Hold 2

by Jayne Blue

  Afterwards he was with the show doctor who insisted Craddock needed stitches.

  “I’m going to give you a local because this is going to hurt.” The doctor walked him through the procedure.

  “I don’t want any pain medicine.”

  “It’s allowed, I can use something so you don’t have to feel me tug the flesh and fat that is exposed here partner.”

  “I don’t want it, you understand?”

  “Got it. It’s going to hurt.”

  “I can take it.”

  And the Craddock Unit filmed him as he sat there, stoned faced, as the needle entered the skin, as the thread pulled through his flesh, and as the doctor pulled his face back together. Julie walked out of the room after saying something about feinting.

  When it was over Tracy handed him a glass of water and two pills.

  “I said I don’t want any drugs.”

  “Listen, it’s Tylenol. You will be fine.” Craddock was okay with a couple of Tylenol, the cut and stitches had given him a bitch of a headache. The cool water felt good and he swigged down the pills.

  “That was kick ass footage Flynn, how does a person not even flinch when they’re getting sewn up?”

  “It’s just another day in the office.” He got up and went to see if Julie was okay.

  She was sitting on the floor in the hallway with her head in her hands.

  “Julie, do I need to get the doc for you?” He asked.

  “I think I’m okay. Can you uh, help me up?” Craddock offered her a hand. She took it and looked at his face. The eye was bandaged, but it apparently was still gross enough to make an impact. She swayed on her feet, and Craddock caught her.

  “I got you.”

  “Okay, I’m okay.” Craddock himself was feeling a little off come to think of it. It was time to hit the showers and the sack. He was so tired all of a sudden...

  **

  He was in his bed he knew that. She was there, warm and next to him. She felt so good. Craddock knew this was not a dream; finally, somehow it was real. He pulled her closer. She had too many damn clothes on. He wished he could move faster but he could not. She rolled on top of him and he pulled her down to his mouth. He kissed her, probed with his tongue and it was as if they had never kissed before the rhythm different, the taste different.

  It was her smell, her hair; he had missed it so much. He slid his hands over her ass and drew her closer. She rubbed up against him and he felt her lips graze his cheek, down to his jaw.

  Craddock wanted so badly to take her then, rip her clothes off, but he was in a fog, something was muddy, he laid his head back down on the pillow and closed his eyes. She stroked her hair, down her back, and tucked her in close to him. But he could not open his eyes. It was okay, Cassidy was finally here.

  “Aghrá ...”

  The camera caught it all.

  Chapter Six

  Cassidy

  Zeke could finally do more than lift weights. He had lost a little weight she noticed, but seeing him spar, wrestle with Jessie and getting back to the normal routine was good. The time off from the concussion had only fired him up to get back in the gym and pursue his goals. He was picking her up and driving her all over the place these days. So much in fact, that she almost missed walking and taking the bus.

  “I don’t want to be a preacher like my dad until I finish what I started with MMA. My dad wants me to join him, but I’m just not ready.” He told her as they went from her internship to the GWG.

  “How religious are you?” Zeke had not really ever talked about God or his dad’s congregation. She just knew hundreds of his dad’s church members were always there for Zeke.

  “I am a Christian but I’m just not my dad’s kind of Christian.”

  “Which is what?” Cassidy had no contact growing up with church or religion. It was a world in which she had no knowledge.

  Zeke leaned in and whispered in her ear, “No premarital sex.” He said it and flicked his tongue into her ear, which sent shivers through her body.

  “Oh, well, you’re out then.”

  “I guess so; I just can’t see what we’re doing as wrong. My dad also thinks it is a miracle that I’m doing so well after the injury.”

  “Maybe it is.”

  “Or maybe I’m tougher than Craddock and he’s not as powerful as everyone seems to think.” A note of bitterness was hard to miss.

  “Well I’ll thank God you’re here and healthy.” She reached out a hand and held it as they pulled into the GWG parking lot.

  “And I think it’s a miracle when you let me inside you, so see, not my daddy’s type of Christian at all.” Cassidy blushed. Zeke did not have the same dirty side that Craddock had so when he said something like that she was almost more shocked.

  Zeke kissed her before they got out of the car. She did not want to keep their relationship a secret but at the same time the Tough to the Top cameras were lurking around, Jessie and some of the other fighters were loyal to Craddock. It was more of a mess than she was willing to put up with. Let them figure things out; she wanted to be private and deal with her own feelings in her own time.

  What she had with Craddock was all-consuming. With Zeke, things were different, slower and safer. She knew she was deeply connected to him and felt as if that was something they could build on. She did not have that intense feeling she did with Craddock but seeing as how that turned out maybe this was better.

  Zeke began his training day by sparring now that he was allowed to he was intent on working to rebuild his dream and Cassidy got to work for Sawyer. Whereas Whitey had been behind the Friday Night Fight they had done a few months ago, her introduction to helping put on an event, it was Sawyer taking the lead on this event. It was important for the growth of the GWG locations nationwide he told her.

