by Tia Lewis
He chuckled. “There’s my girl.” I fell against his chest, and he hugged me tightly. I loved my brother.
He pulled back and looked me in the eye. “You are going to get up every day because that is what Gildens do. You are going to walk into that event like you own the place and if he even looks at you wrong, I’ll have his number in that cage.”
“Thanks, Jarred. You’re the best.”
“That’s what big brothers are for,” he said, releasing me with a wink. “Come on; Mom made her banana pudding. I want to get some before Emma eats it all.”
An hour later I walked into the hospital, carrying the big package awkwardly. I had made a phone call to a friend in the medical field, and he told me they typically like to prep the patients for the morning infusions, so I figured that Matthew was probably due for another one tomorrow. Yes, I had paid for his treatments, unbelieving that anyone, even in good financial standing, could afford that medication. It would be my last gesture, and I just hoped that everything worked out for Matthew.
After finding out his room number, I walked down the hall, hoping that Paul was not visiting. I didn’t want to face him right now. I didn’t want to get into another shouting match with him either. There was nothing left to be said, really. He was done. He had made that crystal clear. Jarred was right. I needed to brush it off and move on. And that would be easier said than done until this charity bout was over with.
Drawing in a breath, I found the room and walked in, expecting a glare from Paul or someone pushing me back out. Instead, I found Matthew sitting up on the bed, his headphones on as he looked at a magazine. I knocked on the door loudly, and he looked up, his eyes so familiar that I nearly ran out of the room. The resemblance was uncanny. Giving him a little wave, I walked in. He removed his headphones and laid them on the bed. “Hey, your Sarah right? Paul’s girlfriend?”
“Friend,” I corrected, approaching the bed.
He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, whatever. I saw the way Paulie looked at you. He’s got it bad.”
Apparently not bad enough to stay, but I wasn’t going to say that to his brother. “How are you feeling?”
“Good, I mean great,” he said, clearing his throat. “I start another round of treatments tomorrow. Ma just left to get some rest. I told her I didn’t need for her to stay. I’m old enough to handle it myself.”
“I’m sure she’s just worried about you,” I answered gently, seeing the tiny bit of fear in his eyes that contradicted his words. “It’s good to have family around. You are never going to know when you need them.”
Matthew eyed the box in my hands. “Is that for Paulie? He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
I flushed and held it out to him. “No, this is for you. I figured you needed something to keep you occupied during your treatments.”
He took it warily, and I clasped my hands in front of me as he tore into the package, his eyes widening. “No way.”
“The guy at the electronics store assured me that you could make your own music on there and everything if you would like,” I said as he pulled out the slim laptop. “If not, you can listen to it. I’ve already gotten them to download some credits for you in the music account.” Quite a lot actually, but the look on his face was well worth the money spent. After catching on that his headphones were the only thing he wanted during his hospital stay, I garnered that he enjoyed music. “You can also play video games.”
He turned the computer over in his hands carefully. “Wow, just wow. This is the absolute best gift anyone has ever given me.” Matthew looked up, his eyes narrowing. “Are you trying to bribe me because of Paulie?”
My face flushed again. “What? No, I’m not. I run a charity foundation and enjoy helping people that’s all. It’s yours free and clear as long as you do everything the doctor says.”
“I will,” he said excitedly, opening the laptop. “I’ve always wanted a computer, but we can’t afford it.”
My heart went out to him. I had lived a life of privilege, never worried about how much money I spent or whether or not I could have something. It was just understood that my parents could afford everything. As a child, I never understood the fact that people didn’t think the same way, but as an adult, I had come to realize how lucky I really was. “Well take care of it will you?”
“I will,” Matthew answered, looking up at me. “Thank you. This is awesome. You have no idea.”
I reached into my purse and pulled out an envelope, handing it over to him. “Give these to your mom.”
“What is it?” he asked, taking the envelope.
