Fighting to Start

by S. L. Ziegler

  “How the hell would you know?” Courtney snaps at me and I instantly start feeling uneasy. “Oh shit, Hadley. I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. I’m just so damn emotional all the time.”

  “Or just a bitch,” Laura chimes in.

  Courtney and I turn our heads toward her.

  “What, Had? Ever since we got here, she’s done nothing but complain about how bad pregnancy is and shit. When even I know you would love it, and I’m not your best friend.”

  “Listen, guys, it’s good. Thank you, Laura, for sticking up for me. And, Courtney, I don’t want you to feel like you can’t complain, either. Okay?”

  “Are you guys ready for tomorrow? And what about the party the day after? If Reed wins, get ready for the royal treatment. It’s always great when that happens,” Laura says after a couple minutes of awkward silence.

  “What happens if Reed loses, or do I not want to know?”

  “They don’t roll out the welcome mat, that’s for sure, but he will still have to go—it’s part of his contract. Practicing good sportsmanship and all that jazz. But I don’t think you will have to worry about that. Reed has been on fire.”

  “You can say that again. When I went to see Lance yesterday, he wouldn’t even stop when people were asking him questions. You should really go see him, Hadley. I still can’t believe you didn’t want to go to weigh-ins.”

  “You act like I’m not going to the fight. I just don’t want to get in the way. It’s his job, and I know if I’m there, I would be.”

  Courtney looks over our heads and her expression makes her look like she is eating glass. I turn around and see Krystal coming toward us.

  “Great, mean girl number one,” I mumble under my breath

  “Hello, girls. I just left the gym. Reed and Lance looked like they were having fun.” Krystal stands over the table wearing the shortest jean skirt I’ve ever seen. I wonder if she got it a Hooker’s R’ Us.

  “And we need to know this…why?” Courtney asks.

  “Thought you should know that the league always loves having women in pictures. This time, instead of the cage girls they usually use, they used me for his promo shot. I hope that won’t make you mad. They loved our chemistry. I know how that used to sting when I was in your shoes.”

  “You were never in my shoes. You were Reed’s plaything and that’s all. Excuse me, but my friends and I are having fun.”

  Krystal eyes Laura with a huge smile on her face. “That’s right. I wasn’t… I was something more.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  Krystal shrugs but still has the damn smile on her face. “You should ask Reed. Bye, girls. I can’t wait for you to see the pictures. They are H. O. T. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I turn in my seat and watch her walk away. After she is gone, I look over at Laura. “What the fuck was she talking about, and did she really spell out hot? Who does that? God, what I wouldn’t do to stab her in the eye with a rusty spoon.”

  Laura and Courtney start giggling. They think I’m joking, but I am dead serious.

  “She sure did and, Hadley, stop. She’s just being a manipulative bitch like always. Nothing else. But I do need to get going—Colton needs me to bring some stuff over for Reed to sign. I’ll see you tomorrow for the fight.” Laura gets up and gives me a kiss on the cheek, offering a small wave to Courtney.

  “Hads, Laura was right and I’m sorry. I know you would give anything to be me. I was just being a bitch, but you know that it will happen for you one day, right?”

  “Like I said, I’m okay. It’s just now that everyone knows what happened, it’s strange. Dad called and yelled at me for a couple of hours two days ago for not telling him about my drug thing, and Mark isn’t even talking to Matt now because he kept it from him. The worst was the hospital called yesterday and I was let go.”

  Courtney’s eyes pop out of her head. “What? Why? You are the best nurse they have. That shit is crazy.”

  “Court, it’s not, though. I’m a liability, and it’s not like I need the money. I donated my checks anyway.”

  “You donated your paychecks? To who?”

  “Each month I would choose a different person. Last one went to Corey. I loved working and didn’t do it for the money, you know that.”

  Courtney is still looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. “What does Reed say?”

  I pinch my lips together and give a small head shake.

  “Come on, Hadley. You have to tell him. He’ll freak if you don’t, and you know he’s going to find out one way or another. It should at least be from you.”

