by Jayne Blue
The weeks unfolded in that way. He spent time at the gym and watching Cassidy’s adventures with Dylan from afar.
“You’re neck and neck and neck,” Sunny explained to them.
With only days to go in the popularity contest, Zeke, the unknown of the three of them, had acquired enough online votes and social media buzz to put him up there with Craddock and Gustavo. Both of the other fighters had the advantage of the show.
It would be amazing, if it were not so annoying.
“Thank the lord.” That was Zeke’s explanation for his rise in popularity. Craddock was a little worried and pumped up his game. Tweeting, replying and smoldering for every camera pointed his way in Vegas.
Sunny told him to keep doing what he was doing, so he did. He trained. The end for them still meant a knockdown drag-out fight.
The night’s "see and be seen" was in a casino at a poker tournament. This time they were taking Dylan. Craddock felt like the club scene was overwhelming for sure but a poker tournament should be fine. That was if he did not blurt out anyone’s hand.
Dylan was hanging out with his new best friend, the desk clerk of the condo, while Cassidy finished getting ready. She came out of their room into the kitchen to hoots and hollers from Jessie and a respectful, “You look very pretty tonight,” from Coach Boggs. Craddock turned to find her looking more drop dead gorgeous than he had ever seen.
“You can’t go out in that dress.” Was his first reaction.
“What? Did I get deodorant on it? I hate when that...”
“No. It’s gorgeous.”
“Thanks and nothing’s hanging out so we’re good.” Cassidy rolled her eyes at Craddock and grabbed her purse but he remained rooted in the spot and he was sure his mouth was hanging open.
“Come on Dylan’s in the lobby, we need to hustle. Craddock Flynn what the hell?” He stood in protest of her leaving the condo in that sexy fucking dress.
“He’s used to being the center of attention around here. You’re going to upstage him.” Jessie said. The two of them were staying in, apparently everyone was getting pretty tired of riding sidecar on the Vegas meet and great Craddock circuit.
“Well I’ve been hiding my light under a bushel.” She replied, walking out the door, giving Craddock no choice but to follow. He caught up with her as she tried to make good time to the elevator.
Her sexy little ass wiggled back and forth with her quick steps. Her thighs, her calves, the way the red wrap dress hugged her curves, it was too much. Plus, her hair was piled on top of her head so he could see that delicious neck. Craddock would not make it through the night. No fucking way.
He caught up to Cassidy, grabbed her hand and tugged.
“Hey they were holding the elevator!” He dragged her behind him.
“We’re taking the stairs.”
“In these heels that’s going to suck.”
“Not for me.” He opened the stairwell door closed it behind him and the captured her mouth in a kiss. He felt her tongue dart out to meet his.
“We’re going to fuck here, now, in the stairwell or I won’t make it through the night.” He kissed away a protest of some sort that she was going to try to make.
“Now I’m going to be really careful with this dress of yours so you look pristine when we get to the lobby.” As Craddock told her what to do, she stood against the stairwell wall, eyes wide. He undid the tie at her side and slid the front open, the soft fabric slid away from her front and he took a good long look at the matching bra and panties she had on underneath.
“Red? So Vegas of you.” Craddock had not ever seen this combo and he loved it. He slid her panties off and put them in his suit pocket so they would be nice and fresh.
“We’re going to get caught.”
“I promise to be quick and you’ll promise to be quiet.” Her eyes widened in protest so he kissed her again hard on the mouth. It was the hottest thing he had ever felt. She was naked and exposed to him and he shielded her with his body, his suit still perfectly in place.
Craddock unzipped and in half a second, he was fucking her up against the wall. To the hilt. She tried to be quiet but her little gasps came in rhythm with him.
His main point contact with her lifted her off the floor, over and over again. Cassidy’s little updo was struggling to stay up just as mightily as she was struggling not to make too much noise.
