We ended the call, and I remained in the position I was in before I answered the phone, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the ocean.
“How long have you been here?” I finally asked.
“How did you know that I was here?”
“Your warmth. Peace. Your mama named you right.”
She walked up behind me, wrapped her arms around my waist, and rested her head at my back. “I haven’t had peace lately. Not in the last year anyway.”
“It will come back. As soon as you start operating in your lane again. It’s who you are, what you embody.”
“Hmm. Did you mean that? The words that you spoke about giving it all up for me?”
“Yes.”
“I would never expect or ask that of you, you know?”
“But you could have it.”
