by Shandi Boyes
“Don’t freak out” I request quietly, as I kneel down in front of her. Her shocked gaze turns from staring at the diamond solitaire ring in the box to look directly into my eyes. I can see her chest rising and falling as she takes in several sharp inhales of breath.
“I know you say you don’t do hearts and flowers Lola, but I have loved you since the first moment I laid my eyes on you. I want you to be my wife and the mother of my children. I promise if you accept this proposal, this will be the last romantic gesture I will ever do for you for the rest of our life” I state cheekily, causing her open shocked mouth to form into a sly smirk.
“I am not asking for you to marry me today; I am just asking you to marry me one day” I advise into her light brown tear filled eyes.
“Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife next week, next month, next year or the next decade?” I question while staring up into her beautiful eyes.
The silence in the room is nearly deafening as I wait for Lola’s response. I know she has always said she doesn’t want to get married, but I want her to be my wife, I want her to have my last name and I want my ring on her finger, proudly declaring to the world that she is taken.
“I love you Lola” I declare, making me nearly miss the first slight nod of her head. I wait for her to do it again, just to make sure I had seen it right.
“Yes?” I question when I notice she nods her head again.
“Yes” she whispers quietly as tears spring down her face. Oh my god, she fucking said yes. I truly didn’t expect her to say yes that my excitement is overwhelming. My heart starts racing and I can feel a sudden rush of moisture to my eyes. I quickly stand from kneeling and engulf her in a huge bear hug, causing her to giggle, before she starts complaining that she can’t breathe.
I release my tight death grip and roam my eyes over her beautiful face. Oh shit the ring, shouldn’t I put the ring on her finger? I clumsily remove the ring box from Lola’s grasp and carefully pull out the diamond solitaire engagement ring my dad had helped me pick out last week. Lola smiles brightly, as I gently place the ring on her finger. She then lifts her hand closer to her face to inspect her newest accessory.
“It’s beautiful” she informs as her tear filled eyes turn to face me.
“I love you Jacob” she advises, before she jumps into my arms and gives me a scorching hot kiss. We then fumbled our way to our bedroom, where for the very first time, I made love to my soon to be wife.
Chapter 57
Lola
Six months later…….
Well the day Jacob has been waiting for is finally here, he finally gets his rematch with the ‘Constrictor’. A feature title match fight in Hopeton will be held tonight. The winner, which I have no doubt will be Jacob, will become the national champion in our region. They will then go on to fight in the professional league, giving Jacob the chance to become the world heavyweight UFC champion. His workout regimen the past year has been brutal, but he is the fittest I have ever seen him. There is literally not an ounce of fat on his entire body, and believe me I have check every single inch of him.
“Are you sure you don’t want to cancel your class today and come to the arena with Hank and I?” Jacob questions as he walks into our kitchen.
“No, I can’t. I’m sorry Jacob” I respond. Jacob and Hank always arrive at the arena earlier than the spectators to warm up and prepare for the fight. I run a self-defense class every Saturday and Sunday out of Hank’s gym and I didn’t want to cancel on all the ladies that attend my classes.
“It’s ok, I understand” he responds while placing a kiss on the top of my head and moving towards the fridge.
When I went and volunteered at Hopeton House with Jacob, I got talking to a few of the ladies that had children living there. At first, I was confused why their children needed to live in a home when they had parents. Then I slowly realized that most of the kid’s mothers lived on the streets and more than half of them were victims of domestic violence. Jacob and Hank teaching me self-defense moves the first time nearly three years ago was still in the forefront of my mind when I offered Chloe’s mom a private lesson. I was shocked when she turned up with another three ladies in tow. Since then the number of women that attend my classes has continued to climb. I don’t make any money teaching them what Jacob and Hank had taught me, but the reward I get from watching their confidence soar was enough compensation for my time and effort.
I have grown and matured a lot the past few years, it’s hard not too when you are hanging out with people like Jacob and Hank every day. They kind of rub off on you. Does that mean I am not bossy or bitchy anymore? Hell no! But Jacob always tells me he loves me for who I am, so he gets the full benefits of all the sides of Lola.
“Just try not be late again” Jacob requests while guzzling orange juice straight out of the carton. I roll my eyes at his request, before I jump off the barstool to move over towards him.
“I was late once Jacob and you have never let me live it down” I inform, before I lean up on my tippy toes and give him a quick peck on his orange juice flavored mouth.
“Have you decided on a date yet?” he questions against my lips. When my lips stiffen, Jacob starts chuckling. He has asked me every day for the past six months that exact same friggin question.
“Actually, I have” I reply while cocking my eyebrows high into my hairline. Jacob’s excitement practically beams out of him, as his blue eyes stare into mine.
“When you become the heavy weight champion of the world, I will become your wife that same week” I inform sarcastically.