“There are tickets, for Paul’s fight. I know he would want you to be there.” The thought had come to me earlier today as I was finalizing the ticket sales, knowing that he hadn’t mentioned anything about spare tickets for his family. The guys from the gym had already bought some, but I was sure there was nothing like having his brother and mother there to watch him do his thing while raising money for a worthwhile charity.
Matthew laid the envelope on top of the laptop, running a hand over his head. “I’ve never seen Paulie fight live before,” he said sheepishly.
I gave him a smile. “Now you can.”
“Why aren’t you giving them to him?”
My smile froze on my face as I tried to find the right answer to say. “Because, we aren’t, I mean he’s not, we aren’t talking right now.”
Matthew looked at me. “Well, then my brother’s a big idiot.”
I laughed. “Don’t tell him, but I would have to agree.” Paul was an idiot, but I felt like the bigger one of the two. I had believed that whatever was between us was stronger than anything, yet in the end, he had been using me all along. It didn’t matter. After this match, I didn’t have to see him again.
27
Paul
“You’re such an idiot.”
I stopped in my tracks as I walked into the hospital room, seeing my brother glaring at me. “What? What did I do?”
Matt held up a laptop. “Do you know where I got this from?”
I shook my head slowly, looking to see if Ma was in the room. If he had stolen it, I was going to beat his ass. “Do tell.”
“Your girlfriend.”
My chest started the slow ache that seemed to never really go away as I dropped into the chair beside the bed. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“That’s what she said,” he laughed, sliding the laptop to the end of the bed before reclining back on the pillow. The treatment medication was hanging from the pole on the right, each slow trickle another shot at killing the cancer that was ravaging his body. It was also another sign of the goodness that was in Sarah, the woman that I had pushed away. I was an idiot. “So what happened?”
I looked at the wall on the other side of the room. “None of your business.”
Matt shook his head, and I sighed, rubbing my face with my hand. I was tired, exhausted, spending my time in the cage so I wouldn’t go home and just sit in the apartment, memories of Sarah hitting me at every turn. Now that she had been there, it was no longer my escape from her. Hell, I couldn’t even pick up the damn video game without thinking about her squeals of laughter as she had beat me, the flush of excitement on her face telling me that I had the one for a brief moment of time. Any girl that could sit in a shitty apartment and look like she was having the time of her life was a keeper. I just didn’t know it until it was too late.
“So?” Matt asked. “Are you gonna go and apologize? That’s what you should do, you know. She looked sad last night.”
I didn’t want to think about Sarah being sad because of me. “I was thinking about it.”
“Well, then my work is done,” Matt declared, a smirk on his face. “I like her. Since you screwed it up, think she will wait a few years until I’m old enough?”
I laughed. “You deserve her more than I do.” No matter how much I had pushed her away, she hadn’t budged until I had insulted her. I was such a fucking idiot.
<
br /> “You’re looking good man, real good. I think the best shape I have ever seen you in. Remember, he’s not even a real fighter. He’s got no talent. You should be able to finish him off, no problem.”
I cleared my throat and punched mindlessly into the air. “It’s a charitable match, Travis, not the world title.”
Travis chuckled. “You’re fucking kidding me right? When have you ever stepped into the cage and pretended it wasn’t a match?”
He had me there. Every cage match was like it was a title match. I went through the same range of emotions, the same prep. Charity or not, I didn’t want to lose. Even if it was Sarah’s brother.
The door to the locker room opened, and I looked up, hoping that it was Sarah. The last few days without her had been hell and then when I had learned what she had done for my brother, well I had to talk to her. I didn’t deserve her, but I sure as hell didn’t want to lose her. I fucking loved her, that was the truth. I could feel it in my heart, my very soul that she was the one I was meant to be with.
To my surprise, my brother and mom walked through the doors, their tickets suspended from lanyards. “Paulie!” Matt said, fist bumping me, his eyes wide with excitement. “Dude, you look like a real fighter.”