  “I will, trust me, it’s just the only time I see him is when he gets home from training. Reed is so tired by the time he gets back that usually, we just eat in bed, have sex, and go to sleep.”

  Our phones both chirp at the same time. “Great, another news alert about Reed. I wonder what it says now,” I tell Courtney as I hear her gasp.

  “Hadley, don’t look yet. Let’s go to the gym and see Reed, ‘kay?” she asks, ripping my phone out of my hand. My heart instantly falls to my stomach when I hear the faint noise from the TVs in the background.

  “Courtney, just give it to me. I’m sure it’s not that big of a deal.”

  “Breaking News: MMA bad boy, Reed ‘Riker’ Collins has multiple sex tapes with MMPL assistant Krystal Duncan and other unknown women.” I turn to the sound and sure enough, it’s on every TV in the small bar we are in. “One tape was released just hours ago and already has over one million views. If fighting doesn’t work out for him, adult entertainment will be a good follow-up career.” Not moving, not thinking about anything other than the grainy picture of Reed with his hands all over two girls, my mind flashes back to a bar, much like this, five years earlier. “That’s all we can show, guys sorry…this is somewhat a family show. We do have a new picture from a photo shoot taken earlier today with Mr. Collins and Ms. Duncan. I wonder what his new girlfriend thinks of this one.” And right there is another image of Krystal, pressed naked up to Reed’s front with his eyes closed, his arm around her waist and her mouth on my tattoo. On my fucking tattoo. I blink a couple of times and pinch myself to make sure it’s not a dream. I vaguely hear my phone ring, but I don’t even look. I am too busy staring at the picture of Reed and the girl that, once again, broke my heart in two.

  I hear Courtney in the background talking on her phone. “Well, Lance, I hate to tell you but that’s a little too late. She’s staring at the TV with the image right in front of her… No, I will bring her home. I don’t know if she’ll go for that right now… Lance Markus Bell, you better not be sticking up for him… Well then, I will just go with her… Nope, you should have thought about it before you said she was overreacting.”

  I can’t take them fighting over Reed and me. “Stop it! Don’t fight over us. I’m leaving, and you need to go to him!” I grab my purse off the chair and storm out of the place.

  Reed

  “Can we be done with these fucking pictures yet? I would like to eat something real now that I made weight.” How many promo pictures do they fucking need of me?

  Colton glances up from his phone. “Just a couple more. I have a surprise for you with the last couple shots.”

  “Colton, surprise or not, I’m out in five minutes.”

  “Oh, there she is.”

  I stop and there she is, dropping a damn robe, and walking around like she is God’s gift to fucking men. I open my mouth when she wraps her arms around my neck, her lips touching my damn tattoo. I put my hands on her hips, pushing her the fuck away, and right then, the camera flashes.

  “Colton, this is fucking bullshit and you know it. And it just cost you your motherfucking job, you asshole.” I storm over to him, raise my hand, only to be stopped mid-punch by Lance.

  “Look around, Rike. All these people saw it and are watching you now.”

  I don’t say anything, just stare at Colton. He just fucked with the wrong person.

  Lance
turns to Colton and says, “You better leave, because I won’t be able to hold him off for too much longer.” And he does with his tail between his fucking legs.

  “Lance, get Laura here now, and do damage control. I have to go to the gym and beat something before I deal with anything else.”

  I end up beating everything in the gym, breaking two bags in the fucking process. I don’t know what Colton thought I would do if he brought that bitch there. His ass will never work with anyone again.

  “Riker, shit hit the fan. You may want to look at your phone.”

  I pull up the video and my fucking stomach goes to my toes. “Oh, fuck!”

  “Hadley, can you fucking talk to me about what I told you? You can’t put this shit inside. Yell, throw shit. Just fucking do something. Anything but sit there and stare at the wall.”

  She blinks up at me, but doesn’t speak. I told her everything about the shoot, reports have come out that I pushed Krystal away, but that video…it’s what’s getting her.

  She finishes her glass of wine and mumbles, “I’m going to go take a shower.”

  “Shit, babe…are we going to be okay? You can ask me anything,” I plead with her.

