“Get lost and go bug someone else,” Zane instructs.
“Haven’t you assholes learned yet that your crap doesn’t work with our women?” Cole asks as he appears and greets me with a smile. “They do this with everyone. Ask Tatum. They’re annoying as hell.”
“I think it’s kind of cute,” Tessa says making Ryder growl. “What? It is. What a way to be welcomed into the group. Surrounded by a bunch of man candy flirting with you.” Ryder continues to look displeased, “I’m just sayin’.”
“Let’s get out of here, I’ll show you the only man candy you need. After I spank your ass,” Ryder says which is followed promptly by Tessa smacking him and his laugh.
Zane pulls me into his side and I smile watching the banter between everyone.
“Have you guys seen Tyson and Sydney yet?” Zane asks
“Just in passing,” Levi answers, “Who are all these people anyway?”
“Friends from work, I guess?” Tatum answers.
“Look, there’s Tyson and Sydney,” Rowan says pointing them out across the room. Tyson’s standing with Sydney proudly at his side. She looks beautiful – her hair is up, her makeup flawless and she’s wearing a gorgeous flirty white cocktail dress. She looks like the perfect bride-to-be.
“Who are those guys he’s talking to?” Levi questions.
“I don’t know. Why?” Dylan asks sounding somewhat exasperated with Levi’s questions.
“Because, all of us are right here,” Levi says looking around our group. “How does Ty have other friends?”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Jax asks.
“Jax. Language.” Rowan admonishes.
“Sh-” He almost cusses again and I hear Zane choke on a laugh. Jax glares at him. “Sorry, baby.”
“You’ll regret it when she starts repeating you. I’m going to go check her diaper, I’ll be back.”
Jax turns back around scowling at Levi like it’s his fault he forgot himself, “We all have other friends.”
Levi looks surprised, “You do?” He surveys the group, “Ryder? Do you?”
“You do know how well liked I am, yeah?” He grins and Tessa rolls her eyes. “I hang out with the guys from the fire station all the time.”
“Seriously?” Levi asks. “So, you have other friends, Ty does clearly, do you?” He asks looking at Zane and Jax.
“I’m going to go to the bathroom too. See if they have a manpon in there for you,” Jax says to Levi.
“No shit,” Zane adds, “Clearly Levi’s got his period because why else would he sound like such a little bitch?”
“Hey, hold up right there. I resent that implication,” I say, the other girls agreeing with me all giving Zane looks that could kill.
Zane holds his hands up looking around at us, “My bad, cupcake. You know I don’t mean anything by it, I’m only giving him shit.”
“If we weren’t at this party, I’d kick both of your asses,” Levi threatens.
“Zane and I hang out all the time with guys from high school,” Jax says tauntingly in retaliation.
“Well at least there’s still Cole,” Levi nods toward him. Cole looks down and Tatum hides a smile. “Cole?” Levi asks uncertainly.
“Uh, well, I did train at another gym for a while. I, uh, you know…” he shrugs, “I know some guys.”
“Mother fucker,” Levi curses and I have to struggle to keep a straight face.
“Why do you make it sound like we’re cheating on you?” Cole asks amused.
“I never thought about this until I came here and saw all these people and wondered who the hell they were. I didn’t expect to find out all of you had other friends too. That it isn’t just the seven of us. I’m not sure what to think about this.”
“He’s joking right?” I hear Cole ask.
Tatum covers her mouth, but not before a giggle escapes.
“What the actual fuck?” Ryder asks.
Tessa looks away hiding her smile.
“I know what you’re thinking…” Levi says.
“That we need to check your pants for a clit?” Ryder asks with annoyance.
“Shut the hell up,” Levi says to Ryder. “You’re thinking oh, poor Levi, he doesn’t have any other friends, but don’t worry, I’ll show you fuckers.”
“Yeah, Levi, you go man. You show us,” Dylan says while smiling. “You don’t at all sound like you’re jealous – which seriously man, you sound like a pussy.”