“He is a real fighter,” Travis said, giving me a little nod as he walked to the door. “I’ll wait outside.”
I nodded and looked at mom. “How are you here?”
She held up the ticket. “Your friend dropped them off the other night at the hospital. Matthew had a good day with his treatments, so we decided to come and see you in action.”
They had never come to any of my fights before, not wanting to see me get beat up, as Ma used to say. She didn’t want Matt thinking that it was some glamorous career, and I couldn’t blame her. But thanks to Sarah once again, they were going to see me in action tonight. She kept making me fall just a little more in love with her, and I missed her so damn much. “I’m glad you are here.” I was doing this for them.
“We are so proud of you, Paulie,” she said, her eyes glittering with tears. “Fighting for a charity, I couldn’t have taught you any better.”
Emotion clogged my throat, and I cleared it. “Well, I hope I can win tonight, so we can celebrate.”
“The other guy doesn’t have a chance,” Matt exclaimed. “You’re gonna destroy him.”
The door opened again, and Travis stuck his head in. “Five minutes, dude.”
“We better go find our seats,” Ma said, ushering Matt to the door. “Good luck, son.”
“Thanks,” I said as they walked out, the door shutting behind them. I half expected it to open right back up for Sarah. She only had five minutes before I would go out and do exactly what she wanted me to. But the door didn’t open, and I was forced to turn back to the fight. She wasn’t coming to wish me good luck. It hurt, more than I had imagined. Rolling my shoulders, I stripped off my shorts and walked to the door, my mouthpiece hanging from my mouth. I just hoped she would come see me afterward. I wanted to talk to her; I wanted to touch her. Hell, I wanted to do a lot more things than that, but first I had to grovel.
The door opened again, and I was surprised to see Jack walk through, sporting a shiner. “I won’t keep you,” he said quickly. “I just wanted to wish you good luck.”
I stuck out my hand, already in my gloves. “I’m sorry about the shiner.”
He chuckled. “Don’t be. I’ve already been quite popular with the women.” He clasped my hand, giving me a wink. “Maybe we can have a beer sometime?”
“Yeah,” I said, none of the animosity there anymore. “I’d like that.”
He gave me a nod and shut the door, giving me a moment to gather myself. I had learned a lot about myself lately, including what mattered. Family was what mattered.
The place was abuzz with activity as I stepped out of the locker room, jumping from foot to foot to warm up my muscles. Travis rubbed my shoulders to help loosen them up as we walked to the cage that was erected in the middle of the room, wall to wall people around it. Jarred was already in the cage, obviously ready to have a fight, Benji covering his corner. I walked up the stairs and entered the cage, the dull roar of the people clapping barely registering in my ears. I was in the zone, ready for a fight. After three days of pent up anger and energy, I was ready to unleash the beast.
The announcer droned on about the charities that would benefit tonight, and I couldn’t help but feel a certain pride for providing the funds to keep those charities going. For a while, it had been about the money, but now, Sarah had helped me see the good I was doing by fighting tonight. It was a hard feeling to shake. We moved to the center of the cage and touched gloves, her brother’s eyes on mine. “I’m not gonna make this easy,” he growled.
“Good,” I said before I walked back over to the corner that was designated as mine and gave Travis a fist bump. “Don’t forget what I said,” he said softly, smearing the jelly over my face evenly. “He’s gonna go for your legs first. Benji no doubt taught him to go low first.”
“Got it,” I said as the bell rang and the crowd went crazy. I turned and held up my gloves, dancing around the cage to keep my muscles loose. This was game on for me, a small measure of pride at stake. Not only that, I wanted Sarah’s charity thing to be a success. I wanted her to be proud of me.