“Deal” Jacob immediately responds, shocking me. He then holds his hand out for me to shake on our agreement. I hesitantly accept his handshake as he smiles brightly at me, while waggling his eyebrows.
“You do realize that after I win this fight tonight, I will have the chance to fight the current world heavy weight champion in less than six months” he informs while chuckling. I think my eyeballs nearly bulged out of my head in surprise.
“You better get planning baby” he responds, while slapping my backside, before he goes strolling off towards our bedroom. Holy fuck, I can just tell by the look on Jacob’s face that he is going to train harder than ever and will not walk out of that cage unless he is walking away with the champions belt. I never back out of deal, so I guess in just six months’ time I am most likely going to become Jacob’s wife. To be honest, part of me is petrified, but the other part is a little bit excited.
****
“Are you sure you don’t want any help clearing away the mats?” questions Chloe’s mom Lydia.
“It’s fine. It will only take a minute and then I am out of here” I respond.
I had just finished today’s self-defense class and had nearly thirty women in attendance. Lydia has become a close friend the past year and she has been helping me run the classes the past six months. I am glad that Chloe and her no longer have to live at Hopeton House. Maggie was kind enough to offer Lydia a job at Mavericks and since she had secured permanent work, she soon regained sole custody of Chloe.
“I’ll see you next week” Lydia advises as she starts walking towards the exit of Hank’s gym. I give her a quick wave and a smile as I continue rolling up the gym mats.
When my eyes roam around Hank’s gym to make sure I have packed away all of the equipment we had used, I find it surprising to see how much it has changed the past year. All of the equipment has been updated, the boxing ring was fully replaced and even the showers and locker rooms have been retiled. But, even with all the cosmetic improvements, Hank’s gym still has that funny smell that makes your stomach lurch in protest the instant you walk in the doors. I think it is a combination of hidden sweaty gym socks stuffed at the back of the lockers and male sweat, but Hank swears it is the smell of hard work and determination. Whatever it is, it is gross and even years later my stomach still protests when I walk through the large glass door!
Once I finished rolling up the last
of the mats, I place them back onto the wooden shelves, just as I hear the ding of the bell that hangs on the front door.
“What did you forget this time?” I chuckle as I turn back around to face Lydia. My smile is soon wiped off my face when I notice the side profile of Callum standing in the doorway. He closes the glass door and latches the lock into place. He then turns the sign around advising that the gym is now closed, before spinning around to face me.
“Hello Lola” he whispers harshly. I can feel my heart rate starting to increase, but I am confident with the skills I have learnt the past couple of years that I will be able to take Callum down if he attempts anything remotely intimidating.
Callum’s gaze flicks down at my clenched fists, before they slowly raise back up to my face. I cock my eyebrow into my hairline as I strengthen my stance, ensuring that my feet are planted correctly so I will have enough strength in my swing.
“That won’t be necessary” he advises as he raises his hand and rubs under his nose. That is when I notice that black gun he has in his hand. I can hear my own panicked breaths escaping my lips when I realize I have no chance of defending myself against a gun.
“Why don’t you come over and give your old boyfriend a kiss” he requests as his bloodshot and glazed eyes roam over my body.
I roughly shake my head at his request as my eyes stay firmly planted on the gun. Callum’s hands are shaking and I can’t tell if it is because he is currently high or coming down from a high. When he notices me shaking my head, he storms over towards me and grabs a hold of my hair roughly. He then lowers his filthy mouth down to within an inch of mine and my stomach lurches from the stench that is expelling from his breath. I can feel the barrel of the gun digging in my right ribcage, forcing my fearful eyes to stare into his. His eyes appear to be completely soulless, it is like looking into a deep dark pit.
“Where is your phone?” he questions harshly.
My eyes flick towards my gym bag that is sitting on the floor. Once he notices my eye movements, he releases his tight grip on my hair and moves towards the bag. I sprint as fast as my legs will move towards the front door, silently praying that Callum’s reaction will be too slow to catch me. Just as I hit the front door, the sound of gun fire rattles throughout Hank’s gym, forcing me to squeal and freeze. When I lift my gaze, I can see a bullet hole in the gyprock just to the side of my head. I know I am only alive right now because Callum has a bad aim as he is shaking so much, next time I may not be so lucky.
I lift my arms in front of my body, advising my surrender as I slowly turn around and face the furious face of Callum, who has his gun pointed directly at my head. Callum’s eyes narrow to the bench seat he is standing next to. I nod my head at his request, as I slowly take a hesitant step towards him. The adrenaline running through my body is causing it to shake in fear with every step I take back closer to him.
I sit down on the bench seat as requested and when I lift my head to look at Callum, all I see is the butt of the black gun, as it is aggressively struck against my temple.
Then all I see is blackness.