  “We have to capitalize in Craddock and G-Man. It is rare that one gym has this kind of success, kiddo. We gotta make hay!” Sawyer was a good boss, and Whitey, though wary at first of having “corporate” there, was loving life dealing with coaching only. No event planning or bookkeeping. He could focus on the guys.

  The fight would be Cary Latanza, a 21C up and coming middleweight versus Randy Rawson out of GWG California.

  “Rawson is one of our best prospects in Cali. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for him; even a decent showing and 21C or maybe UFC will notice him.” Sawyer told her. He also told her to make sure every detail was checked off the list of things to do for the fight.

  “Looks like your Zeke is doing much better.” She turned to see him unleash a flurry of blows on his sparring partner. He had lost a little muscle but he would get it back he said now that he was full steam ahead.

  “He’s not my Zeke.”

  “Whatever, kiddo. Your life is about to get very complicated, wait until Whitey makes today’s announcement.” Sawyer wandered out of the gym to check on some details at the Grand City Convention center.

  That afternoon Whitey rounded them up again to drop another bomb.

  “So many speeches, Coach, so little time.” Flannigan was not one to want to sit still for a lecture it appeared. He could barely stay still to swipe his GWG membership each day.

  “So later today and for the week we’re going to be having some visitors.”

  “Ooh! Visitors!”

  “Knock it off Flannigan.” Whitey continued.

  “So as you all know from our evening viewing parties Tough to the Top is at the half way point and our Craddock is still in it going into the semi-finals.”

  “We do know this gramps.” Jessie chimed in this time.

  “Well here’s what you don’t know. The four remaining fighters are training this week in their home gyms.” Cassidy’s heart seemed to pump out of her chest.

  This was an unmitigated disaster. She began to try to figure ways to be out of the GWG this week.

  Then, she thought of Zeke. He was just getting back into his training groove, then here comes a Craddock-sized wrench into their l
ives.

  “We all know Craddock, his training weaknesses and strengths, we’re going to fix them this week and show the country how good GWG Grand City is. Your participation in this is not negotiable.” Whitey looked at Zeke and Zeke turned and walked away. Shit, this was not good.

  “Are you kidding? This is it! We’re going to be superstars.” Flannigan struck a duck face pose. Darius pushed him over and with that the announcement was over and they dispersed back to their various training regimens.

  “Cassidy, come here.” Whitey called her over.

  “Yes Coach.” He put an arm around her, he was not normally a hugger, but worry was etched upon his face.

  “You gonna be okay? You’re not still moony over Flynn right?” Whitey asked.

  “I am not moony; it is he who is probably still moony.” She tilted her chin up.

  “Atta girl.” He gave her a little squeeze.

  “Coach, what exactly is moony?” She teased him.

  “Ah, you’re as bad as Flannigan with the jokes.” Cassidy felt slightly better but there was still Zeke to deal with.

  As he packed up for the day, he was quiet and not his normal cheerful self. It was no mystery as to why.

  He drove in silence as they headed to her place. He walked her up to her studio. He was not as caveman as Craddock; he let her breathe. In the end though, he still wanted to see her safely to her door despite her demonstrated ability to take care of herself.

  “You okay?” She asked as she closed the door behind them.

  “I’m not sure what I’m going to do this week,” Zeke replied, as he sat down in her tiny kitchen area. She decided it was time to put a little fight back into Zeke Powell.

  “Well, are you going to let him beat you? Take away the training you need to do?”

  Zeke paused and did not answer. Cassidy worried maybe she had been a little too mean just then. It is one thing when your friend pushes you but they were more than that now. Had she crossed a line?

  Zeke stood up and walked over to her with an intensity burning in his eyes.

  “No. He isn’t going to take anything away from me, starting with you.” Zeke wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hard on the mouth. It had been so sweet between them but he was on fire now and it singed her too.

  Zeke gathered up the long skirt she was wearing and pulled her panties off and out of the way. They were standing in the middle of her studio and he lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around him as he maneuvered them to her little bed. A quick flash of Craddock in this same room intruded into her mind. She and Zeke had never been together like this, in here.

  Zeke yanked her sweater over her head and bit at her breasts through her bra cups, he was trying to claim her, she felt it in his intensity, in the rough way he handled her, not like the tentative sweetness she’d come to associate with them together. She felt her insides turn molten as he lowered his sweat pants and they went flying somewhere. He had aroused her with his own need and her need grew in response.

  'Take that Craddock Flynn' was a thought she did not want, but there it was. Zeke grabbed her hips and drove into her. His pace was fast, angry almost, and she knew why. There was someone between them and he was trying to eliminate it.

  Cassidy opened wider, held on tighter, and surrendered to Zeke. She heard a moan escape her lips as he moved his hands to her backside and push her closer to him, her own release washing over her.

  “Open your eyes.” Zeke commanded. Cassidy did as he said.

  They locked eyes and Zeke’s frenzy, stopped, he pushed in to her slowly, and then almost out. His breathing was ragged but his eyes and his hips delivered a deliberate message from him to her. As he came close to his climax, he issued another command.

  His voice was low, almost a growl, “Say my name.”

  She did as he said, “Zeke, Zeke, Zeke” was her breathless response as he tried to lay claim to her. In this moment, she forgot any other name and any other fighter.

