Of course my father saw things that way as well, wasting no time once he noticed me to ask, “Took a hit and you comin’ into the gym happy? I can already tell you’re about to waste my damn time.”
I could only shake my head, dropping my bag on the floor nearby as I said, “Chill out, Pops. I’m just… in a good mood. Ready to get back on the grind.”
“Well if you would’ve never gotten off the grind, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he replied as I plopped down on the stool to get strapped up, not really paying him any mind since I knew my reasons for being off the grind were medical. But he still managed to get my attention when he continued, “I told you that damn girl was a distraction. And now look what happened.”
Instead of getting caught up in his ridiculous connections, I only laughed as I defended, “It was a good shot, man. Wasn’t shit I could do about that.”
Even if I hadn’t thought much of Boston as a fighter going into things, I couldn’t deny that he had gotten me with a clean punch, causing more damage than I could’ve imagined. And while I could never tell Bella, I was still feeling some of that damage internally, the headache that came with taking a real blow only bringing to life her worst fears.
As if he could hear my thoughts, my father shouted, “Well maybe if you would’ve gotten your head out of that girl’s ass, you would’ve saw it coming!”
But once again, I refused to go down that route with him, attempting to nip things in the bud when I told him, “Yo, I didn’t come here to talk about the past nor talk about Bella. I won the fight and that’s all that matters.”
Sure my father had quite a bit of control over my career. His influence was something I could never pay back. But letting him place blame on Bella when it really should’ve landed solely on me wasn’t right. Though that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to take things to the next level by snarling, “It ain’t all that matters. You get rid of that girl or I’m done training your ass.”
The laugh I let out was one full of amusement and disbelief as I shook my head to reply, “I’m not getting rid of her.”
“Excuse me?” he asked, taking a step closer to where I was sitting as if he was trying to intimidate me.
I was quick to remind him who was really in charge, standing up to make myself clear. “Bella’s not going anywhere. We’re in it together. In it for life.”
It sounded crazy to declare out loud, but I knew it was the truth. And I had a feeling it would’ve been the truth even if there wasn’t a baby involved for the simple fact that Bella was there for me like no one had been before, genuinely cared about me in a way I had never experienced, constantly gave an energy that only made me want to reciprocate times ten. She was special, she was it, and I couldn’t ignore nor take that for granted regardless of how my father felt about it.
He stared at me in disbelief as if he was surprised I had challenged his stance. At least I thought that was why he was staring at me until he snapped, “Don’t tell me you done fucked around and got her knocked up. Don’t tell me you’ve done the one thing I’ve always warned you about…”
My expression reflected my confusion since I wasn’t sure how he had managed to draw that conclusion. But instead of speaking up, I listened in as he continued, “Groupies, son. They come in all shapes and sizes. And it’s always the sweet ones. Yeah, they’re the ones that show up and trap your ass with a baby before you even realize it!”
I easily brushed him off, my face scrunched as I defended, “Bella didn’t trap me.”
But that only seemed to rile him up even more when he shouted, “Like hell she didn’t! How convenient she turns up pregnant right after the check for that fight cleared.”
Once again, I brushed him off since I knew, “She isn’t even like that.”
Of course my father wasn’t convinced, sizing me up to offer, “Oh yeah? Have you gotten a DNA test? Seen the ultrasound pictures? Or you just been fuckin’ her raw now that she’s allegedly pregnant? Yeah, she might not have really been pregnant then, but I bet she is now!”
His accusations only made me sick to my stomach, though I knew I couldn’t let him get in my head. So instead of even processing his bullshit, I shouted back, “I said she didn’t trap me!”
“Oh, she trapped you and she trapped you good. Cause you really think she likes you when all she likes is that check she’ll be getting to pay for that baby for the rest of her life thanks to your dumbass!”
My blood was already boiling at just the thought, but the temperature practically fell flat when I heard a familiar voice behind me ask, “Is that really what you think?”
“Bella…”
She took a step closer, her face pulled into a tight scowl as she continued, “You think I… trapped you with a baby? A baby I never wanted? A baby we tried to get rid of? For money?”
With my hands up in defense, I quickly replied, “Bella, I didn’t say that.”
Though that didn’t stop her from snapping, “Well it sure as hell sounds like it!”
“Look, lady. We’ll pay for your abortion and whatever else it costs to shut you up,” my father told her with a smirk as if he was the one in control of this situation, as if he had that kind of power, as if he even knew what the fuck he was talking about.
But I didn’t get a chance to check him about it before Bella was already launching a phone - was that my phone? - at him while shouting, “Oh, fuck you and your abusive ass!”
“You do know that’s an assault, right? I’ll press charges and have you raising that bastard baby through a glass window!”
“The only bastard is you!” she screamed before turning her rage towards me, her eyes damn near red when she growled, “And you…”
“Bella, I can explain,” I attempted to defend once again.
But she only held her hand up to cut me off. “Save that shit, Princeton. I can’t believe I thought you’d be any different than that devil who raised you. Apples never fall too far from the tree, now do they? And to think I actually believed I was falling in love with you...”