Chapter 58
Jacob
“Hey Lola, it’s me. Where are you? You’re not sleeping again are you?” I cheekily question into her voicemail. Lola’s afternoon class normally finishes by three pm, so I am surprised that she hasn’t arrived at the arena yet. I was only joking when I said this morning to make sure she isn’t late. She has only ever been late that one time that I bombarded her with all the kids from Hopeton House, but she doesn’t have many flaws so I use what I can against her.
“Is she still not answering?” Hank questions while he continues taping my knuckles.
“No” I reply concerned. Lola would normally always hang out with Hank and I in the locker rooms before a fight, so he has noticed her absence as well.
“Can you check if she is already in her seat? Maybe since Noah and the boys are here she might have gone and sat straight with them” I inform. Hank nods his head as he finishes taping my knuckles.
“I will go and check, but I need you to get your head into the game right now okay” he requests as his black eyes stare deep into mine.
Once Hank leaves the locker room, I jump up onto my feet and start warming up my muscles in preparation for the fight I have been eagerly anticipating for the past several years. There is no way I am walking out of that cage tonight without being victorious. Finally, the time has come to teach Curtis a few valuable lessons and I very much look forward to teaching him the fucking hard way. Then the next step will be the UFC heavyweight champion of the world. My main motivation for that fight will not be for the glory or the fame, it will be to make Lola my wife. When she made that deal this morning, part of me thinks she already knew how long the process would take. She could practically say she is my manager, so she knows how the schedules work. She just didn’t want to admit that she wanted to become my wife sooner than she could have even anticipated.
“You ready for this?” Noah questions as he walks into the locker room with a concerned Hank following closely behind.
“Sure am” I reply confidently while turning my gaze towards Hank. When he notices my curious gaze, he shakes his head. I turn my eyes to the clock displayed on the wall. It is nearly eight pm, even if traffic was bumper to bumper the whole way here, Lola should have still been at the arena by now.
“What’s up?” Noah questions when he notices my concerned face.
“Lola hasn’t turned up yet” I inform “Have you seen her?” I question.
Noah shakes his head as his dark eyes look at me with concern. “I assumed she was here with you” he replies.
“Can you call Em and ask her if she has heard from her?” I request. Noah nods his head and immediately calls Emily.
Emily had wished me luck today, but said she couldn’t stand the thought of seeing me fight. I explained to her that it is a professional sport, but she still looked sick with worry at the idea of me getting hurt. She and Jenni both decided to stay with Jasper and Maddie, which allowed the guys to all go out and have a guy’s night together. After my victory, we are all heading to Mavericks for a celebration party, where I fully intend of repaying Slater for spiking my drink at Noah and Emily’s wedding.
“Emily hasn’t heard from her” Noah advises as he places his phone back into his pocket.
“Fuck, where could she be?” I question harshly. Noah looks at me and shrugs his shoulders while rubbing his neck.
“She will be here soon. Now get your head in the game Jacob. That is why you shouldn’t have gone and got yourself a weak spot” Hank instructs firmly.
“Don’t go acting like she isn’t your weak spot too Hank” I respond as I cock my eyebrow at him. Hank is even softer on Lola than I am. He loves her like she is his own daughter.
“But I am not the one about to go into a fight with my head up my ass” Hank responds, causing Noah to chuckle.
“I’ll head back out to the boys, if she turns up I’ll send you a message” Noah advises as he walks towards the door.
For the next thirty minutes, I continue my warm up routine, while my eyes continually peer over to my phone sitting on the bench, praying for it to start ringing or to advise I have received a message. It was only when I was finalizing a set of reps with Hank, did it finally start ringing. I let out a harsh breath and silently cussed when I see Lola’s name displayed on the screen.
“Jesus Lola, you scared the fucking shit out of me” I advise into the phone.
“That is the whole point” confirms a male voice I don’t immediately recognize.
“Who is this?” I question as I feel my pulse starting to increase. Hank’s confused eyes turn to face me with his eyebrows pulled together tightly.
“Where is Lola?” I question panicked. Hank moves closer to me and leans his ear up towards my phone trying to overhear the conversation. I lower the phone from my ear and turn on the speaker.
“She is here with me, although she can’t ta
lk to you right now” chuckles a deep voice. It is only once I hear him sniff, do I finally realize who I am talking too.
“Callum” I breath harshly, causing Hank’s eyes to pop open wide in shock.
“If you fucking touch her, I will fucking kill you” I scream angrily while gripping my phone so tight the screen feels like it is about to shatter.
“I won’t touch her, if you do as instructed” advises Callum.
“How do we even know that Lola is there with you, you could have just stolen her phone” Hank questions.
Callum laughs loudly before we hear the sound of ruffling. A few moments later a picture message comes through the phone. When I click on the image, it opens to show Lola with a gag in her mouth. Her eyes are open wide in fear and I also notice that she has a large bump on the side of her forehead. I can feel the blood surging through my body as I clench my fists tight in anger. I am going to fucking kill him this time.