He started in, and I threw a punch, colliding with his cheek. It was a nice punch, one that he literally walked into but before I could feel any success, he came at me with a furious round, landing a punch on my ribs before a kick nearly buckled my left leg. I backed out with a kick of my own, the solid thunk of my leg attacking his side before he backed off. Shit, Jarred hadn’t lied. He was serious about this.
Shaking off the pain on my side, I started to watch his moves a little closer now, landing a few punches to his face and torso, but he came at me with the same amount, and by the time the bell clanged to signal the end of round one, I was breathing heavily, my cheek split open.
“I told you he wouldn’t be playing around,” Travis said as he attended to my cheek. “If they were keeping the right score, dude over there took the first round.”
“It’s a fucking charity match,” I growled, the sting of the cut barely affecting me. “He’s acting like it’s a title one.” I was sure there was a measure of pride for Jarred, but hell, he was going to get himself hurt.
“Just watch your left side, and you should be fine,” Travis called out as they rang the bell for the next round.
I walked out and watched as he put all his weight to one side before he let out a flurry of punches. Thanks to Travis, I was able to block them all successfully, catching him with a sweep of my legs and taking him down to the mat, attempting to lock him into a submission move. He fought me tooth and nail, squirming until I was forced to break the hold, sending us both back upright. Hell, this was going to be a battle.
28
Sarah
He was getting killed in there. I winced as Paul took another hit to the ribs, wondering how many times he could do that before they would break. I had been rather surprised by the fact that my brother was actually being a competitor, holding his own in the cage but taking his share of hits, as well. Both men were looking labored now, the moves slower as the rounds moved on. There had been many times I wanted to throw in the towel, call the match and thank everyone for their contributions. My hands were clenched so tightly together that I had lost all feeling in them, but I couldn’t peel my eyes away. This was what I wanted, and so far, the crowd seemed to be happy that they were getting their money's worth.
“How much longer can he take it?” Evie asked from the seat next to me, looking as worried as I felt. I was sure she was more worried about Jarred than Paul, and I couldn’t blame her.
“I don’t know,” I said as Paul landed a punch on my brother. I didn’t know how much longer I could take it myself. At this point, I would pay him to stop. It had taken all I had not to go to the locker room prior to the fight, not wantin
g to distract him from his task at hand. Plus, I didn’t know what I would say to him. Good luck seemed so trivial, and I knew they wouldn’t be the only words shared between us. I didn’t want to fight with him. I didn’t want to have my heart break all over again just by looking at him. And it had when he had walked out, looking so proud and so very much like the fighter I knew and loved, the one that had given me the run around in the beginning, but stole my heart in the end.
Paul went down, and my heart stuttered in my chest. Oh no. This wasn’t looking good. Jarred covered him and Paul wrapped his legs around the other guy’s torso, yanking up his arm in a classic submission move. He had it locked in.
“He’s got him,” Evie said as we both stood with the rest of the crowd. Jarred was doing his best to get out of the hold, but it was no use, tapping out just mere seconds later. It was over. Paul had won.
“Oh, thank god,” Evie breathed, grabbing my hand as the fighters climbed off the mat and embraced, both clearly worn out from the grueling match. I imagined my brother wasn’t going to be able to move much in the morning. “Come on; we got to go down there.”
I shook my head, extracting my hand. “I’m not going.”
“What?” she asked, her eyes narrowing. “Why not? Jarred still has to give you the check remember?”
“I’ll get it tomorrow,” I said sternly. “I-I can’t go down there, Evie.”
She looked back at the cage and then tugged on my hand once more. “You’re going down there, Sarah. You did this. You made this successful, and you should be down there with your family. Screw Paul Watts. If he doesn’t apologize, you’re better off.”
I swallowed the emotion, allowing her to lead me down to the cage, where Jarred was holding up Paul’s hand in victory. They were both a hot mess; blood smeared all over their bodies to the point where I couldn’t tell which one was worse. Evie walked into the cage and Jarred picked her up, swinging her around. “You did so good,” she exclaimed as I walked over to my brother.