  Chapter Seven

  Craddock

  Craddock chalked it up to another Cassidy dream. She’d felt so real that night but in the morning he was still at Tough House, still hundreds of miles away from Grand City. Maybe the pressure cooker of the fight and being constantly on guard in the ring and out of it in the house was getting to him.

  When Meyer Thompson announced the four remaining contestants would be spending a week in their home gyms he was relieved. He would be able to train with Whitey and Jessie, see his mom and Dylan, and well, Cassidy. Yeah, that part was going to suck. Maybe seeing her in real life would calm down his damn dreams.

  Teagan and he were the last two on their side of the bracket and Gustavo and Rain Gomez were on the other side. He would have to fight Teagan next and as much as they had become friends, he was going to use the week at the GWG to have Whitey analyze every aspect of Teagan’s game.

  Teagan was no push over and as much as he focused on the end game, the finals, you had to fight the guy in front of you. Next up it was Teagan, tougher than anyone had predicted, except Craddock. He knew a contender when he saw one. No one was better at breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of a fighter than Whitey.

  He landed at Grand City airport and to his surprise, he had a welcoming committee, his mom and Dylan were there and the cameras swirled around the two of them. He felt protective of them and worried instantly about them being exposed or taken advantage of, by the Tough to the Top producers. He knew Tracy cared about a good story before all else and not what was good for Dylan.

  “You look a little thin. Are you eating enough?” His mom asked as they hugged.

  “I’m okay.” Then, Dylan grabbed him in a big hug and lifted him off his feet. That was Dylan’s favorite thing, lifting him off his feet.

  “I can still do it! Even though you’re a TV star now!” Dylan was beaming. Craddock had not realized how much he missed his giant goofy brother until now.

  Tracy and Brian were traveling with him and would be following him during the week. He decided to stay at his own duplex instead of his mom’s so he did not expose his family too much. This was his way into the 21C now, and as much as he had adapted to the cameras, his family’s privacy was not up for sale.

  That is why they went to Danny’s Supper Spot for his welcome home meal. His Uncle Thomas Flynn owned the place and if was one of the only times he let the cameras into his “real life” than it would make the show. Uncle Thomas was hoping Danny’s Supper Spot would become a tourist mecca if Craddock Flynn became a household name in the fight world.

  “Thanks kid, this is exactly the kind of boost the restaurant needs.” He noticed that his Uncle had put up a picture of him on the wall. Craddock guessed he could not blame him for trying to increase business.

  “Everybody look! My nephew the TV star fighter is home!” The restaurant’s patrons, mostly old guys from the neighborhood, raised their pints to him.

  “You’re being annoying Thomas,” his mother was shaking her head at the fuss.

  “Look, if he’s getting famous I might become a hot spot for the hipster crowd so play along.” The two were always taking jabs at each other but Craddock knew his Uncle Thomas had stepped up in the early days of when his dad left. Before Craddock could look out for her and Dylan Uncle Thomas had done what he could.

  “Let’s sit down.”

  “I’m so hungry Uncle Thomas!” Dylan said.

  The three of them sat and the camera circled them as they touched base.

  “So what’s the doctor say?”

  “I’m fine and we’re not turning this fight show or whatever into mom’s very special cancer episode. My first scans are clean and that’s all we’re saying on the subject.” His mother did not leave room for argument.

  “She’s not kidding either Craddock, that’s all we’re saying on the subject.” Dylan restated his very definitive mother. Not that it was needed.

  “So here’s what I think Crad...” Dylan launched into an episode-by-episode
synopsis of the life he had been living on Tough to the Top.

  “Oh, add that Brice guy WAS stealing food from the fridge!” Dylan was solving a mystery that had been playing out in the Tough House kitchen about where everyone’s protein was going.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yep – notice it stopped when he was gone?” Dylan put a finger to his temple and nodded.

  “Very smart, Sherlock Holmes.”

  “Let’s talk about you Dyl. Anyone giving you shit?”

  “Oh yeah a lot of it on the bus until Cassidy and Zeke came over.” Dylan scooped a big spoonful of the Irish Potato Soup that was for sure the best in Grand City, maybe Michigan.

  “What happened?” Craddock was getting pissed; the mention of Zeke, Cassidy and someone giving Dylan trouble was a perfect storm in his mind.

  “Oh, Cassidy gave them a good talking to and they haven’t bothered me since.”

  “What the fuck was Zeke...”

  “Hey, watch the language, there’s a camera.” His mom slapped his shoulder.

  “Ow.” His mom’s strength had clearly come back.

  “Just get your temper under control.” She cautioned him.

  “Yes Mother. Fine let’s talk about something else.”

  “Yeah, so on The Amazing World of Gumball, you’re never going to believe what happened.” Craddock listened as his brother outlined that show as he did Tough to the Top. He could see Tracy getting bored. Good. Mission accomplished. His family had made an appearance, his Uncle’s business was featured and now he could get to work at the GWG.

  He woke up early. He ran his Irish Town streets and then headed over to GWG. He did not know how he would react to seeing her again, but he could not avoid it.