He had her right where he wanted. He felt her come, squeezing him, her heat overwhelming him and after he knew she had hers, he had his. He was balls deep and let loose. It didn’t take but a few more strokes until he got what he need, what he craved, and what he had been way too busy lately to appreciate.
She calmed her breathing. He gently placed both of her lovely breasts back in their scandalous red bra cups. She tied her dress up in the front and he tidied up as well.
“How do I look?” She asked.
“My favorite way,” she raised an eyebrow at him.
“Like you just fucked my brains out?” He nodded and gave her another hard kiss on the mouth and she pushed him back.
“I’ll stop in the lobby powder room to unfuck this situation.” She said and rose up on her tiptoes to kiss him just as hard. God he loved this woman.
It was a later start then they had aimed for but Dylan was oblivious to the time so they headed out for the poker tournament.
The action was little boring for Dylan but Cassidy had a few questions which he tried to answer. He did his obligatory pictures with notables and they were more or less done. No matter what their event, Craddock’s food, sleep and training was the top priority and each night he had turned in earlier and earlier.
They made short work of the event and headed out. Craddock was busy hailing a cab for them when he heard a distressed tone in Dylan’s voice behind him.
“That’s just mean. You are all mean!” Dylan was yelling at a group of young women and Cassidy was trying to pull him away toward their waiting cab.
To Craddock’s horror, one of the young women, clearly drunk, spit in Cassidy’s face.
“What the hell is your problem?” Craddock barked. If it had been a man who had done it, he would be dead right now. Craddock still had the urge to punch any beast that would spit at Cassidy.
Cassidy wiped her face with her forearm.
“Craddock let’s just go, Dylan, come on.” She somehow moved them all to the cab.
“Oh my god that’s him!” He heard them yell after the cab.
“She’s a slut and you’re both getting fucked over.” Another of the women yelled.
Craddock looked back at the little mob of drunken Vegas bitches.
“What the hell is going on,” he asked.
“You got me?” Cassidy answered, she looked shaken, but wasn’t saying a thing. Dylan was not so quiet.
“Everyone here is mean to Cassidy. Everyone. I hate Vegas people.”
It was one of the most unsettling experiences Craddock had ever had. These random women attacking Cassidy. He tucked her in to his arm. He wanted to protect her.
“What’s he talking about?”
“Nothing, nothing I can’t handle. I’ve just had a few weird run-ins. I think some of your fans are just a little too into you that’s all.” Cassidy was trying to play it off.
“But how do they even really know you?”
“Maybe the bit on Tough to the Top?” She offered.
“Maybe, how many times has something like this happened?” He worried that there was a lot he did not know. A lot that was going on while he preened, posed, and trained the last few weeks.
And what did they mean both getting fucked over. Him and Dylan?
“Look, I’m going to skip the next few things you go to. Dylan and I can find fun stuff right?” Cassidy was trying to brush off the vicious little exchange. He could see her trying to change the subject, divert focus.
“Plus I have class to do tomorrow. What do you say Dylan you and me? Waterpark in the afternoon?”
&n
bsp; “Yes and we’ll stay away from mean people.” Dylan answered.
“How can you be mean at Waterpark?” She replied and this elicited a smile. But Craddock was not smiling. Something fucked up was going on he didn’t know what.
The good news in his mind was that it was almost over. They would find out who was going to fight this week and they could get the heck out Vegas.
Cassidy
It was the seventh time something exactly like that had happened. It was time to figure out what why. When Craddock left the condo to go to the gym, she flipped open her laptop and got to work. But not on her classes.
First, she opened Twitter. She typed in #TeamCraddock and tons of images appeared. The clubs, the celebrities, and the sexy shots of him sweaty, working out, fighting, and looking gorgeous in every single one.
She typed in #TeamZeke and photos of his life showed up. At church, with his family, visiting kids in hospitals, and to her shock, a lot of images with her. There was a surprising amount candid shots of Zeke kissing her hand, her rubbing his neck, him hugging her, her laughing with him. It looked like they were in love and together. But every single one was an innocent moment.
