Black Belt Knockout

by Winter Travers

  Bess pulled my phone out of her pocket and held it up.

  I snatched it out of her hand. “What are you doing?” I exclaimed.

  “Just doing a little reading on my break. You really should call Mary back. She texted you twice this morning.” Bess flounced back over to her table with a wave over her shoulder.

  “Can you believe that?” I scrolled through my messages and saw Mary had asked me to call her when I got the chance. “I would have seen the notification Mary had texted me if someone hadn’t gone through my phone,” I yelled after Bess.

  Molly put her hand on my shoulder. “Calm down. The stress isn’t good for the baby.”

  I glared at her. “You aren’t any help either. You just praised her for looking through my phone.”

  “You have to admit,” she shrugged. “That was a pretty genius idea. If I had thought of it, I totally would have done it.”

  I shoved my phone into my back pocket. “Traitor,” I mumbled.

  She put her arm around my shoulder. “I’m not a traitor. It’s kind of like when you gave Kellan the key to the coffee shop. You knew you were just trying to help me. Just think of Bess that way.”

  “How is Bess going through my phone helping me?”

  “Um…uh…well,” she stuttered.

  “See, not helping at all. That’s just being nosy.” I grabbed the empty coffee pot and a rag off the counter and held it out to Molly. “Go fill that up, and I’ll do the last refill for the day. Try not to sneak out and rummage through my mail while I wipe down the counters.”

  “Sage, wait.”

  I waved her off and moved to the other side of the café to wipe down the tables. I wasn’t interested in what she had to say. I knew she was my best friend, but right now, it felt like everyone was against me, thinking they knew what was best for me.

  I was annoyed and irritated.

  And pregnant.

  All I wanted was to sink into a bubble bath, eat a ham sandwich, and top it all off with some mint chip ice cream. I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw I only had half an hour before my shift was over, and I could do just that.

  Praise Jesus.

  *

  Chapter 6

  Roman

  “It’s about time you assholes showed up. Am I the only one who works around here anymore?”

  Kellan tossed his bag on the floor. “What the hell are you talking about? It’s four o’clock. Class doesn’t start until five-thirty.”

  I spun around in the chair behind the desk. “I’ve been here since two waiting for you to show up.”

  “Why? I’m never here early on Tuesdays.”

  “How the hell am I supposed to know? I thought for sure you basically lived here. Plus, with Molly working during the day, you always seem to never be too far from her.”

  “I had shit to take care of today. Her birthday is coming up.”

  I grabbed the letter off the desk and held it up to Kellan. “While you were shopping, I got this.”

  He grabbed it from me and leaned against the desk as he read it over. “Shit. This is fucking amazing, man. I’ve never seen a deal this sweet before. You still get to wear your Powerhouse uniform, which is great for us, but you also promote SKW.”

  “That is the good part. The not so great part is I would have to go back on the circuit.”

  He handed me back the letter. “So?”

  “So, that means I won’t be around.”

  “You don’t have to do it like we did before. You train here and leave the day before the tournaments. You leave Thursday and be back Sunday. Not a big deal.”

  “I’m sure there are going to be promotion days I’ll need to be there for.”

  Kellan shrugged. “You can do it.”

  “Kellan, what about Sage and the baby?”

  “What about them?”

  I threw my hands up in the air. “I’m not going to be here if she needs me.”

  “Molly and I will be here if she needs anything.”

  “My selling point of us being together was going to be me promising to always be around. How is that possible, when I’m not around?”

  “Dude, you need to chill out.”

  That was easy for him to say. He had his whole life figured out. “How?”

  He sighed and grabbed the letter. “Sage is a grown-ass woman with a kid of her own. She will understand you have a job to do.”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  He held up the letter and pointed to a large amount of money SKW was going to pay. “This number right here is going to be the thing that is going to make it okay. You’re going to do this for your family. To support the baby.”

  “I know, but I’m still not going to be here.”

