“You prepared? Bullshit,” Huck says, laughing.
“Hey, I made the salad and I boil a mean ass noodle.”
Kara laughs. “Well, thank you both. The steak and the salad are both very good.”
I reach over on the counter behind me. “Oh, here,” I hand her the bag. “All you have to do is call and have it activated to your account.”
“Sly, you didn’t need to do this. I was going to go get one tomorrow.”
I shrug. “Well, now you don’t have to. I broke it so I bought you a new one.”
“You didn’t need to buy me a new one. You didn’t mean to break it and you’ve done enough already for me.”
I put my hands up. “I bought it. It’s over. Quit thinking we’ve done so much for you. We would have done this for anyone we’re friends with. I wasn’t lying today, you are family.”
Huck is cramming food in his mouth like someone is going to take it. “He’s right,” he mumbles. “You’re family, we protect what’s ours.”
Kara chuckles lightly. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Just don’t choke, okay?”
He gives her a cheesy grin with food in his mouth, “I’m a growing boy.” She laughs harder and that is the most wonderful sound.
“So, are you coming to our fights Friday night?” I ask her, trying to sound casual.
“I’m thinking about it.” She shrugs.
I smile and wink. “I think Sloan is bringing Slick, so you know he’ll want you to come hang out.”
Huck crams another forkful of salad in his mouth. “Plus, just so you know, Slick cornered me the other day and said we needed to teach you how to fight. That was our job.”
I glare at him, but she starts laughing. “He would say that.” She starts telling him the story Sloan told me earlier today.
He laughs. “That kid is like the coolest kid ever and some people do just need to be punched in the balls.” He shakes his head. “But he’s right, you do need to get back to the class. We’ll take it easy on you to start with.” He puts his hand up like a scout. “Promise.”
She laughs. “Like you were ever a damn scout.”
“No, but I’m addicted to Girl Scout cookies and girls that used to be girl scouts. Does that count?” he says frankly, like it’s no big deal.
“You just made yourself sound like a total whack job, Huck. Like Batman whack job,” I say and Kara chokes on her water a little. Huck flips me off.
She looks so happy, so carefree. I always want her to look that way.
Once she finally catches her breath, she looks at me. “Why did you say Batman is a whack job?”
Huck sighs and sits back in her chair. “Great, here we go,” he murmurs.
“Shut up, Huck, he is.”
She looks at me confused. “He is what?”
I look at her serious. “Batman is a pedophile.”
And then water comes out of her nose.
“I’m serious. What grown ass man runs around in tights and makes his ward, that’s like eleven, run around that way, too? I’m telling you, go back and look at the storylines.” I am right about this, I know I am. I continue to make my case against Batman.
She puts her hands up as if in defense. “I believe you, Sly. It’s okay.”
“Huck and Lox used to be all goo goo eyes over Batman and I was all dude, he’d touch your special places. They were always like, ‘he’s so strong.’” A roll hits me in the head.
“Shut up, dick lick,” Huck grunts out.
Kara has tears running out of her eyes she’s laughing so hard. “Oh my God, oh my God. I can’t breathe, you guys are cracking me up.”
After cleaning up, we head into the living room and Kara sits down on one end of the couch. “So what are we watching? Grey’s, True Blood?”
“I’m not watching porn with my brother.” I laugh, pulling her foot over in my lap.
Huck looks over at me. “Dude, is it really that bad?”
“Lox said we shouldn’t watch it together and I have to agree, it would be awkward and I’ve only watched two episodes,” I say, nodding.
Kara looks over at me with shock on her face. “You haven’t watched any since the other night?”
I shrug and start rubbing her foot. “No, you weren’t out here to watch with me. I didn’t want to watch it by myself. It’s our thing, you know?”
She gives me a huge smile. “Yeah. Okay, let’s watch an episode or two before I go to bed.”
“Jesus, Sly, are you two going to be on the same menstrual cycle now?”
“Whatever, asshole. I’m basically watching porn with a hot chick,” I snap.
He grabs his cap. “Oh, well I’m headed out. See you kids later.”
