Uncaged Love #3

by JJ Knight

  I will my voice not to shake as I say, “That’s great.”

  Buster manages a weak smile. “He’s in excellent form. He should be on track for the title fight if he takes this one.”

  I snatch a roll from my plate and shove a chunk in my mouth. It tastes like sawdust, but I force it down. I will act normal. I will be normal. I will be happy for Colt. He’s better off now. Better than when he was with me. He’s winning again. Everyone was right. I was a problem.

  Lani squeezes my arm. “You were so great tonight, Jo. I don’t think Mad Mary knew what hit her.”

  “And hit her and hit her and hit her!” Nate says. He lifts his glass. “To Josefina the Hurricane!”

  They all toast to my victory. I manage to smile. This is my new life. And it’s so much better than what I knew before I met Colt.

  Maybe with Colt I knew heaven and honey and bliss. Maybe I thought we could be that happy forever. All our moments together were amazing, and they changed me.

  Even though he’s lost to me now, I have to be grateful that I got that chance to be his.

  Chapter Nine

  By Monday, Buster is fielding a dozen calls with trainers wanting a match with The Hurricane. Zero’s footage has ten thousand views. MMA is big-time, and the women’s matches are just as popular, if not more, than the men’s.

  Lani reads me the comments on the video as I punch the heavy bag.

  “The Hurricane looks like an angel and fights like the devil.” Lani laughs. “Maybe we should have you fight in all white.”

  I barely listen. Zero’s been doing the same thing, forwarding me tweets and mentions. It doesn’t matter. What really matters is in the ring. And what Colt thinks, if he cares at all. He still hasn’t responded to my text.

  “Oh, listen to this one,” Lani says. “I’m going to the next match and ask her to marry me!”

  I stop punching. “For real?”

  “For real! You have admirers! The next fight is going to be epic. Buster won’t be able to fit them all here.” She jumps up from the floor. “Let’s go to a match for inspiration,” she says. “I know the most amazing fighter boy you should watch.”

  “Sure,” I say. It’s probably a good idea to watch more matches live. Without the distraction of worrying about Colt, they might actually be fun.

  So, Friday night Lani picks me up in a Ford Escort that looks like it might be held together with duct tape.

  “Sure you don’t want to take the bus?” I ask doubtfully.

  “Oh, it’ll be fine!” Lani revs the engine. “And we want to be able to go to any after-parties.”

  I wave to Zero, who is also leaving my apartment. He’s dressed me again. I have new dark jeans and a red sweater that fits more tightly than my fighting shirt. Zero told me to look and feel as beautiful and brave as a girl named The Hurricane should. I told him no more ballet flats, so we compromised with a pair of red Toms we got secondhand.

  I’ve given up the twin coils in my hair now that Colt is gone. My fighter look is two French braids down the back. The red color is growing out, but like the hairdresser said, the soft edges to the color make it look almost deliberate. Plus, it’s fading. I’m starting to look like my old self. Nobody would care that I created a scandal as Colt’s secret Kettle Belle, or that I once had to change my appearance to protect him from rabid reporters.

  Not that it matters now. Brittany got her modeling contract, apparently. Zero told me, and he only knew because he subscribes to the cosmetic company’s newsletters. He vowed not to buy another one of their products again.

  I didn’t ask if she broke off her fake engagement to Colt. I have to force myself not to care.

  Lani and I drive through East LA. “Is this an off-the-books fight?” I ask.

  “Oh, no, it’s official MMA.”

  “And you got tickets?”

  “I have an inside scoop.” Lani’s face is lit with excitement. “AND we got an invitation to visit the dressing room before the fight.”

  “And see who?” I ask. My anxiety rises.

  “Parker, of course! The fighter!”

  “Really? I wouldn’t want to meet random people before a fight.” And neither did Colt, I think, but I don’t say it out loud.

  “Parker’s a total party boy. He’s seriously made it.”

  “But the match. Won’t he be nervous?”

  Lani pulls up to a red light. “That’s not Parker’s way. He heard about you. He really wants to meet you.”

