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This is my second fight this week. Thanks to those grueling three-a-days, Kota was already passed out before I went to the first one. I still had us FaceTime each other, she just didn’t know it because I propped her phone up on her nightstand before leaving.

Kota practically has a phobia of being alone. She claims it’s about her sleep paralysis, but I think the sleep paralysis is a result of the trauma she endured when Sera left her alone for all those weeks when she was younger. As far as I know, she hasn’t experienced so much as a bad dream since we’ve been together, and I think, maybe, it’s because I’ve been sleeping next to her every night regardless of if our parents are away or not. So it actually kinda fucking kills me to not be there with her physically. The least I can do is keep an eye out. No sleep demons allowed on my watch.

Since today’s Saturday and Kota didn’t have any practices, she was still up before this fight. I’m not sure how asleep she is since she just closed her eyes a few minutes ago, but we already said “goodnight” to each other, so hopefully she’s out for the night. Or at least until I join her. Damn, I love waking her up with my cock. It’s the best way to celebrate a win.

Fuck that threesome bullshit from that book we decided to DNF last weekend. It wasn’t even really a threesome. It was two girls, making each other feel really, really good, and a bitch-ass Atlas over in the corner not even participating. That’s my assumption anyway since I can’t be bothered to read any more of that story. His girl blew up her entire life for him and he enlists someone else to show his appreciation? Fuck that.

Inside the cage, we go through the introductions, and the entire time, I size up my next opponent. He’s got at least forty pounds on me, so unless he’s absolute dogshit, it won’t be an easy fight. As long as I stay focused…

While I still can, I sneak a quick peek at Ko—

What the fuck? The screen…it’s fucking black.

“Where is she?”

Dex flips the phone, widens his eyes, then immediately starts touching shit, his thumbs flying across the screen.

“I don’t know what happened. It’s not dead—”

“Get her back on.”

“I’m trying but she…”

“She what?”

He looks back up at me, his face colorless.

“I don’t know.”

“Did she hang up?”

“I don’t know,” he says louder.

“Because there was no video?”

His shrug isn’t all that convincing, his words even less so. “And no sound.”

“Fuck.”

The ref calls me over to touch gloves. I go but remain half turned toward my friend.

“Maybe she’ll call back!”

“What do I do if she does?” I ask.

Dex throws his free hand up to gesture at our surroundings. “Not much you can do!”

I hate this feeling. I hate it. This is the shit that’ll kill me, I swear to God. Not disaster, not disease, not old age. Nope. Powerlessness will take my ass out. And I’ll fucking wish for it too because I’d rather be dead than not be there for Kota when she needs me.

She depends on me—her anchor. I keep her safe.

Fuck!

Without even looking, I tap the other guy’s glove with one of mine before heading back to my corner.

“What do I fucking do?” I repeat.

“I don’t know, man. End it quickly? Call her back from the parking lot?”