  “You know what? Talk to Sage about.” Kellan picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

  “Really? That’s all you have to fucking say?”

  “I said everything I needed to say. You aren’t listening to me. You can make it work, dude. Just talk to Sage.”

  Kellan disappeared into the bathroom, and I slowly spun around.

  I had two hours to think about it, and the more I went over it in my head, the more I didn’t want to leave Sage.

  There was still an hour before I had to run and pick up Sam. I wouldn’t have time to talk about it with her then, but once I brought him back home, I would tell her.

  It was an amazing offer, but I didn’t think it was that great of an offer to leave Sage.

  At least that was what I thought.

  Lord knows what Sage was going to think about it.

  *

  Sage

  “Mr. Roman!”

  Sam swung open the door and flung himself at Roman.

  “What’s up, little dude? You miss me that much?” he asked as he wrapped him up in a hug and swung him around.

  “Yes! I can’t wait to do more ninja stuff tonight.”

  Roman sat him down on the floor, and I stepped to the side to let him in. “Hey,” I mumbled lamely.

  He leaned in, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “How are you feeling?”

  I stiffly stepped back from him and wrapped my arms around my middle. “Um, you know. Just a little tired from work.”

  “Are you sure you should be on your feet all day?” he asked, concern written all over his face.

  I cleared my throat and looked down at Sam who was looking between Roman and myself. “Why don’t you go get your shoes on and grab your coat, honey.” Sam raced down the hallway, and I took another step back from Roman. “What are you doing?” I hissed.

  “What? I was just asking how you were.”

  “And then you told me I shouldn’t be on my feet all day. As far as Sam is concerned, there isn’t a reason why I shouldn’t be on my feet.”

  “Oh shit. I forgot he didn’t know. I just heard you were tired and tried to think of a way to make it better for you. Maybe you could just sit on the stool behind the counter all day?”

  “So, then my ass can get as big as a house? No thank you. I’m fine working, Roman.”

  “I’m ready!’ Sam yelled as he came running down the hallway. “Let’s go be ninjas, Mr. Roman!”

  Roman took a step closer. “I need to talk to you about something when I drop Sam off.”

  “What?”

  Sam grabbed Roman’s hand and tugged him toward the door. “Momma, we need to go!”

  “We’ll talk when we get back, okay?”

  I nodded my head, not sure of what else to do. Roman closed the door shut behind them, and I was left all alone.

  Left alone to wonder what the heck Roman had to talk to me about.

  This was going to be a fun couple of hours torturing myself as I thought of everything possible that Roman could say to me.

  Fun, fun.

  *

  Chapter 7

  Roman

  “Well, that was a fucking whirlwind. Jesus, when did we get so many students?”

  Dante collapsed on the mat as the
last student left. “I’m too old for this shit,” he wheezed.

  “Well, when you decide to start a game of tag with a bunch of eight and nine-year-olds, your ass is going to be wore out,” Kellan laughed.

  “Sam still watching TV?” I asked.

  “He was,” Tate said as he walked out of the office, “but now he’s passed out on your coat.”

  I peeked my head into the office and saw him hugging my coat with his mouth wide open as he snoozed. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and quickly snapped a photo. I sent it to Sage with the message we were on the way home.

  After Sam’s first class, I tucked him into the office with a lunchable and SpongeBob on the TV. He was in Heaven. I knew he was because he had told me so. The kid was hella smart and wasn’t afraid to say whatever he was thinking. A deadly combination when he would be older, but right now, it was adorable.

  “He’s a cute kid,” Dante called. “He must get it from his father because Lord knows that shit didn’t come from Sage.”

  “Shh,” I hissed. “Would you shut the hell up?”

  Dante threw his hands up in the air but smartly shut his mouth.

  “You need help getting him to your car?” Tate asked.

  “Nah, I can get him.” I wouldn’t be able to grab my bag, but I wouldn’t need it overnight, so I would just grab it in the morning. “You sure you guys don’t need anything else?”