After we hear the door close, Kara looks at me. “Where does he go?”
“His ballet school dropout reunion.” I laugh. “Hell, I really don’t know. I don’t ask. Maybe I should ask, I just always figured he was off getting a piece of ass. Male or female, I’m not sure of. I try not to intrude.”
She laughs. “Come on, you doofus, let’s watch this show. You know it’s funny to watch you try to cover your hard-on.”
“You could help out with that, you know?”
She shakes her head and turns back to the TV. I guess she doesn’t realize that I am serious. I love women.
CHAPTER 9
KARA
Dressing in a pair of my dark jeans with a long peasant top and boots, I check my hair one more time in the mirror. I’m ready for the fight. Sloan’s parents and brother are coming in for it, too, so I finally agreed to go with them. Friday’s are always busy for me when I get off at lunch and today was no exception. I had to go to the grocery store since the guys have pretty much eaten us out of house and home this week. I had to get my car serviced and go get my girly business checked by Dr. Coleman, aka Dr. Coldhands. Being a girl is so much damn fun. The doctor’s office was running behind, then I went ahead and had myself tested for all kinds of shit because of Drake. The doctor said I look pretty well healed up down there after I filled him in on current events. Whatever the fuck “pretty well healed” means. They couldn’t get those results back to me today since they were backed up and it was Friday, so I get to sit here this entire weekend wondering if my damn crotch is going to rot away because of the asshole I was dating.
Damn, I’m angry. Maybe I do need to hit the gym tomorrow.
This past week hasn’t been that bad. I’m kinda growing on having male roommates and I haven’t gotten any more texts from random numbers. I think I’ve gained like fifteen pounds living with these guys on fight week, though. Sly and I watch True Blood every night and Grey’s on the nights that Huck is home. They’ve almost caught up to the current season. I’ll be glad when they do. They’re so damn serious about spoilers and all I want to do is tell them.
I did finally call the therapist Detective Harmon told me about. I’ve had one meeting with Robin. She’s great, she really listens and she’s not a twig so she’s understanding about my weight issues. I’m glad I went and I’m actually looking forward to going back.
I hear a horn and run outside to meet Sloan and her parents. We’re all riding in their Tahoe tonight. I can always catch a ride back with one of the guys.
When she opens the door, I see my sister is already in the very back seat with Sage. “Hey, I didn’t know you were coming, too.”
“Yeah, Sage asked me to come. Who am I to turn down a Friday night with a really cute guy?” She winks. “And he offered to buy me candy.”
I laugh and get in next to Sloan and her mom. I lean forward and touch the seats. “Hey, we got two hot drivers tonight. The male Foster duo.”
Meredith laughs. “Yeah, honey, maybe when we get to the arena, you guys can get out and open the doors for us.”
Everyone in the car laughs. I look at Sloan. “Well, I mean after all, we do have a prize fighter’s fiancée in here. She should get the red carpet treatment.”
We make light jokes the rest of the w
ay to the arena. As soon as we turn in the parking lot, I’m shocked. “Whoa. How are they going to fit all of these people in here tonight?”
Sloan’s eyes are huge. “They won’t, there is no way. I guess since word has gotten out that the guys signed with Bellator, people are coming out of the wood work to see them.”
“You better call the guys or we aren’t getting in,” I say, still in shock at the amount of cars and people.
A minute later, she hangs up. “Pull around the building through the gate, Marco is coming out to meet us.”
Her dad pulls the SUV around the corner and Marco directs him to park next to Lox’s truck and locks the gate behind us.
After everyone gets out, Marco walks us through the back of the building. Sloan walks beside him. “It’s crazy out there tonight.”
“Yeah, everyone heard about Huck’s rematch with Sergio and people came out from everywhere,” he says, quickly walking toward the front of the building. Once we are on the main floor, he leads us over to a roped off section. “You guys sit here. There is a lot of money on some of the fights tonight amongst the fans so please stay in this area. The guys said they’d meet you out here when they’re done.”