  “Yes, we’ll be fine. I’m tired. We’ll talk about it later, ‘kay?”

  “That’s another thing you say that doesn’t help. I’m telling you that I had no clue that video existed. If I did, I would have buried that shit a long time ago.”

  “Reed, I understand. Honestly, I do. It was made when we weren’t together. I get it. But it doesn’t make it easier that people saw it, or that I saw it. Let’s go take a shower together, and you can help me forget this ever happened, baby.”

  And I did, over and over, but I know Hadley, and I know when she’s fucking holding something in. I know what it means when she gets that distant look in her eyes, when her kisses don’t pack as much punch, when she holds on to me just a little less. I need to get us home so we can be us again, and all this madness can stop before it becomes too much for her to handle.

  Chapter 27

  Hadley

  “Good luck, baby. You got this Riker.” I pull on his red hat, the one he still wears for every fight.

  “You sure you don’t want to sit with all the trainers? That way you can walk with me?” Reed wraps his arms around me, sweating from the warm-up he just had.

  “Yep, I’m sure. This is about you. Now, I’ve got to go sit down and get ready to watch you kick some ass.” I woke up this morning with him glued to me, and even with that video being everywhere, papers bashing our relationship every time we turn around, I know this is where I’m meant to be.

  “Babe, love you madly…and cheer loud. I want to hear that shit.”

  I kiss him one more time and then go off to find my seat and Matt, who came to watch the fight, too.

  I’m in awe of how big Reed really is. He used to fight in hole-in-the-wall places. Now, he is fighting in the biggest arenas in the nation and all these people are here to watch him.

  “How was Reed when you left him?” Matt asks.

  “He seemed good, but his warm-ups seemed intense.”

  “That’s great. His ass better win, though. I bet a lot on him winning in the first round.”

  I slap my brother’s arm. “What? You bet on my boyfriend?”

  “Hadley, I’ve bet on him every single time he’s fought. Don’t see why tonight would be any different.”

  Jackass. I’m about to talk when the lights go down and the announcer steps inside the cage.

  My knees start bouncing up and down as they announce Redman. The moment I hear Reed’s name, I stand up and look down the row, catching the sight of him walking in. His gray zip-up and that damn hat gets me every time. Reed stops in the front, lifts his finger, and points at me, giving me a wink.

  “Damn, Hadley. What the fuck did you do to him? He never did that before,” Matt yells in my ear.

  “It’s called love, maybe you should try it sometime.”

  “If that’s love, I don’t want any part of it.”

  Reed enters the cage and as they go over the rules, I feel it right when I see it. Reed pounds his chest twice, only this time, when he gets done, he points to the sky. This is the man that will always hold my heart.

  The bell rings and Reed is gone—Riker has taken over and sprints to the center of the cage. Redman tries to throw a punch, but Reed’s hands go up, blocking it. He sweeps Redman’s legs out from under him and takes him down, laying a left punch on Redman’s face. He hits him right on his forehead and blood begins to pour from between his eyes. Riker strikes him again and again, landing a body kick, but it’s not enough. Redman pushes him up and long-kicks Reed’s side, causing Reed to fall over. Then, Redman climbs over him, smashing his face and stomach over and over again, and Reed stops fighting back.

  “Riker! Get your ass up and show him you got this shit, baby!” I watch him turn his head, catching his eyes with mine. I yell over the crowd, “Madly!” Reed starts blocking again, right when the bell for the end of round one rings.

  “Hadley, you’ve got to stop chewing on your nails or you won’t have any left,” Matt says.

  “I know. It’s just been so long, and this isn’t what I wanted to see happen in his first fight with us back together. I don’t know why he didn’t push him off. I’ve never seen him like that before.”

  Matt moves my fingers away from my mouth. “That’s why it’s the big-time now, Hads.”

  The bell starts for round two and both fighters make a move for the center of the ring. Redman does a switch-kick, getting Reed on his side. But it doesn’t stop Reed—he explodes on him, doing a side-kick, getting the takedown and pounds him.