  “Go. We clean the mats tomorrow, so I just plan on shutting off the lights and getting home,” Kellan said.

  I knelt down next to the couch and slid an arm under Sam. He stirred in his sleep and looked up at me with half-mast eyes. “That was awesome,” he mumbled.

  A smile spread across my lips. “That’s great, little dude. It’s time to go home now. You want me to carry you, or are you good to walk?”

  “Carry me,” he whispered.

  “I can do that.”

  He leaned up, dropping my coat, and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I lifted him up, dragging my coat as we moved up. “Let’s just get your coat on, and then we’re good to go, okay?”

  He rested his head on my shoulder and sighed. “I want my blankie,” he mumbled.

  Uh oh. Blankie was one thing I did not have. “Once we get home, I’ll get it for you, okay, little dude?”

  “‘Kay, Mr. Roman.”

  Tate walked into the office and helped put on Sam’s coat. “You did awesome today, Sam.”

  Sam smiled up at him. “Thanks. That was pretty awesome.”

  Tate gave him a high five, then helped zip up his coat. “See ya Thursday.”

  Sam wrapped his arm around my neck again and rested his head on my shoulder. He gave a wave to Dante and Kellan, and we headed out to the car. He was out again by the time I strapped him into the seat, and I was pulling up to Sage’s apartment building in record time.

  Whoever said getting kids in the car was a chore hadn’t ever seen how easy Sam was. That probably had something to do with the fact he was asleep, but I was going to take the win this time.

  I maneuvered him out of the car, and headed up the stairs.

  Sage really needed to look into an apartment with an elevator or live on the first floor. Lugging Sam up the stairs wasn’t an easy feat.

  Her door swung open before I even had a chance to knock.

  “You really wore him out.” She reached out to grab him from me, but I shook my head.

  She stepped back into her apartment, sweeping her hand out. “Just take him to his room. I know he didn’t have dinner, but I don’t want to wake him up.”

  “He ate while I was teaching the other classes. He should be good to go for the night.”

  I laid him on his bed, slipped off his shoes, and tucked the covers over him.

  “Weird question,” she whispered. “Do you know the last time he went to the bathroom?”

  I backed out of his bedroom, and Sage pulled the door halfway shut. “Um, I saw him make a dash to the bathroom halfway through my last class. So probably half an hour ago.”

  “He should be good for a bit, but I’ll have to wake him before I go to bed.”

  My gaze traveled over her body, taking in her tattered and worn sweatpants, along with her white t-shirt that hung loosely on her body. “Um, do you have time to talk, or were you getting ready for bed?”

  Her eyes rolled, and she spun around to head down the hallway. “It’s seven-thirty, Roman. I’m not ninety years old.”

  I followed her retreating back into the kitchen where she opened the fridge. “Sorry. I know you’ve been tired lately.”

  “Tired, yes. But I know if I fall asleep too early, then I’ll be awake at two a.m. ready to start my day.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Did you have dinner?”

  “Uh, well no. I was busy before I picked up Sam, and I didn’t really have a chance to breathe during class.”

  She nodded her head. “I haven’t eaten yet either. I had four cookies before I left work.”

  “Four?”

  A laugh bubbled from her lips. “I told myself I ate them so Dante couldn’t have any, but if I’m truthful, it was because they were my favorite. Soft, chewy, molasses cookies. Molly only makes them around Thanksgiving.” She grabbed an armful of things from the fridge and dumped them on the counter.

  “You need help?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. I’ve got making ham and pickle sandwiches down to an art at this point.”

  “Ham and pickle?” I asked.

  “Yup,” she laughed, popping the p. “The guy at the deli sees me coming and starts shaving the meat before I even get to the counter.” She grabbed the loaf of bread that was next to her and laid out four slices of bread. “You want two or just one really thick one?”