“You know, all these female jokes are seriously making me rethink being all of your friends,” Tessa says.
“Seriously,” agrees Tatum.
“I third that,” says Rowan who’s returned to the group.
“Aw, you know you love us,” Ryder says, but he’s looking at Tessa.
“We’ll see how you all feel when I don’t have time for you because I’m too busy with my new pals.”
“If you call your new friends ‘pals’ I don’t think they’ll be your friends for long,” Zane says.
“Whatever.”
Dylan smacks Levi on the back of the head, “Get over it. You sound stupid.”
“It’s cool. Don’t worry about it,” Levi walks away from the group.
Zane sighs, “Where are you going?”
Levi holds up his middle finger behind his back making everyone chuckle. We watch as Levi walks up to a couple women that are drinking champagne not too far from where we’re standing.
“Hello ladies, my name is Levi. And you are?” He smiles charmingly and while Levi may be a goof, he’s certainly good looking and I’m not at all surprised when the ladies smile at him.
“I’m Vicki,” the blonde with large blue eyes and huge boobs smiles.
“And my name is Felicity,” a dark skinned, dark haired goddess smiles back at him.
He kisses both of their hands and they giggle.
“Nice,” Dylan nods encouragingly making me chuckle.
“Do you ladies have room in your lives for a male friend? It just so happens that I’m in the need of some new friends. What do you say? Interested in getting to know me better?” He lifts his eyebrows up and down a few times.
“Does that seriously work?” I ask.
“Wait for it,” Dylan says.
Sure enough, they each put their arms around Levi’s back and he has one of his arms around each of their shoulders. They walk away from us but not before Levi turns and looks at us over his shoulder, “Fuck you,” he mouths making all of us break out in laughter.
“Well that was entertaining,” I say to Zane with a laugh.
“Yeah, he’s always been that way. Crazy like he’s on something one minute, oddly sensitive or something the next.”
We spend some additional time standing around and making small talk. I enjoy getting to know Zane’s friends better as I ask each of them how they met. Talk about some interesting stories. In their own way they all give me hope. They would only touch on some things and I was respectful of all of their privacy of course, but it’s clear the road for each of them hasn’t been an easy one. Looking at them now, you would never know. All I see is the love they have for each other.
And speaking of love, when Tyson and Sydney make it over to us, they look so full of the emotion they could burst. I can’t stop staring at all of the couples, watching the way they’re always touching, looking at each other, or simply smiling in that knowing way where you know they are reading each other’s thoughts.
The highlight of my night may have been when I met Sydney’s brother, Sammy. He told me how excited he is for Tyson to be his brother. A kind and amazing person, I enjoyed chatting with him.
When Sydney and Tyson move on to speak with others, Zane tugs on my hand and whispers, “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
He doesn’t answer and when he sees a tray with champagne, he snags a couple glasses. He holds his elbow out in silent invitation for me to place my arm through. Walking to the back of the room, we slip out the doors that lead out a
nd over to a small bridge that leads to the extravagant swimming pool.
A huge rock waterfall makes a soothing sound combined with the crickets singing. Soft voices in conversation are here and there and music drifts out from the open door of Tyson and Sydney’s party.
“It’s beautiful out tonight,” I murmur. September in Arizona means the evenings can be in the low nineties, but tonight it’s currently in the mid-eighties and predicted to be even a bit cooler, which may seem hot to some, but when the days can still get in the hundreds, it’s much cooler and pleasant.
Zane selects a lounge chair and when he’s seated, he pulls me down and positions me to press my back against his front.
“Look at the stars tonight,” Zane says and I drop my head back on his shoulder to take in the millions of tiny lights.
“Isn’t it funny how something so simple as looking up into the night can make you realize how vast the world is? It can make me feel so present and yet incredibly insignificant at the same time.”
“I know what you mean.” I can feel Zane nod. “The sky goes on and on with no end in sight reminding us how big the world really is. It makes you feel small in a way.”
