Crazy Baby

by A. D. Justice

“By all means, stay and talk with us,” I say sarcastically. “You’ve evidently been all up in my business to this point anyway.”

  She shrinks back and lowers her chin to her chest, keeping her eyes on the floor. She’s ashamed. Good.

  “Spill it,” I command Katelyn.

  “What did you hear?”

  “Quit stalling.”

  “I had Syndi assigned as Luke’s public relations assistant through InMotion PR,” she starts, referring to the side business she started with her cousin. “I have a friend in the communications department of the boxing commission. She helped me arrange it.”

  “Arrange what, exactly?” If she thinks she’s getting away with not telling me every single detail, she’s crazy as hell.

  Her eyes flit around the room, trying to settle anywhere but on mine. “Arranging for Syndi to be Luke’s PR rep. Syndi was supposed to make Andi doubt Luke, make her jealous enough to leave the tour. I thought she’d put him first before her singing career.”

  “Which one of you is responsible for leaking all the fake pictures and hype about Andi and me before there was even anything to talk about?” I ask.

  “I did,” Katelyn admits. “When I realized that Andi was serious about keeping her commitment to the tour, I thought maybe Luke would demand that she choose him or the tour.”

  “And when he didn’t, when he supported her and believed in her, you just had to up the stakes even more. Right?” I yell and they both cringe.

  “I didn’t know that Syndi would be seen wearing Andi’s ring and necklace,” Katelyn says while glaring at Syndi.

  “Luke gave you those?” I ask.

  Syndi looks extremely uncomfortable. “No, he doesn’t even know I have them. I took them from his hotel room when he was at the gym.”

  “You meant to get caught with them, didn’t you?” I know she did. She knew that would drive Andi further from Luke—and right into my bed.

  “Sort of,” she admits. “Katelyn had already told me that you and Andi were getting closer. I made sure Luke stayed as busy as possible so he wouldn’t have time to call her.

  “I didn’t really think my plan through, though, because Luke still doesn’t know I have them. When he finds out, he’ll be furious. I haven’t been able to put them back with John staying in his suite now. I thought Andi would give it away when Luke threw the necklace at her earlier.”

  “It doesn’t matter that Andi didn’t give it away,” I reply matter-of-factly. “Because you’re going to tell him yourself what you’ve done.

  “You don’t fuck with other people’s hearts like that and think you’ll just get away with it. Your actions pushed her further away from Luke, but they also helped me fall even more in love with Andi. Now I know she’d still be with Luke if it weren’t for the two of you. How do you think that makes me feel?”

  “I’m sorry, Travis. None of this was supposed to happen this way,” Katelyn says. “I didn’t mean for any of this to go so wrong.”

  “That’s just the thing, Katelyn. My love life isn’t yours to orchestrate. All you manage is the tour schedule. Not my life, not Andi’s life, no one’s life but your own. You’ll finish out this tour because we’re so far into it, but then you’ll have to find another band. I won’t tour with you ever again.”

  Walking back to the bus, I try to think of a way to break all of this to Andi. Knowing the three of us have been manipulated and played by people we trusted is a hard pill to swallow. But knowing that her decision to move on without Luke—and into my bed—was made because of the underhanded actions of others is the worst.

  Andi will be devastated when I tell her the truth.

  I can’t help but wonder if it will change her mind about our relationship. Will she run back to Luke when she finds out he didn’t give her ring to Syndi? I can almost understand Syndi’s desperation over not wanting to lose Luke. It’s the same feeling I have right now about losing Andi.

  It’s excruciating, because I know she doesn’t love me like she does him. All night, her eyes, her mind, and her heart were drawn to him. While she sang, while she talked to others, and while she allowed me to put my arm around her, I still felt him standing between us.

  As I climb the stairs to the bus, my feet feel like I’m wearing cement boots. Each step is harder to take than the last. Every step I take that brings me closer to Andi will end up taking me further away from her. I’ve never dreaded a conversation as much as I do this one.