  Ham and pickle wasn’t my first choice for a sandwich, but I had to admit, it didn’t sound unappealing. “Stack it high.”

  “Grab the chips from the cabinet behind you, and I’ll meet you in the living room.”

  I opened the cabinet and found five different kinds of chips and grabbed the first open bag I saw.

  “So he did good tonight?” she asked from the kitchen.

  “Yeah,” I replied, sitting down on the couch. “He’s a good listener, and he got along well with the other kids.”

  Her laughed drifted from the kitchen. “That is one thing I had never had a problem with when it came to Sam. He makes friends wherever he goes. He’s four years old and has more friends than I do.”

  That, I could believe. He was a little talker who didn’t stop when he was on a roll. I thought for sure we were going to have a problem, but he knew when it was time to talk and when it was time to listen. “The girls like him, too,” I laughed. That was another thing with Sam, it didn’t matter if it was a boy or girl, he was going to talk to them.

  “I’m not hearing that,” she called. “He’s four years old. He can start talking and caring about girls when he’s thirty-five.”

  Thirty-five? Sage was crazy. “That means I shouldn’t be here right now. I’m twenty-seven.”

  She walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates and set them down on the coffee table in front of me. “Thirty-five is for Sam. I’m pretty sure you are a lost cause.”

  I grabbed the bigger of the two plates and pulled it to me. “Yeah. I think I was fourteen when I had my first kiss.”

  She plopped down next to me and opened the bag of chips. “I’m really not surprised.”

  “Am I supposed to be offended?”

  She shrugged and took a huge bite of her sandwich.

  “I’m gonna not be offended.”

  “Good choice,” she mumbled around a mouthful.

  We ate in silence for a few minutes until she grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. “I’d ask you what you want to watch, but I’ve been in the mood to watch Christmas movies all day, so you’re going to have to deal with it.”

  “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet,” I insisted.

  “Doesn’t matter. I love this time of
year, and as soon as the Christmas movies start playing on the Hallmark channel, I’m all over them.”

  She flipped the channels ‘til she landed on some cheesy movie, and I sighed. “Next you’re going to tell me you put your tree up before it’s even December.”

  A huge grin spread across her lips. “Black Friday shopping with Sam, and then we spend the rest of the day putting up the tree. It’s our tradition.”

  “Crazy,” I mumbled under my breath. I wasn’t a Scrooge, but I believed you should at least wait until December to put the tree up. Otherwise, you got sick of it before it was even Christmas day.

  I finished off my sandwich and grabbed a couple of chips out of the bag. “So, I got a letter in the mail today.”

  “Um, okay,” she giggled.

  I sat back on the couch and kicked my feet out in front of me. “It was an offer from SKW.”

  “Am I supposed to know who or what that is?”

  Of course not. Sometimes I forgot most people didn’t know or follow karate like I did. “Sport Karate Weapons. They are the largest weapon manufacturers in the sport.”

  “Wow, that’s great, Roman. Although, I don’t know why you are telling me this.”

  I cleared my throat and just dove right in. “They offered to sponsor me on the circuit this upcoming year. I would have to compete at all of the big tournaments, and SKW would pay all my entry fees, boarding, and also pay me on top of it. I would have to train constantly and be gone a lot on the weekends.”

  “Oh,” she whispered. She understood what I was getting at. “It sounds like an amazing offer.”

  “It is, but it also means I won’t be here.”

  “So you’re, like, moving?”

  “No, not at all,” I reassured her. “It means I’ll just be traveling. A lot. On top of the tournaments, I’ll have endorsements and other things to do to fulfill my commitment to SKW.”

  “So how often would you be gone?”

  “At the least one weekend a month, but I know there are going to be months when the season picks up I’ll probably only be around one weekend a month.”

  She silently nodded and took a small bite of her sandwich.

  “I know I told you before I was going to be here whenever you needed me, and now I could possibly be gone more than I’m around.”