This was a nightmare.
She typed her own name in a Google search and the story showed up, on blogs, in online magazines, and on messages boards.
“Hometown girl, torn between two fighters” was one headline.
“Is she lying to both?” was another.
“Suckers punched” said a third. That had her with Craddock in one shot and Zeke in another. All the stories had the same idea though. She was a slut, sleeping with Craddock, stringing along the saintly Zeke, and it was awful.
A common theme also developed that Craddock was losing fans because he was too blind to see her evil ways. What kind of man was he? A man who was blind to a cheating girlfriend had to be weak.
She was livid. This story was crafted; the pictures of her and Zeke were all innocent moments. A hug here, a smile while they were talking, but if you didn’t know better, it looked like she was with them both. Shit. Shit. Shit.
She loved Craddock but she had not signed up for this. Not by a mile. She wanted out of there. Out of Vegas and out of the gossip message boards.
Not to mention the fact that Craddock was being hurt by the gossip, his woman was running around on him under his nose. If Cassidy knew one thing about the MMA world it was that it was macho. Fans did not want to see their hero’s weaknesses.
Cassidy headed for the closet and her suitcase. Being here was diminishing Craddock’s chances and he still had a few days to turn the situation around. That is if she was out of the picture. All pictures.
She wanted to support him and be by his side but someone was using that against her. Her mind raced.
She couldn’t just bolt. There was still Dylan to worry about. She grabbed her phone and the condo stationary.
A short while later Jessie was flipping through the pages on her laptop.
“Wow. Just wow.”
“I know.”
“Here’s the thing I’m leaving. Right now. Let Craddock get his shot at winning this stupid contest. I have no doubt he’ll win the qualifying fight but he has to get the fight first.”
“Leaving is not the solution. He will freak.”
“Dylan wants to stay for the fight. You are going to have to keep an eye on him. I’m leaving.”
“You can’t blame Craddock for this.” Jessie asked.
“I don’t, not at all. Give him this. We will get back together after this dies down. I am causing him to lose votes. Popularity. Whatever. He can’t be seen as weak so I’m going to hide just for bit, until this blows over.”
“There has to be a better solution. Maybe Meyer Thompson?”
“You’re kidding right? Run to my boyfriend’s boss because people are being mean to me? No, I don’t think so. And just how am I supposed to go to job interviews if the whole world thinks I’m a slut?” She handed Jessie the quick letter she had penned and jammed the last bit of her stuff in her suitcase. She had not really even processed the damage this might be doing to her own reputation down the road.
“You’re doing the right thing; hiding from mean people is the right thing.” Dylan was on her side when she explained the situation.
“Thank you.” She gave him a big hug. She did not exactly like the way he phrased it but it was what it was.
“I’ll call you when I get home. Keep your phone charged!”
“Okay.” He said.
She wished she could take Dylan but that was not her call to make.
She made her way to McCarron Airport and would figure out a flight when she got there.
Her plan to bolt quickly was interrupted by logistics.
All the flights were booked. Her move to get out of Craddock’s way had been seriously slowed down. A crappy day was getting worse by the second.
She just hoped no Fighting Flynn Fans or Preacher’s Son fans were in the airport. Seeing as she was the bad guy now, she would not be surprised if they threw rotten vegetables at her.
She was not breaking up with Craddock this time. No, she was giving him up for a bit of time.
Still she felt lonely, awful, but if he lost his chance, it would be because of her.
Craddock
First Jessie showed Craddock his phone and the headlines Cassidy had found, the message boards, and the hateful way people were talking about Cassidy. Craddock was livid. How in the hell had this happened? She was the sweetest, least gossipy person in the world. Now, she was all anyone could talk about. They hated her.
Then Craddock read the letter.
Dear Craddock,
Don’t freak. But I’m out. Not out of our relationship but out of Vegas. Like Dylan said, the people here are really mean. He can show you but it is clear I am not a good idea right now.
