“What does Rico think about your relationship with Kathy?” I asked the next night on the phone. I was certain that the two brothers must’ve talked about his new relationship. There was no way Rico hadn’t seen their pictures blasted all over the internet and social media.
“Aiden,” Macio said on a sigh. “I really don’t want to talk about this with you. I don’t want to fight with you.”
“That’s not what this is about,” I assured him. “I just…” I struggled to find the right words to say without leading him into the answer I wanted to hear. I needed it to come from his heart.
“Rico thinks she’s pretty and that she conducts herself well publicly. He likes that she comes across as an intelligent woman with a lot of passion and knowledge of the sport, rather than some groupie.” Macio chuckled then and I felt the deep timbre of his voice roll through my body. I was almost distracted by it.
“What’s so funny?” I asked him.
“Rico doesn’t think she’s the one for me.”
“What? Why?” My heart sped up and I sat a little straighter in my chair.
“He said that I don’t look at her the way he looks at Macy and I never bring her up in a conversation.” I didn’t think Macio could say anything else that would make my heart happier than it was, but I was wrong. “He also said that if I was as crazy about her as the media reported, I wouldn’t make excuses for why I couldn’t bring her to meet my family.”
A few days prior, I would’ve been stuck on the fact that Rico wanted to meet Kathy and wouldn’t have heard the rest. “Why do you make excuses?” My voice was barely above a whisper and raw with emotions only Macio could make me feel.
“I love you, Aiden. If I can’t take you home to meet Rico, Macy, and the kids, then I’m not taking anyone. I don’t like this charade I play with Kathy, it feels wrong to me, and I’m not going to complicate it even more by dragging it home to Rico. Besides, I would never deliberately hurt you like that. I know how hard this is for you and I know how bad that douche hurt you. I’m not him; I’m not that guy.” God, his words were like a warm hug through the phone connection and were the spark I needed to get my head out of my ass.
I wouldn’t lie and say that I never had doubts after that, but I stomped them beneath the heels of my expensive loafers Macio hated so much. The first thing I did was turn off the Google alert that told me anytime a new story about Macio popped up. Then I deleted the fake accounts I set up so I could follow Kathy’s social media accounts. It was next to impossible to believe that what I had with Macio was real with those pictures in my face all the time. Kathy loved social media and it appeared she liked the attention she got from posting pictures of them together. I knew I was the one Macio loved and it was past time that I acted like it. I wasted no more of our precious time whining about Kathy.
I knew that my access to Macio would be limited the week leading up to his big fight with Jaxon Hardy. I understood that he needed to focus all his energy on his training because it would be his greatest challenge. Jaxon was a former champion himself and he wanted that title back more than his next breath. The cocky bastard thought he could easily take down my man to get it.
Instead of moping around my house from missing Macio that week, I went out with Seth or friends from work. Not every night, but more than usual. We went to bars to watch a few games or grabbed a bite to eat. My clubbing days were long behind me, so I easily turned it down when it was brought up.
“You still aren’t going to tell me who he is?” Seth asked over dinner.
“There’s no one to tell you about.” It wasn’t lost on me that I was the one denying Macio’s existence. It felt horribly wrong and I hated it, but I had no choice. I loved Seth and knew I could trust him, but I would never betray Macio that way.
“If you say so,” Seth said in a sing-song voice.
“I do.” I sang right back to him.
I went about my week without a hitch until the night before I was supposed to head to Vegas. Seth had left the bar to use the restroom, so I checked my messages. The smile on my face when I saw I had one from Macio grew even larger when I opened it up. There was a picture of him and Caesar lying in bed with a caption that read: We miss you.
I stared at the photo longer than I should have. I started to respond to the message when I realized that Seth had returned to his stool. I quickly locked the screen and set my phone on the bar before I turned to smile at Seth. My heart froze when I looked into Troy Danver’s devious brown eyes instead of Seth’s guileless blue ones. Troy looked down at my phone and then back up at me. Fuck! How much had he seen?