  We take off again. This whole thing feels so strange to me. I’ve only had one fight, and I beat a girl who really only had one schtick. I should not be getting this much attention.

  “Stop worrying, Jo!” Lani says. “Have some fun.”

  We park down the street from a small arena. I can tell this fight is a much bigger deal than the ones at the Herd, where Colt lost his comeback match.

  The venue has actual ticket takers and assigned seats. We’re clearly way early, as the rings of chairs are practically empty.

  We walk around the cage and head to a back door on the other side. Lani flashes a pass at the two security guys flanking the door.

  As soon as we’re in the hall, I can hear laughing and the boom of deep voices.

  Lani pulls me by the arm. I’ve never seen her like this, bouncy with excitement.

  Another guard is outside a door in the middle of the hall. He smiles at Lani. “Hey, little one,” he says. “Parker’s inside.” He looks at me. “Is this the girl?”

  “It is,” Lani says.

  I feel like I’ve been left out of an important part of some conversation. Nobody should know me.

  Inside the room, several reporters talk to a stunning man wearing only MMA gloves and a pair of fighting shorts covered in sponsor labels. He is tall with buzzed black hair. He’s answering some girl’s question, and she looks like she might fall at his feet any minute.

  When he spots us, he nods at a man in a bright green trainer suit with the words “Power Play” on the back. I assume that’s Parker’s nickname. The man announces the end of the interviews, but that Parker will be available after his victory.

  My eyebrows shoot up. Cocky team he has there. I brace myself to hate him, sure he’s going to be some arrogant jerk.

  But he shrugs on his own green jacket and zips it up before coming over. His eyes seem to dance as he walks toward us. He speaks to Lani, but his gaze is on me as he says, “I see you brought me The Hurricane.”

  “I did,” Lani says. “Which means you owe me one.” She punches him on the arm.

  He pretends to howl in pain. “First blood! I need a ref! Somebody take this girl out!”

  Lani wraps her arms around his waist. “You’d kill anybody who punched my pretty nose.”

  He hugs her. “That I would. I promised your brother.” He turns to me. “Lani and I go way back. She used to push me down in the sandbox.” He extends his hand. “I’m Parker Simmons.”

  I reach out and shake it. I’m reminded of Colt instantly. Parker has that same broad grip. He is probably about as tall.

  “I’m Jo.”

  “Saw your first fight, Jo,” he says, and gestures toward a sofa. “You’re going places.”

  I settle onto a cushion. Lani heads over to a table full of food and drinks. The few people still in the room talk quietly in one corner.

  “Not sure about that,” I say. I feel abandoned with a stranger. What is Lani up to? Trying to hook us up?

  “I think people will be looking at your strike pattern and learning from you,” he says.

  I turn to him then. “Really?” I finally take a good hard look. His eyes are very pale, the lightest crystal blue. He’s like a dreamy date boy in every cliché beach movie. Disarmingly cute and charming.

  He stands up. “I was looking at it myself.” He throws a jab and a cross. “You started pretty standard.” He lifts his leg for a low kick, then pivots to drive a high one with the opposite leg. “Then you just brought it. Elbow, jab, jab, c
ross, elbow, kick, JAB. And down she went.” He shakes his head. “Poor Mad Mary. Didn’t stand a chance.”

  Lani looks up from where she’s filling a plate. “She only lasted the first round because Jo was new.”

  Parker nods in agreement. “Half the fighters are probably afraid to fight you, and the other half can’t wait.”

  I have no idea. “My trainer is booking some.”

  He sits back down. “I’m glad you came. Can I see you again after the fight?” He smiles, and I’m sure any other girl would have melted. I can only see how different he is from Colt.

  “What if you’re carried out of here on a stretcher?” I ask.

  “Bam!” he says and laughs. “I’ll have to watch it if I ever spar with you.”

  I feel relaxed now. This guy is harmless. “We’ll call the medics ahead if that ever happens.”

  “Dang, it’s good to have a girl who can talk some smack.” He beams at me like I’m the only girl in the world.