  Andi is sitting in our spot, the two-seat portion of the sectional, when I step into the room. She looks up at me and smiles sweetly. “I was beginning to think you got lost.”

  I wish I had. I wish I’d never gone to find Katelyn. I wish I’d left her like my subconscious tried to tell me to do in the first place.

  Andi pats the seat next to her. “Have a seat, Travis.”

  Sitting beside her, I take her hand in mine and kiss the back of it. Then I take my time kissing each of her knuckles. Leaning over to her, I kiss her sweet lips. I don’t even care who’s watching us. All I know is I’m about to lose her and my time to experience these moments with her is extremely short.

  “What’s wrong, Travis?” she asks, worry lacing her voice.

  “There’s something you should know, Andi,” I start.

  “Okay. Tell me.”

  “I’m completely in love with you. I love everything about you. There is not one thing I’d change. I love you,” I tell her sincerely, keeping my emotions choked down. “I don’t expect you to say the same. I’ve had time to accept these feelings, and you’ve barely had time to recover from your breakup with Luke.”

  “Our split has been hard for me to accept for many reasons, Travis. That doesn’t mean I don’t have strong feelings for you, though.”

  “But, if all things were equal, you’d still choose Luke over me. Wouldn’t you?”

  “That’s not a fair question, Travis. I wouldn’t have cheated on Luke with you, if that’s what you mean. I also wouldn’t have cheated on you with Luke. If I’d met you both at the same time, and had to choose between you at that time, I can’t honestly say what I would’ve done. I know that my judgment is clouded by my past with Luke, so my answer now would be biased,” she explains. “What’s this all about?”

  “Travis,” Katelyn interjects. “Can I speak with you in private, please? It’s important.”

  My response is to glare at her, but her eyes are silently begging me. Standing, I follow her off the bus and into the dark privacy of the parking lot.

  “What?” I bark out.

  “Syndi just told me that she’s late.”

  “Late for what?” I ask, irritated that she called me out here for this bullshit.

  “She’s. Late. Travis.” Katelyn emphasizes each word as if she’s speaking to an idiot.

  She evidently is, because the true meaning of her words just hit me.

  “You’ve got to be shitting me,” I say to the night sky, my head tilted back as I run my hands through my hair. “This just keeps getting better and better. You must be so fucking proud of yourself. Just what the hell am I supposed to do now?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  ANDI

  “What was that all about?” I ask Travis as he takes his seat next to me again.

  “Our Phoenix concert has been delayed because of a problem at the arena. We’re going to L.A. next,” he explains.

  “So we have a few days free?” I ask.

  “Yeah, we do,” he replies distractedly. Then he seems to understand my reason for asking and turns to look at me. “Do you want to stay here in Vegas to watch the fight tomorrow night?”

  “Yes, I do want to watch. Not for the reasons you think, though. You met Shane backstage tonight. He’s fighting, too, and he’s been my brother since we were teenagers. Mack has been like my dad. I’d like to be there to support them,” I explain. “You’re welcome to stay and go with me if you want.”

  The hope shines in his eyes, and my heart squeezes in my che
st. “You’d want me to stay with you?”

  “I want you to stay with me,” I confirm. “You’ve kept me sane these last couple of months. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “I’ll take that. For now.” He smiles.

  “Thank you for not pushing me, for being so understanding. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you,” I tell him.

  “You’re not that kind of person, Andi. You wouldn’t intentionally hurt me, and I know that. I admit that I can’t wait to hear you say those three little words to me. But I will wait as long as it takes,” he says as he strokes my face.

  I can’t tell him I love him yet because my heart still isn’t whole again. I’m torn between knowing that he’d be good to me, take care of me, and give me all of his love—and still working through the what-ifs with how Luke and I split.