I will be in Grand City, waiting, taking my classes and answering the phones at the GWG. Get this G-Man fight on your schedule and when it’s all over, we will figure things out if you still want to.
I know you’re going to be mad that I took off. But it is better for you if I’m not in all these gossip pages. No matter what I do, it seems like I nearly mess up your chances. I have that talent at least!
I love you. Dylan will be fine with Jessie.
Go kick some ass.
Love,
Cassidy
“Where the hell did she go?” Craddock yelled it into Jessie’s face.
“The airport I think, you want me to get you a cab to McCarron?”
“Not yet. I have some business to take care of. Dylan, come on. We’ve got some shit to do, fast.”
Craddock was done. It was game, played with his life, the cards dealt; he was sure, by 21C’s Meyer Thompson.
“Flynn’s don’t take shit.” Dylan said to Jessie in a matter of fact voice as they hightailed it out of the condo to the gym. He was right. They fucking did not.
Sunny and Meyer were both in the gym when he slammed open the door. He was not playing nice anymore. The photo ops were over as far as he was concerned and the meet and great with celebrities. He had had it with every bullshit thing.
“What’s your problem now?” Thompson said as Craddock got in his face.
“I think she knows.” Craddock pointed to Sunny.
“What?” She looked surprised. Craddock knew that was an act.
“In my office. Let’s go.” Thompson ordered. Craddock was working hard to keep his rage in check. But he was direct and blunt with Meyer.
Craddock showed Sunny and Meyer the gossip trail.
“She’s responsible for this.” Craddock pointed a finger at Sunny who was not surprised by the headlines and chuckled at the “Suckers Punched” one.
“Really funny isn’t it? These are people’s lives you’re fucking with.” Craddock said.
“I am fully aware of that and although I can’t stand your little girlfriend I’m not the one telling this story.”
�
�You were with Zeke constantly on the tour. You jumped ship from marketing my brand to his the minute I told you to stop hanging all over me when you opened your blouse in my motel room.”
Meyer Thompson put his head in his hands and then pinched the top of his nose.
“Sunny can you elaborate? You can imagine how serious it is in Vegas, with the gaming commission, if one of my employees is trying to rig the outcome of a contest. Even if it is a popularity contest to see who takes the place of a dead fighter who died on one of my tours!” Thompson was the one yelling now. Craddock could see the cracks in his control.
Keeping the 21C League going was wearing him down. Craddock was a fighter and he saw weakness. So he pushed.
“If you sabotaged me I’m going to the press. And if you don’t figure out how to retract these stories, I will be following Cassidy and getting the hell out of here.”
“You’re not going to fight, that’s what you’re saying?” Meyer asked.
“Yes.” Craddock wondered if Cassidy was on a plane right now or waiting to leave.
“Sunny, who’s leading in our popularity contest? Who do the fans want? Craddock, Zeke or Gustavo?”
“Craddock is by far the most popular 21C fighter we’ve ever had. And he’s not even a champion.” Sunny admitted.
“I thought you said it was neck and neck?” Craddock asked her.
“I did lie about that. I wanted your full cooperation and making you think you were losing seemed to be working.” It was Craddock’s term to pinch his nose. This fucking woman.
Meyer picked up the phone.
“Yeah, find Cassidy Parker. She is probably waiting on flight to Detroit. Let’s make sure she’s delayed.”
“So how am I not firing you Sunny?” Meyer turned to Sunny to allow her to defend herself.
“Because I didn’t plant the stories. I did the social media like you asked. Sure, there are pictures but they are not doctored, she is with them both, but I admit even I know that Zeke is just her friend. I would have been the first to bust on her with Craddock. These cheating stories I swear that’s not from me.”
“Call your contacts at a couple of the rags. Let’s see if we can get to the rat.” Meyer ordered Sunny to get to work figuring out who was pedaling this story. Sunny for her part seemed to be fighting for her job.