She was already taking off towards the exit, an action that seemed to please my father while I worked to catch up with her. And even with the little baby belly she couldn’t hide from me, the girl was quick on her feet, my words the only thing to reach her as I shouted, “Fuck, Bella! Just hear me out!”
But not even that slowed her down as she yanked her car door open, slipping into the driver’s seat and slamming the door behind her. And I quickly realized it was locked when I tried to pull it back open, though that didn’t stop me for catching her wrath through the window. “I don’t wanna hear shit you have to say, Princeton! You want me out of your way? Fine. I’m gone. You don’t have to worry about me or this baby!”
The car was already starting when I shouted, “Bella, wait!” And this time, my words meant absolutely nothing as she peeled out of the parking lot, a cloud of dust following behind her. Though once it settled, I noticed a little head peeking out of the back window, some of my fury turning into confusion since, “Was that Lucy in the backseat?”
I knew I couldn’t get to my keys fast enough to follow her, so I only released a heavy sigh instead, storming back in the gym on a vengeance as I racked my brain for a better plan. But once I saw the smirk on my father’s face, I redirected my attention towards him, sizing him up as I growled, “I should fuck you up.”
Instead of taking me seriously, he only laughed. “Wanna fuck me up when you should be on your knees thanking me. I just saved you from raising a child that probably isn’t even yours!”
My hand was at his neck before I could even think twice, hemming him up against the wall as I warned through my teeth, “I know you don’t know shit about true fatherhood, but I swear to God I will kill you if you ever speak ill of my child again.”
“And I swear to God I’ll kill you if you keep putting your damn hands on me. You’ve done that shit one too many times now,” he replied with a groggy voice, his response tempting me to tighten
my grip.
Maybe if tightening my grip only reflected on me, I would’ve done it. But I knew it was bigger than that. I had a family to think about, a child to raise, a woman to get back into good graces with now that I had allowed my father to come between us once again.
I knew something would have to give and give fast. But I also knew choking my father out wasn’t the right way to go about it. So I let him go, his hands going to cover his neck as he worked to catch his breath while pushing out, “Maybe if you would’ve had some of this same energy towards “Big Time”, the fight wouldn’t have gone so long.”
“Fuck you, man,” I grumbled, my jaw flexing and my fists clenching as I tried to calm myself down.
But just because I was trying to control my own shit, that still didn’t stop my father from trying to reign over my emotions, getting in my face to reply, “Wow. Everything I’ve done for you and now it’s fuck me? You wouldn’t be shit without me!”
Just that easily, I was fired back up, stabbing a finger in his chest that stumbled him back when I snapped, “No, you wouldn’t be shit without me! I’m the only thing you have going for yourself, the only thing keeping you relevant. I’m single-handedly saving your legacy, old man. I’m the only thing keeping your pockets full and the only thing keeping you off these streets like the rest of these has-beens. So I suggest you start… Pops?”
His face was suddenly etched with discomfort, one side getting droopier than the other as I tried to get his attention again. “Pops? Pops, what’s the matter? Pops, say something!”
I could tell he was trying to communicate, but nothing was coming out as he fell against the ring for support, his voice slurred when he finally managed to whisper, “Call 911.” And I couldn’t have gotten to my duffle bag fast enough. Though after digging through it to find my phone for a few seconds, I realized it was on the floor nearby, shattered into pieces.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I hissed, quickly deciding I’d just have to get him to the hospital myself and praying to God he wouldn’t perish on the way even though I had been on the complete other end of the spectrum just moments before.
But for now, my anger would just have to wait.
I had to save my dad.
-Round Seven-
Bella
It had only been twenty-four hours, but I just knew the police would be coming to arrest me at any minute, whether it was for assaulting Princeton’s father or unintentionally stealing Princeton’s dog. In fact, I was already imagining what my mugshot would look like, my hair in a weird place between too long to consider a true pixie cut but too short for a ponytail that didn’t look like a rabbit’s foot, my face breaking out thanks to all of the extra hormones raging through my body, and what was once a smile now etched with hard lines from bouncing back and forth between scowling and crying all day and night.
I still couldn’t believe how quickly things had changed between Princeton and I, couldn’t believe I had been foolish enough to think he was so different no matter how right it felt. But to hear his father drag my name through the mud over something that was far from the truth without Princeton immediately sticking up for me told a lot more than he realized; debunked every positive thought I once had about our relationship to the point where it almost didn’t even seem real.
More like a terrible, horrible dream.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t only that that had my anxiety up, but also the fact that I was now sharing my one-bedroom apartment with a bear who was far from pleased to be with me. I could tell Lucy was judging me for having her here, a far cry from the space she was used to. And not only the space, but the food as well, my table scraps nothing compared to the heart-healthy dog-certified meals Princeton fed her. But for now, she’d just have to get used to it because getting her back to her owner meant seeing her owner; something I was far from ready to deal with.
I was also far from ready to deal with jail, though that didn’t stop the police from banging on my door hard enough for me to jump off the couch. I considered ignoring it until Lucy started barking, like she was purposely ratting me out.