“Yes, exactly. Sometimes it’s both scary and humbling.”
“How many people do you think are looking up at the same sky right now?” He asks, his chest vibrating against my back when he speaks.
“I have no idea,” I say softly. But, his question makes me contemplative.
I can’t help but wonder what’s in the hearts of the people that are also looking into the night sky tonight? Are they simply admiring the stars? Or are they looking for absolution or an answer to whatever’s troubling them?
“There have been moments in my life, just like this, when that clarity about how big the world is hits me and gives me pause. It doesn’t matter where I am - I could be at a large stadium attending a game or a concert. It could be when I’m walking through an airport and I see all the people coming and going. Or, it’s simply looking into the sky like we are now and I think to myself that whatever troubles I may have could be far worse. It reminds me of all the suffering in the world,” I confess.
“Do you have troubles now?”
Shrugging, I look over my shoulder briefly and smile a little, “Don’t we all?”
“Yes,” he says. “We all usually have something – big or small.”
“We do,” I nod. Looking into the sky again, I smile, “When my parents were still alive we used to go to church,” I say surprising myself. “It’s been years since I’ve been there because it’s hard going without them, but one thing I took away is that there truly is power in prayer. So, at times like these, I say a prayer.”
“You do? Why?”
“Because, I know there have been times when I wished someone would do the same for me. When I think of all the other people out there that are hurting and in need and maybe they’re looking up into the heavens just like me crying out begging for someone to hear them and answer their prayers, well I feel like I’m helping in some way. That I’m making a difference. And suddenly those problems of mine feel small once more.”
Zane’s quiet for a while. He takes our glasses and sets them on the ground beside us and his arms tighten around me. “You’re an amazing woman, Sutton. You have an incredible heart and it’s no wonder why the kids at the orphanage love you so much. Why you make an impact in their lives. They’re lucky to have you. So am I.”
Turning toward him, I frame his face in my hands, lean forward and place a small kiss on his lips. When I pull away we stare at each other for a moment, before kissing again.
When we pull away, Zane stares deep into my eyes. I feel like he’s going to say something to me, but whatever it is passes when a loud laugh startles us. “Do you want to get out of here?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
He stands smoothly and helps me rise. “I’d like to say goodbye to Tyson and Sydney first.”
“Of course. I’m going to use the ladies room, but I’ll find you when I’m through.”
He kisses me on the forehead before I duck into the restroom after he walks me there. Once I use the facilities, I stand at the sink washing my hands and stare at myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed, my eyes bright, my lips are curved up in the corners. I look like a woman in love.
Smiling to myself, I step out of the restroom intending to look for Zane and stop suddenly when I come face to face with Tyson, “Oh, hi. Zane was going to look for you to say goodbye.”
He looks out toward the room, then down the quiet hall. Somehow it’s only the two of us. He nods, but then steps toward me, his eyes holding mine and suddenly I feel nervous. “Tyson? Everything okay?” I ask nervously.
“When are you going to tell him?”
“Tell him?” I repeat.
“When are you going to tell Zane the truth?”
“The truth?” I repeat like a parrot while inside my heart starts racing, my stomach drops and I think somehow, in some way, he’s found out about Nico and what he’s asked me to do. But how? Will he give me a chance to explain?
Tyson sighs and it’s clear if he had any patience to begin with, it’s gone now. “When are you going to tell Tyson that Ryan is his son?”
That is not at all what I was expecting and I gasp loudly feeling completely out of breath. “Oh god,” I say.
“Look, I don’t know whatever game this is that you’re playing, but either you tell him soon, or I will. I won’t let you hurt him more than it’s already going to when he finds out.” He looks away from my stricken face and then back to me again. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but it’s clear to me that Zane is falling for you. I refuse to let him fall deeper without him knowing everything.”