I couldn’t stand bottom-feeding photographers like him. He wasn’t an artist; he was a damn paparazzo. People like him didn’t care whose life they destroyed as long as they got their cash. I’d be damned if he got to Macio through me. The only expression on my face was one of disgust. “What the fuck do you want, Danvers?”
My hostility didn’t seem to faze him one bit. His sneer for a smile made me want to kick him right in the gonads. “I hear you’re interviewing Macio again before his big fight.”
“And?”
“That’s two exclusive interviews with the extremely private fighter,” he answered.
“And?”
“I want to know why you, of all people, seem to be his favorite. You’d think a guy like him would steer clear of the controversial gay reporter,” Danvers replied. “It appears that the two of you have… bonded.”
I refused to be baited by him. I was controversial to some, but not many. I couldn’t get a feel if he had seen the photo of Macio on my phone or if he was just fishing. “And you want to know what the macho fighter and the limp-wristed reporter could possibly have in common.” I let my voice soften from the arctic tone I’d used earlier. I wanted him to think I was softening too.
“You’re damn straight,” Troy replied.
“But I’m not,” I reminded him playfully.
“Spill it, James.” Troy used my last name as if we were best buds. “What’s your secret to getting access to the champ?”
I crooked my finger at him and he leaned closer. I crooked it again and he came even closer still. I leaned in the rest of the way until my mouth nearly touched his ear. “It’s our deep admiration for Superman and our immense dislike for assholes like you.” I sat back in my chair and looked into his stunned eyes. I wasn’t a guy who was easily pushed around and it was time he learned it. “Get. Lost.”
Troy started to speak, but Seth returned from the bathroom then.
“I believe you heard the man,” Seth said when it looked like Troy had no intention of moving.
Troy looked him up and down, as if calculating to see how big of a threat Seth was to him. “Who are you?”
“None of your damn concern,” I told Troy.
Troy acted as if he hadn’t heard me. “Are you his boyfriend?” he asked Seth.
“Yep.”
It was all I could do not to groan out loud. I knew if I did, it would only encourage him more. “Don’t tell him anything, Seth. He’s a fucking photographer for Dirty Laundry. He’s looking for an exposé on my life.” It was partially true.
Seth’s eyes darkened with anger. “Do as the man suggested and get lost or I’ll help you along the way.”
Seth was several inches taller than Troy and had a much bigger frame. He could appear quite menacing when he wanted to be, and that night was one of those times. It worked because Danvers got up without another word. I saw the question in Seth’s eyes, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, we went about our night as if Troy’s intrusion had never happened.
It was too late to reply to Macio’s message when I got home. I was a little bummed because I knew he would be on lockdown, as I referred to it, for the twenty-four hours leading up to the fight. I chose to focus on the bright side, which was that I would be in his arms in just two more days.
I was both excited and nervous when I was shown into Macio’s dressing room. I had see
n him at pre-fight conferences, but never so close to the actual event. Only Barry, Rupert, and Kathy were permitted to be around him minutes before a match. As happy as I was to be in the same room as him, I was bummed that I couldn’t give him a good luck kiss or even a fucking fist bump. We couldn’t take any chances with the commission officials in the room.
I made certain not to look into Macio’s eyes when he answered my questions. I feared I wouldn’t be able to keep the longing out of my expression, so I chose to keep my eyes on the notes I was taking. Before I knew it, Macio was taped and ready to go. He followed Barry out of the room without a backwards glance at Kathy, Rupert, or me. I smiled inwardly because I might not have received any pre-fight affection, or even acknowledgment, but neither did Kathy.
I turned to face Kathy, prepared to thank her for what she did, but my gratitude dissipated as soon as I saw the calculating smile on her face. She was a woman with an agenda. I had no idea what she was up to, but I was sure I’d be the first, or second, person to know.