  Seeing him holding hands with Syndi tonight brought back all the memories of my engagement ring. When he gave it to me, how happy I was, and how much it hurt to see her wearing it. In one way, I feel like an idiot for even thinking about him now because that sent a pretty clear message to me.

  But then he looks at me like he did tonight. I got the feeling he wanted to talk to me, like he had something to say. He looked like he missed me and was glad to see me. When he grabbed Travis, it confused me to no end because he was there with Syndi. Why would he care that Travis was standing there with me?

  “You know, you’re really too good to me,” I say as I cup his face.

  Our faces are close. We both keep looking back and forth from the other’s eyes and lips. The evidence that we each want to get lost in the other is there. The only thing that holds me back is the repercussions of another failed relationship. I wish I could just throw caution to the wind and jump in with both feet.

  Why can’t I just go for it? Other people do it all the time without a second thought of what the results may be. My friends back home love the thrill of a new relationship, the getting to know each other phase, and the eventual settling in to a routine.

  “So, is it just the two of us, or is everyone else staying too?” I ask.

  “Are you okay with it just being you and me?”

  “I’m more than okay with that,” I say without thinking. I’m trying out this gut reaction thing.

  His smile is contagious. “Good. We’ll stay here a couple of days and meet up with the band in L.A. I have a place there. I can have my motorcycle brought here, and we can ride to the next show together.”

  “I’d love that. You’re sure it’s not too much trouble?”

  “Nothing is too much trouble if it means I get to spend more time alone with you.”

  My resolve is really disappearing, and the reasons why I can’t just give in to my feelings are dwindling. Travis is breaking down my defenses and finding his way into my heart more and more every day.

  “Thank you for agreeing to go with me, Travis. I know it can’t be comfortable for you.”

  “Andi, as long as you’re there with me, I have no reason to be uncomfortable. I’ll be the luckiest man there. But I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. I’m okay with Luke being part of your past. I just want to be part of your future.”

  How am I supposed to stay strong when he says things like that?

  “Andi, we’re going to be late if you don’t hurry up,” Travis calls from the door.

  After we broke the news to the group, we got a suite at the Bellagio for the weekend. Katelyn had someone from Travis’s L.A. house deliver his motorcycle to us, so we spent the day acting like tourists. This is my first trip to Vegas, and there are so many things I want to see.

  The main title bout starts at ten o’clock tonight, while the exhibition and ranking bouts start at six. Shane and Luke both fight closer to the main event, so Travis and I decided on an eight o’clock arrival. That gives us time to get dressed up and have dinner first. Never mind the fact that I’m now running late for our dinner reservations.

  “Andi,” Travis calls again, stretching my name out into multiple syllables as he taunts me.

  “I’m here, I’m here,” I call as I rush into the living area to meet him.

  “You look beautiful,” he says, smiling appreciatively.

  “Thank you, Travis. You look handsome yourself.”

  I take his arm and we walk together down to the hotel lobby restaurant. As soon as we’re seated, I recognize the fixtures even though I’ve never been here.

  This is one of the places where Luke and Syndi were photographed together.

  Pushing that visual from my head, I try to enjoy my time with Travis. We order our meals and engage in everyday chitchat while we wait for our food.

  “Have you ever been to a real boxing match before?” I ask Travis.

  “No. I’ve never really had a desire to see one live before now. I’ve watched plenty on TV.”

  “It’s so much different seeing it in person. I think you’ll like it much more. The audience really gets behind their pick and they cheer them on. It can get pretty crazy. You’ll see a lot of bets being placed under the table,” I laugh.

  “It’s been a huge part of your life, hasn’t it?” he asks, genuinely interested.

  “It really has. Working at Mack’s gym all those years has just ingrained it in me, I guess,” I say with a shrug. “I hope you like it, too.”

  “I’m sure I will, baby.”

  After dinner, we head over to the MGM Grand and find our seats. I picked floor seats as close to the action as we can get. I can’t wait to see Shane fight against his first contender. If he wins this match, he’ll be considered the next great fighter and will be well on his way to the world title fight.