  The trainer comes over. “Time for pregame,” he says. “Fun’s over.”

  Parker nods. “I look forward to seeing you later. If I can drop this guy in a hurry, I will, just to get to you faster.”

  I feel my face start to flush hot. I don’t know what to say to that.

  When they’ve gone, Lani bounces over. “So, what did you think?”

  “He’s nice.”

  She squeals. “I know! Our two families have been friends forever!”

  Suddenly I have a terrible terrible feeling. My voice is strained as I ask, “Lani, who is Parker fighting?” It couldn’t be Colt. Of course not. She wouldn’t do that. My heart races.

  “Oh my God,” Lani says, grabbing my hand. “No, no. It’s not Colt. I would NOT do that.” She squeezes me. “Parker is nowhere near Colt’s level. You do realize there are classes, right? Not just weight. But inside the league and outside it. Parker isn’t qualified to fight someone like Colt.”

  I force my panic back down. “Okay. Sorry. I just suddenly worried.”

  “I would NEVER do that to you,” Lani says. “I knew Parker was a good guy, and he’s got a bit of a fighter crush on you. So, it’s all good, right?”

  “I’m not really ready to see someone,” I say. I feel guilty, even though Colt has been gone for weeks. I feel so attached to him still. I don’t know how long it will take to get over him.

  “Totally get that.” She pats my leg reassuringly. “Parker is a no-pressure sort of guy.” She stands up. “Let’s find our seats. We’re going to have a good night.”

  I’m feeling hopeful that she’s right.

  Chapter Ten

  If Parker acts cocky, it’s justified. He gets the knockout early in round two. He’s barely even out of breath.

  Lani and I are up close, second row. When Parker’s hand is raised by the ref, the roar of the crowd all around the cage is tremendous.

  Despite being the center of everything inside the cage, Parker looks around until he finds me. When our eyes meet, he gives me a shy smile and waves. I wave back.

  When the ref lets him go, he doesn’t come out of the cage, not just yet. He walks to the mesh wall and holds on a moment to nod at me.

  Lani squeezes my arm again. I feel so strange, like I’m living someone else’s life. I have this girlfriend who takes me to fights. I have this seriously cute fighter guy that I just met looking for me after his match.

  I’m not really sure who I am now.

  Parker walks out of the cage and heads down the carpet to the dressing rooms. I think Lani is going to lead us back to see him, but she hesitates. “Let’s just hang out here a second and let the crowd go down.”

  I figure Parker has to talk to reporters and shower anyway. We stand by our chairs as people file past.

  I get a funny buzz in my belly the more Lani looks around. She’s doing something. Suddenly this whole thing feels like a setup. But for what? What could Lani be doing that involves me?

  “See ya later, Colt!” a voice behind us says.

  I immediately feel sick. He’s here? At this fight? I whirl around.

  Colt is standing several rows behind me. His eyes bore into me, his arms crossed over his chest. His feet are wide, like he’s trying to be intimidating.

  He’s pissed as hell.

  “What is it?” Lani asks, and then she turns. “Oh.”

  The chairs don’t stand a chance as Colt plows through, scattering them like they’re made of paper.

  My heart could not possibly thump any harder. I don’t know why he’s here, or why he’s coming over now. I don’t know if I should talk to him, or how I should be. Everything is hurtling at me — sheer joy just to be able to look at him, pain that we’re over, anger that he didn’t end things the right way.

  “Found yourself another fighter boy already?” he says. His voice is rough, angry. I’ve never heard him talk that way.

  “Wh-what?” I’m so shocked I can barely speak.

  “Did he say he was going to win this one for you?” Colt’s face is contorted. “He sure was looking for you from the cage.”

  “I-I just met him.” I point to the back door. “He’s friends with —” But Lani is gone. I whip my head around. She’s nowhere in the arena.

  “You going to go from fighter to fighter now? Addicted to that post-match fuck?” His voice is so cold.

  Anger rises up now. “You’re the one who ditched me. Went to meet your father, then tossed me out like yesterday’s trash.”