We all thank him and he walks back to the locker room. All of the other times I’ve been here, I was so excited and confident. Sloan was the one who looked like she was going to run away pissing her pants. Tonight, the way my heart is pounding in my chest, I feel like that’s me.
Sloan looks around. “Damn, Kara. I’m a little nervous about having Sage here. I had no idea it was going to be like this.”
I shake my head. “I don’t think the guys did either. Neither one of them said anything.”
“Okay, well Sage is sitting between my dad and brother. Lox is going to freak out. He doesn’t like these big crowds around Sage.” She speaks close to my ear so I can hear her with all of the noise.
“I just hope they come get us after the fights. It’s going to be hell getting out of here.”
She nods and then the lights go down.
“The Joker” by The Steve Miller Band comes blasting through the crowd. That means Sly is up first tonight. He even has to have a light-hearted walkout song.
I hear the crowd scream out, “Some call me the gangster of love.” Look at Sly smirking, he’s eating this shit up.
A couple of minutes later, the fight is going strong and I find myself on my feet leaning further and further in. “That’s it, Sly!” I scream right as he lands another punch. “Go! Sly, get him again!” Ding.
Whew, round one over. Thank God!
Sly talks to Marco during the little break thing they do. The bell dings and they are back at it.
The guy Sly is fighting tonight is about the same height as him but this guy just looks bigger. Sly is faster, though. The guy has Sly hemmed up, shit. “Come on, Sly!” He does some move that could rival most professional dancers in skill and reverses the move on the guy.
Sly is so damn hot. He’s too hot for his own good. Now I remember why I wanted to go home with him that night. Funny how I’m going home with him tonight but in a completely different way.
I look up again just as Sly delivers a knockout punch.
Ding Ding Ding.
I scream and cheer as the official holds up Sly’s arm to declare him the winner.
~*~*~
The matches go pretty quickly for the night, until we get to Huck’s. When “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd blares out of the sound system, the crowd is on their feet. His fight practically turns into a blood bath. I can see Sly and Lox, along with Marco, ringside. Elizabeth is sitting by Jade and I can see she’s on edge just watching this. Everyone swears those two will have one of those fucking or fighting relationships. I don’t know, Elizabeth seems full of secrets. They could already be fucking and no one knows it. Hell, I live with Huck and I don’t know where he wanders off to. There’s just something about those two.
The ringing of the bell brings me out of my daydreaming. The roaring goes off like a bomb in this place. Holy shit! Huck just won!
Our section is going crazy when we hear a gun go off. We all hit the floor. I look over at Sloan and she is pale with fear. The rest of the building is going nuts. People are being ran over and trampled. I look up and I can’t see any of the guys. I look over again at Sloan. “We need to get to the dressing rooms where the guys are.” Her mom is crying, Sage is terrified, and we’ve got to move. The people in this place are going to trample us to death if we don’t.
“Yeah,” she turns to the rest of the group and motions for everyone to follow us. Her dad and brother nod in agreement.
“Sloan, you go first and I’ll make sure everyone gets to the right place. Besides Elizabeth, we’re the only people who know this place.”
Jacob, Sloan’s brother, grabs up Sage. We start making our way to the dressing room as madness unfolds around us.
We finally reach the hall leading to the dressing rooms and I stop to make sure everyone is ahead of me going in. As I reach for the door, a hand grabs me and spins me around, backing me into the wall. It’s one of the fighters from tonight. He’s big and sweaty. “Hey there. You shouldn’t be back here, you know.” I can feel it in my chest. It’s tightening and I can feel my breathing getting harder.
I release a breath, “Um, my friends are back here. I’m allowed.” Not to mention I don’t think rules matter right now, dude.
He leans in close to my face. “Oh yeah, who are your friends?” Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.
Another hand grabs me. “I fucking am!” Sly says as he snatches me out of the guy’s grip.
The guy shrugs. “Sorry, man, didn’t know she was yours. Just trying to line up some ladies for tonight.”
“Are you fucking stupid?! There are people getting hurt out there and you’re trying to line up ass? Get your shit and get the fuck out of here before I kill you!” Sly roars.
The guy spins around and storms down the hallway.