  “I’m so excited,” I squeal to Travis.

  He laughs at my obvious declaration. “Really? I could never tell.”

  We both have a good laugh and enjoy each other’s company. Then Luke’s name is announced over the PA system, and I feel like all the oxygen has been sucked from the room. Syndi is sitting close to Luke’s corner, and she’s beaming up at him. She stands to help him remove his robe and strokes his face before he turns to climb into the ring.

  Travis reaches over and takes my hand in his, squeezing it as he watches my reaction to the scene unfolding in front of us. Looking at Travis, I give him a small smile of appreciation. “You know, the more I see it, the faster it helps me get over it,” I tell him. Although, I don’t believe the words myself. It cuts deeper every time.

  “Let me record it then. You can watch it on my phone repeatedly until you’re completely over it,” he offers.

  “That’s so very considerate of you to offer,” I deadpan before bursting out in laughter.

  “You know me, I’m just thoughtful like that,” he winks.

  The bell rings, and the two men come out ready to fight. This guy Luke’s fighting already has an established record, and beating him won’t be easy. Not that I’ve cyberstalked him or anything, but I may have watched one or two videos of his previous fights.

  Sitting stoically, pretending to be unaffected by the fight, I secretly feel like I’m on the edge of my seat as the two men go at it. They’re equally matched in height and arm reach, but the gleam in Luke’s eye says he has more of a hunger for the win.

  By the third round, Luke has worn the other guy down, making him do most of the work while Luke takes advantage of every opening the guy gives him. When he makes one major mistake, Luke takes full advantage of it. He throws a right hook into the other guy’s body and quickly follows up with another right hook, but this time to the chin.

  The guy crumples to the ground, and the referee sends Luke to a neutral corner while he counts. For the first few counts, the guy doesn’t move at all. Luke is pacing back and forth in the neutral corner, watching his opponent carefully. The guy starts crawling across the mat, trying to reach for the ropes as the referee continues his count. His hand barely reaches the rope when the referee reaches ten.

  Luke is declared the winner by a knoc
kout, and his excitement is uncontainable. Bouncing up and down on his toes, he holds both arms up in the air and swings around in circles in appreciation to his adoring fans. When his eyes land on Syndi, he motions for her to climb in the ring with him. The guys hold the ropes for her to get in, and she rushes to him.

  He lifts her off the mat and plants a kiss firmly on her lips. The smile he gives her makes my heart drop to my feet. That was my smile. He’s never smiled that smile at anyone else before—it was always saved for me. It seems like such a small thing, having a special smile. But it meant something to me. It was something that was special between us because it was only mine.

  Now it’s hers.

  Turning to Travis, I find his eyes glued to me again. He knows something is off, but he has no idea what. I can’t stop the tears that have formed in my eyes.

  “What is it, Andi?” he asks above the roar of the crowd as he leans over to my ear.

  “Acceptance that it’s really over, I guess,” I reply.

  He pulls me into his arms and strokes my hair. It feels so good to be comforted in his embrace. We stay this way through another match and separate when I hear Shane’s name being announced. No matter how much I’m hurt over Luke, I have to suck it up and show my support for Shane.

  Shane steps into the ring like a true champion. No huge fanfare, but with confidence and assurance that he’s ready. He’s confident without being overly cocky. He’s sure of himself without being conceited. The determination that’s in his eyes is fierce, and I can’t wait to see this match. Shane is fighting someone who is much better known than he is. A win could really catapult Shane into the big leagues even more than he is now.

  The bell sounds, and they come out ready to fight. Shane’s opponent is all over the ring, dancing, weaving, and showing off for the fans. They’re eating it up and cheering him on. Shane takes his time, doesn’t get rushed, and doesn’t use all of his energy before it’s time. When the other guy becomes a little too sure of his abilities and underestimates Shane a little too much, he lets his guard down.