  I jump up and down, screaming, “That’s it, baby. Keep going, Riker. Hold on to him!”

  Reed swings his arm around, grabbing Redman’s neck and squeezes.

  “Get him, baby!” I continue to yell.

  Redman goes lifeless and then they’re pulling Reed off him. Reed looks around the crowd and spots me. He points at me and then the cage. I immediately shake my head no, but he screams over the crowd, “Yes, get your ass up here with me, babe!”

  I’m still shaking my head as Matt pulls me down the aisle next to the painted stars on the floor that lead to the stairs of the cage. Redman is already up and both of them are standing in the center. The second they raise Reed’s arm in the air, the crowd goes crazy. Before I know it, I’m lifted in the air and spinning around.

  “I’m bleeding, babe.”

  “Yep, you are,” I agree as Reed sets me down, putting his rough hands on my face.

  “I fucking told you that it’s you. That you’re my fucking juju, because my ass was toast till I heard my girl screaming for me.” He brings his lips to mine, kissing me deeply as cameras flash all around us. He breaks our kiss and says, “My fucking juju, babe. I have to get all this shit off me and do a press conference. You want to stay with me or just stay in the locker room?”

  I look around at all the reporters still flashing their cameras in our direction. It’s time to stand next to him. “I’ll go with you.”

  Reed’s whole face lights up and I can’t help but smile, too.

  With my fabulous outfit on and my hair and makeup looking flawless, I hang on Reed’s arm, smiling to every single person I come in contact with. Laura was right—they really do treat him like the king. And I love the fact that in three days, we will be back home and this madness here won’t happen for another six months.

  “Hadley, this is Bash, my friend I was telling you about. Bash, this is my girl, Hadley.” I’ve met every single person important to the league today, people that sponsor Reed, other fighters, anyone and everyone but, damn, this guy seems more powerful than anyone else. Maybe it’s the way he carries himself. But this guy is important in whatever he does.

  He extends a thick hand and I take it. “Nice to meet you, Hadley. Riker has been keeping you under lock and key since he got here.”

 
; I laugh. “I don’t know about that. It was more of my idea. I wanted to keep out of the craziness, but it’s great to meet you, too.”

  Reed and he talk back and forth for a while as I stand there. They seem to be close and I feel like a third wheel around them.

  “Excuse me, but I need to use the ladies’ room.”

  “Hurry. When you get back, I need to go on stage so they can officially announce me as the winner,” Reed says, kissing me on the lips. He won’t let me out of his sight and I have a feeling it’s because Crotch Rot is somewhere around.

  I lock the stall door just as I hear clicks of heels on the floor and girls’ voices gossiping.

  “They are a cute couple. The way Krystal was talking, I thought she would be hideous, but she is by far prettier than her.”

  I should feel bad about eavesdropping, but I don’t.

  “I know, and she seems really sweet, too. He isn’t like the old Riker we knew, he actually smiles. It’s cute. And did you see how he looked at her after the fight? That was the sweetest thing ever.”

  Awe, I can’t help but grin. I’m glad they can see it, too.

  “Do you believe any of that shit about her being crazy? I mean, she seems pretty normal.”

  Pretty normal? What does that mean?

  “Please, those damn magazines make up shit all the time—you know that. I wonder if she knows anything about what really happened with Riker and Krystal.”

  “Oh you mean about them getting married or the baby?”

  “Yeah, all that mess.”

  My hand goes to my mouth. What the fuck?

  “Bash told me not to say anything about it if I met her, so I’m thinking that’s a big no. He said Riker is really protective of her because of her past. I did hear Bash on the phone with Riker one night about paying people off that knew, but that won’t stay secret for long. It never does. Krystal told too many people. Any-who, let’s get out there before boss man gets mad.”

  Tears roll down my face as bile rises past my throat and into the toilet. Reed was never going to tell me. What the fuck? Marriage…a baby… All of that was supposed to be ours. Ours alone. And he’s tainted it with Krystal. He said there was nothing between them, yet she was the girl that he spun around, the girl he made a sex tape with, the girl that kissed my fucking tattoo.