“Busy week?” she asked me. The innocuous question didn’t match the sarcastic tone of voice she used. I looked questioningly at Rupert, but he shrugged as if to say he didn’t know what was going on.
“Sure was,” I replied. I had no choice but to play along.
“Me too. I’ve been fighting off reports that I’m pregnant.” Before, her words would’ve been a knife to my heart, but I was smarter and stronger.
“Wow, another immaculate conception,” I replied with wide eyes. Rupert snorted, earning a death glare from Kathy.
She turned her smirking glance back at me. “This is how you repay my kindness?”
“You’re right, Kathy. I should be more appreciative.” I took a deep breath. “I appreciate how you put yourself on the line by going out to fancy dinners and parties wearing expensive shoes and dresses that Macio feels obligated to buy for you.” She blanched at my words, obviously unaware that Macio had told me every single fucking detail of their agreement. He felt strongly that Kathy shouldn’t have to pay for any expenses related to her part in the charade.
She smiled acidly, then said, “I meant for not showing him the photos of you on the town with your boyfriend.” She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to go in for the kill. “I understand why Macio has a beard, but fail to see why you need one too.” I was about to ask what she was talking about, but she didn’t need prompting. “I’m talking about your dates with Seth this week.”
“Seth is just my friend, Kathy. Macio knows that.”
“Well, according to the article on Dirty Laundry’s website, you’re much more than friends.” That fucking twat Troy Danvers! “There were a few pictures included that made it look like you and Seth couldn’t wait to go home and rip each other’s clothes off.”
I rolled my eyes at that one. “Because every photo posted in the media is the truth and should be trusted.” I looked pointedly at her and smiled inwardly when I saw some of her confidence unravel. “Like the pregnancy bullshit,” I said, in case I wasn’t clear enough.
“You’re lucky he didn’t see the article before his match. He needs to be focused on his opponent in the ring and not doubting your loyalties. If he lost a match because of you…”
“First of all, I resent that you think Macio is so fucking weak that he can’t block out the bullshit and focus on his fight. Unlike you, I trust him to be able to tell the difference between fact and fiction.” The balls on that woman riled me up to levels I had never experienced before, but I wouldn’t let her ruin my weekend with Macio. She was about to see the side of me that first caught Macio’s eye. “It’s in your best interest to make sure that he’s not bothered by that shit anyway.”
“How do you figure?” She looked at me like I was dumber than a box of rocks.
“Who do you think the media will blame if Macio stumbles in the ring? Me, who they don’t know about, or you, who they see on his arm multiple times a week?” I laughed derisively as what I said started to sink into her pretty head. “You forget that I’m a sports reporter, honey. I’ve lost track of the number of times a wife or girlfriend got blamed for an athlete’s poor performance. They go from media darlings to pariahs in a blink of an eye. They get booed in public, harassed on social media, and lambasted on the internet. Is that what you want?” The sour look on her face was the only answer I needed.
“Macio is in love with me. It’s time you accept it.” I looked at my watch and saw that the match was due to start in under ten minutes. “You better get out there and look pretty, darling. We don’t want the sharks starting to speculate that there’s trouble in paradise.”
“Asshole.” Kathy flipped her hair over her shoulder and headed for the door. “Are you coming, Rupert?”
I looked over at Macio’s publicist and found him watching me with his head tilted slightly to the side. He looked at me as if he were seeing me for the first time and didn’t know what to make of me. He was so lost in his thoughts and hadn’t heard Kathy speak to him.
“Rupert,” she yelled shrilly.
He jumped and followed her without a word, which was okay with me. I needed a minute to gather myself. Regardless of what I said to Kathy, I knew Macio wasn’t going to like Troy’s article. He was going to like the possibility of Troy having seen the message he sent me even less, but it was something I would need to tell him.
I drew closer to Jaxon, arms raised defensively, but also offensively for when an opportunity presented itself for a strike. I’d watched numerous video tapes of Jaxon’s ring performance. He was a damned good fighter and I had to pay him proper respect or risk making a rookie mistake. I was already bleeding from a shallow cut on my left brow and we were at least two minutes into our third round. The longest match I’d had before this one was only nine minutes and nineteen seconds, which was pretty much two rounds.