“How do you- I mean how did you-“
“How do I know that he’s his son?” I nod. “Maybe it’s because I haven’t been friends with Zane as long as everyone else. I came into the group last so in some ways I’m still getting to know things about them. The way they interact, say things, their body language. Fighters learn all about body language – it’s how we try to anticipate our opponent’s moves. And there are things that Ryan does, that are exactly like Zane. He may look like you, but he is Zane’s son in many ways as well – that’s clear. I can’t believe he hasn’t put it together,” he says almost as an after thought.
“I plan on telling him.” Tyson looks at me doubtfully, crossing his arms over his chest, “I do, I swear. I was just waiting until after he fights for the title. I didn’t want to put this in his head before the fight. Plus, there’s other… extenuating circumstances that has made telling him… difficult.”
He sighs, “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but take it from me, lies and betrayal… they have a way of coming out when you least expect it and usually not in a way you can completely anticipate or control. I wouldn’t wait much longer.”
Feeling choked up, tears threaten to fall down my face, “I know,” I whisper.
“I’m not trying to be an asshole,” he begins but I hold a hand up.
“You’re being a good friend. I get it.”
He nods and with one more look at me, he walks away.
I’m not sure what’s happened from the time I left Sutton at the restroom to now, but something has completely changed her demeanor. She looks sad, deflated of spirit and she’s so pale she looks ill.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask her yet again.
She attempts a smile but it only makes her look desolate, “I’m fine.”
The ride back to her place is quiet, but she holds my hand tightly the whole time. It’s almost as if she’s afraid to let it go.
I walk her to the door and before she opens it, I grab her arm softly and turn her toward me, “Why don’t I tell you goodnight and let you get some rest? Are you just tired all of the sudden? It’s okay, no pressure, I’ll call you tomorrow,” I cup her face and watch as her eyes swing back and forth between my eyes and my mouth a
s I talk.
“Please don’t leave me,” she practically whispers. “Stay with me tonight.”
Staring at her, I wish I could reach into her mind and pull out her thoughts. Her eyes hold mine and she’s not backing down from her request but I have to ask her anyway, “Are you sure?”
She nods, “Yes, please Zane. Stay with me.”
Nodding, I pull her against me and hug her. Something doesn’t feel right, but she clearly wants me here, so here I’ll be.
When I remove my arms, she smiles softly, then unlocks her door and both of us sneak in quietly knowing Ryan will be sleeping.
Sure enough, he’s conked out on the couch on a pillow with a blanket covering him where Vanessa is sitting watching TV while on her phone. She smiles upon our entrance. Standing she first shuts off the TV and then approaches us.
“Hi,” Sutton says, “did everything go okay?”
“He was great as always.”
She starts to tell Sutton something that Ryan said at dinner that was funny and gives her a play by play of the evening. While they speak, I walk over to Ryan looking down on his sleeping form. His face is relaxed in sleep, his little lower lip is stuck out just a little. His eyelids move back and forth under his lids and I smile wondering what he’s dreaming about?
Pulling the blanket gently from him, I smile again at his Spongebob pajamas. One time Jax and I were hanging out with Ryder at the fire station and one of the guys had Spongebob on the TV. I don’t remember how but somehow we got to watching it while we were eating pizza. I think we were all too lazy to get up and turn off the TV. That show is funny shit. We all thought so, but we all swore each other to secrecy to never tell anyone we watched it.
Carefully, I pick up Ryan’s sleeping form and cradle him to my chest. Oddly, I find myself swaying a little when he stirs some and waiting until he falls still again before I move.
When I turn around, I find Sutton and Vanessa both staring at me. Sutton looks like she’s going to cry which makes me pause, but then I brush it off because women do get weepy about this kind of shit.
Sutton’s been a single mom for a while; it has to be hard on her. If little things like this matter that much to her, I really need to start doing some things to help out if she’ll let me. I’ve been taking things easy, slow in some ways because I don’t want to screw up, but it’s time to get more serious.
Fighting Greed Page 17