Sly slides his arm around my shoulders and we go in their dressing room. “Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod a little. “Yeah. I’m fine, just a little freaked out by everything,” Taking the breaths Robin talked to me about, I calm myself by counting in my head.
“Okay, I’m gonna shower since I didn’t get the chance to earlier and then we’ll go.” He starts pulling off his shirt and shorts, leaving him in a pair of athletic boxer briefs.
“Wait, don’t we have to talk to the cops or something? A gun went off out there.” I stand there trying to take in everything. It was all happening so fast. I get a little lightheaded so I take a seat on the bench.
He shakes his head, grabbing his towel. “No, security grabbed the guy, he was just pissed or something at the guy next to him about money. Most of the problem was everyone panicking.” He starts walking toward the showers and for some reason, I follow. “Huck left out of here with some big haired blonde chick. Lox didn’t shower, he just grabbed his crew and left. Jade is catching a ride home with Gibbs. I told them I’d take you home, not to worry, you know we’re going to the same place anyway.” He winks. “Slick was pretty scared so I figured they needed to go.”
I follow him to the edge of the shower. “Yeah, that was pretty fucking frightening for a second out there. They tried to keep him shielded but I’m sure it was a little too much for him.”
He waggles his eye brows. “You gonna come join me?”
“HA! I’m going to sit down on the benches.” I walk over to the dressing bench.
“Come on. Invite only, you get to see me naked!”
“Newsflash, I’ve seen you naked several times now. Once up close and personal, the rest of the times were because you like to run around naked in our house.”
He laughs while getting into the shower.
Jeez! He’s so damn hot.
“PURPLE RAIN, PURPLE RAIN! I ONLY WANT TO SEE YOU RELAXING IN THE PURPLE RAIN! I ONLY WANT TO BE YOUR WEEKEND LOVER.”
/> I can’t help but laugh at him. I grab my phone and hit record. The guys are going to love this shower concert. A big ass fighter singing the wrong lyrics to “Purple Rain” in the shower.
CHAPTER 10
SLY
I really wish she would’ve taken a shower with me. I know it’s crazy. I mean hell, we aren’t like that, but tonight when I saw Cliff with his hands on her, I wanted to kill him. I knew she was about to have a full blown panic attack. I tried to lighten the mood and joke around with her but in my heart, I knew I was serious about the shower thing.
We arrive home and it’s not long before she heads off to take her own shower. I’m fixing something for us to eat. Originally, the plan was for everyone to go out to eat after the fight, but that didn’t work out obviously.
After I hear the shower cut off, I walk back to her bedroom. The door is cracked open so I tap as I walk in, thinking she’s already dressed. “Shit! Sorry.” She’s not though, she’s rubbing lotion on her beautiful naked body.
She screams, “Sly, damn it!”
I start to laugh. “I just saw you naked.”
A pillow hits me as she wraps a robe around herself. “You’re an asshole.” She turns away from me like she’s ashamed or something.
“So, I’ve seen you naked. Like you said earlier, you’ve seen me several times now.” I step closer to her and she hugs herself tighter, “Hey, sexy, what’s wrong?” I smell her body wash and it’s intoxicating. I lightly touch her shoulder. “I’m sorry about coming in, I thought since the door was cracked you were dressed. I was just going to say supper is ready.”
“Well, you saw my body so you can pretty much tell I don’t need supper.” She pulls the robe tighter, still not looking me in the face.
I turn her around. “Hey, what just happened here? You’re gorgeous, who made you feel this way? Don’t ever be ashamed of your body.”
Shaking her head, she turns away again. “It’s a long story. I’m sure you don’t want to hear it.”
I turn her back to face me. “If I didn’t want to hear it, I wouldn’t ask, and all I’ve got is time. Tell me what’s wrong, who made you feel this way? Please?” Why does she keep pulling away from me? What asshole made her feel this way? I know she’s been through so much lately but I just want to hold her and comfort her. I want to show her she’s mine.
In Sly's Eyes: In Sly's Eyes Marco's MMA Boys Book 2 Page 5