  Colt’s face goes red with fury. “You didn’t answer a single text or call from me. I knew you would be upset that I left Buster’s, but I didn’t figure on you shutting me out.”

  “You didn’t answer a single text or call from ME!” I’m really furious. “They were taking all your stuff from the gym, and you didn’t have the decency to let me know! Or show up yourself!”

  I spin away. This is so much harder than I thought it would be.

  Colt grabs my arm. “What texts?” He pulls out his phone. “The last thing I got from you was a note saying you hoped things were going well with my father.”

  My legs feel like water. I grip the back of a chair. “I called you from Buster’s. Then my phone service was canceled.”

  “I don’t think so.” Colt punches at his phone. He clicks on the word “Jo” and turns on the speaker. I hear my voice-mail message, like nothing’s changed. He hangs up and shows me his call list. He’s called that number close to fifty times.

  Fifty!

  I sink into a chair. “Something happened. The phone you gave me is disconnected.”

  Colt’s grip on the phone is so tight I think it might break in half. “I should have known.” He bangs the back of a chair with his fist. “Someone on the team transferred your number to a new phone and disconnected yours. That way I wouldn’t know.” His jaw ticks. “When I find out who, they are out on the street.”

  “You could have come over,” I say.

  He sits next to me. “I wanted to. I drove all the way back to LA twice.” He runs his hands through his hair. He’s let it grow out some. “The first time you weren’t there. The second time…” He hesitates. “I lost my nerve.” He sighs. “I wanted to keep hoping. I didn’t want to think you were done with me forever.”

  I’m not sure what I want to do more, scream with happiness or weep with frustration at the time we’ve lost. I want to jump on his lap, hold him, when suddenly he stands and puffs up like a bear about to attack.

  I turn around. Parker is standing behind me, still in his fighter gear. He’s smiling, all charming. “Hey, Lani’s gone back already. Are you coming?” He acts like Colt isn’t even there.

  I’m not sure what to do. Lani brought me. I can’t just leave. But Colt misinterprets my hesitation. “I see how it is,” he says. His voice is like ice. “Enjoy your new fighter.” He stalks back through the chairs.

  Oh my God. I can’t let him leave. I turn to Parker. “Tell Lani I had to go. Sorry.” I don’t even wait for a response
but tear across the room. “Colt! Stop!”

  He does. He faces away from me, his hands clenched. I think of how they plowed into his opponent. He could destroy me. I wonder if he has problems with anger. I wonder if I’m safe.

  But I don’t care. I want him. He’s back. He didn’t want me to go. I walk straight into him and lay my cheek between his shoulder blades. The black leather of his jacket is cool and smells like I remember from that first motorcycle ride. I wrap my arms around his waist.

  I won’t let him go. “I don’t want any other fighter boy but you,” I say.

  He turns around. I’m afraid to look up. I don’t know what I’ll see in his eyes. If he believes me. If it matters.

  Colt cups my chin and lifts my face. When I finally see him, it’s the Colt I’ve known. His hazel eyes are warm. When he leans down to me, I lift to meet his lips like I might never kiss again.

  His mouth is soft against mine, asking a question he’s asked before, when we first kissed. I’m not afraid to answer like I was then. I know what I want. I have no doubts. I press hard against him, not caring that we’re in an arena, or that Parker might still be standing behind us.

  Colt is here. We’ve found each other again. And everything I thought had ended was only disrupted by a father who cannot be trusted. We won’t let anyone come between us again.

  Colt pulls away. “Can I take you home?” he asks. His voice is low and so full of emotion that it steals my breath.

  “Only if you drive really fast,” I say.

  And we’re on our way.

  Chapter Eleven

  The city speeds by on the back of Colt’s motorcycle. I hold on to him like a lifeline. Lights flash as we pass restaurants, clubs, and streetlights. I feel alive again.

  Colt wastes no time once we’re inside my apartment. My sweater and jeans and shoes are flung through the living room as we pass through. In the hallway, he lifts me to straddle him as we walk together. His rough jeans rub against me as we head to the bedroom. I feel frantic, pent up. I don’t want this to be gentle or easy.