“Snitches get stitches still applies to bitches,” I whispered at her, earning another bark that I just knew would have the police busting through my door like a SWAT team. So before they could, I decided to meet my own fate, releasing a heavy sigh before pulling the door open to find… not the police.
“Oh my God, Gina. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”
Instead of acknowledging my relief, she wrinkled her nose, pointing towards the corner of my living room to ask, “Uh, Bella? What the fuck is that?”
“Oh, that’s just Lucy. Princeton’s dog,” I explained, though I knew naming her owner didn’t really provide a complete explanation for her being in my apartment.
In fact, I was already preparing to give a full background story on why she was here until I saw how caught up Gina was on her existence, her face twisted as she stayed outside of the door and said, “That is not a dog. More like a, werewolf or some shit.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, remembering how I felt the same way during our informal introduction. And while she had managed to scare the shit out of me back then, now I knew, “She’s sweet. It’s fine. Come in.”
Gina didn’t seem too convinced, her steps slow and calculated as her eyes remained locked on Lucy for any sudden movements. And once she made it inside and realized Lucy wasn’t a true threat, she said, “I guess it’s nice of you to look after her with Prince’s dad being in the hospital and all.”
“What? Gina, what are you talking about?” I asked as I went to grab a bottle of water from the fridge.
She followed me to the kitchen, stopping at the counter to reply, “You didn’t know? Anthony said he had a stroke. A minor one, but still a stroke.”
My heart fell to my feet, along with the water I was holding as I tried to make sense of her information. But making sense of the information required plenty more details, starting with, “When did this happen?”
She shrugged as she answered, “Some time yesterday. I’m assuming in the morning since Anthony cancelled our brunch date to go see him.”
Oh my God.
The panic that coursed through me was overwhelming, my fingers digging into the counter for much-needed support as I peeked up to ask, “Can you... find out what hospital he’s at? I need to go see Princeton. I need to make sure he’s okay.”
Without waiting for an answer, I took off towards the bedroom to find some real clothes to put on so I could go see about him. Though once Gina joined me, her confusion was evident as she leaned against the door frame to ask, “Make sure Princeton’s okay? Why wouldn’t Princeton be okay?”
I released another sigh, my eyes falling closed as I leaned against my dresser and tried to formulate a quick summary. But just thinking about it made me feel sick, especially now that I knew what else had come from it. Still, I somehow managed to push out, “We… got into a fight yesterday. A really big fight that probably contributed to his father having a stroke because… we also got into a fight.”
My explanation was supposed to fill in the blanks for Gina, but it only seemed to create more, her eyes squinted when she asked, “Bella, you got into a fight with Princeton and his dad? How is that even possible?”
“He said I trapped him, Gina! That I trapped Princeton with a baby as if we couldn’t possibly have real feelings for each other, as if I couldn’t possibly be in love with his son. Which… I am; madly. Even though he didn’t stop his father from saying those things about me, I still am.”
By the time I finished, I felt exhausted, my throat knotted and my head aching to the point that I needed to sit down. And once I did, my hands instinctively went to my belly, trying to ease any stress I might’ve been translating to my baby as Gina joined me on the bed.
She pulled me into the hug I desperately needed, rocking me back and forth as she said, “You must really be in love. Cause if I was you, that thing you called a dog would’ve b
een a stray on the street or in somebody’s river.”
The laugh I let out caused the stream of tears I had been holding to seep out, though it was clear I needed that too even when I smacked her thigh and shouted, “Gina! Just… find out where he’s at. Please?”
“I got you, boo,” she replied, returning my thigh pat with a reassuring one of her own before sending me back to find clothes. But the only thing I really felt like getting into were a pair of leggings and one of Princeton’s hoodies I had taken with no plans of returning it; a hoodie that was way too big but also way too comfortable for me to ever let go of. And not only that, but it still kind of smelled like him, the light scent enough to relax me until Gina announced, “Anthony said he’s down at University.”
“Cool. Let’s roll,” I told her, slipping my feet into a pair of Nike Slides Princeton had bought me after our conversation about his need to wear socks with them. A look I had originally thought of as tacky until I saw him do it and learned to appreciate it along with everything else about him.
Just the thought of no longer experiencing that again made my chest hurt, though Gina managed to pull me out of that downward spiral when she asked, “And leave her here?”
I looked over to Lucy who was already looking at me as if she was seconding Gina’s question. But since I had never dealt with a pet before, I didn’t really have a response, shrugging as I said, “What else am I gonna do with her? I can’t take her to the hospital with us.”
Lucy immediately growled as if she wasn’t satisfied. And Gina practically did the same when she snapped, “Bella, are you crazy?! This Aaahh-Real Monster will destroy all your shit!”
“You know what? I have a key to Princeton’s house. I’ll just take her home on our way,” I replied, quickly grabbing the leash I had used to get her in here.
I was already busy working on getting her secured when Gina gushed, “Wow. He gave you keys to his place and his father really thinks it’s all bullshit for a damn child support check? Princeton must have some half-siblings he doesn’t know about, because only a man scorned by a woman who pulled that trick would even think to take it there off the rip.”
In His Corner Page 14