Jaxon was huffing and puffing as he inched closer to me. This fight was taking its toll on him too, but he was more conditioned than I’d given him credit for at the weigh-in. I stepped forward, then jumped back, guard up, blocking a right kick from him. He tried to follow that up with a leg sweep, but I dodged that one too, and landed a blow to his temple. It wasn’t a good one, as my distance and angle wouldn’t let me get enough power behind the punch, but he still felt it. His nose was bleeding profusely, I’d broken it in the second round and I was going to make sure I followed up on it since it was already injured.
The crowd was thriving with an energy that I was feeding off of as we fought. They were hyped up big time and loving this championship battle. Seeing as we were now in the third round, I was sure they felt like they were getting their money’s worth. I threw a kick that Jaxon blocked, then followed it up with a punch to his midsection. He tucked in his elbow, protecting his ribs, which left him open for another blow to his face, which I tried to capitalize on, but he ducked, catching me with a blow to my abs.
I puffed out the air and stepped back to size him up again. It would seem that he had been studying my fight videos as well. I was going to need to get his ass into a ground game. He charged me and I blocked the first blow, but his second blow caused me to lose my balance and I fell back against the gate. That was when he hit me with a right hook that knocked me down. There were a few stars floating, but I wasn’t completely out.
He was on me then, punching furiously, but I was blocking him effectively and as soon as I saw an opening, I grabbed his fist, then locked my legs around his neck in a triangle chokehold. One of my favorite maneuvers. My thighs were like steel vices as I tightened them around his neck. I could taste the copper flavor of my own blood as it leaked into my mouth from my busted nose. Jaxon was exerting a lot of energy in his attempt to break out of my hold, but he wasn’t going anywhere. I switched my grip on his arm to where I could apply pressure to his elbow joint. If he didn’t tap out, I was going to break that fucker.
The referee was in our faces, waiting for the moment when Jaxon submitted or his arm broke, whichever c
ame first. We were both screaming and growling, but for different reasons. Finally, he couldn’t take the pain anymore and tapped out. The referee hit my biceps twice, ordering me to release my hold. I did, and then shoved Jaxon away from me before rising to my feet. I threw my arms up victoriously as I jumped around the octagon. I was running on pure adrenaline and loving every minute of the excitement the crowd was giving me.
Lights flashed, cheers roared, there were a few boos, too, but fuck them. My corner came into the ring, congratulating me. I only wished Aiden was here and I could hug him in front of the world and that would be acceptable. As it was, this was a man’s sport and according to hearsay, not a place for fags. I hated hearing shit like that, and sometimes I wondered how they’d feel knowing this fag kicked their fucking teeth down their throats.
Ah well, I may not be able to celebrate openly, but I was planning on giving Aiden a few rounds in the bedroom, or on kitchen counter, or even in the shower tonight. I stayed in the ring for a few minutes, doing a quick post fight victory interview with ETC promotion president, Shane Dixon. He was asking me questions I knew I’d have to answer again at the post-fight conference in a half hour. However, this was part of my job—granted, the part I hated—but my job, nonetheless.
“This was your longest fight ever, almost going into the fourth round. Was there any moment during the fight that you thought this might be it, I’m going to lose?” Shane asked me.
I shook my head. “Hell no. I never enter the ring with any thoughts of negativity. Fuck that,” I said, using the towel Barry had draped over my shoulders to wipe away some of the sweat that was dripping into my eyes. My entire body was slick with it and I couldn’t help but wonder just what kind of dirty thoughts were floating through Aiden’s mind as he looked at how my body glistened with it. He really got off on the sweat I could work up fucking him… hell, I did too.
He laughed. “With this being your longest bout, how did it weigh on you physically and mentally?”
Undisputed Page 14
