11. Reighvyn
TWO DAYS LATER
MMA fighter losing the greatest fight of his life? Reighvyn Bloom was reinstated to the MMA, but he seems to be losing in love a second time. The championship fighter has fallen for the woman who’s known to break up homes and hearts . . .
“What do you mean that you worked out a deal with the reporter and the media outlet he represents?” I demanded as I stared at the headline and report on my tablet about Dove and me.
There had been so many social media posts since the airport incident.
People were split down the middle. Either they dragged me for fucking with Dove and hitting that nigga in his shit, or they supported me and claimed I was right for what I did.
I didn’t really care what they thought, but my team, my family, and Dove cared.
“Exactly what I said, Reighvyn. I needed to put a plan in place to protect you, the brand, the fight camp, and the sponsorships. You may have been cleared of the allegations, but that doesn’t mean that your sponsors and the fight camp aren’t still watching you closely,” Chris Thompkins, my manager, announced.
“Let ’em watch,” I argued. “I’m not about to live my life in a bubble. I haven’t done shit. Shit’s been done to me.”
“I understand, but there still had to be some recompense for what happened. You know that, and I know that, and Sterling knows it, which is why I’m so glad that he called right after it happened.”
“A’ight. I’ll bite. What is it?”
“You can either give them exclusive rights to a story about the doping scandal and Dove or pay a fine of one hundred grand.”
“The fuck! Nigga, why you agree to some shit like that? You know I’m not about to do either. You should’ve told them to kiss my black ass. The fuck they wanna know anything about Dove for? I’m not about to do that shit. Tell them they can take their offer and fuck themselves up the ass with it.”
“I guess you’ll be paying the fine then.”
“I shouldn’t have to pay anything, Chris. It was purely a case of self-defense.”
“Except that your hands can be classified as deadly weapons in a court case, and that man didn’t put his hands on you.”
“I don’t give a shit. If he put his hands on someone that I’m close to, then that’s always gonna be a problem. I don’t regret it, and I’d do it again if it was necessary.”
“How much do you know about this girl, Reigh? Are you sure that she’s not just using you to bail her out?”
“She’s not, Chris. I’ve known her for longer than I’ve known you, and she’s known me and been with me through some of the most difficult periods of my life.”
“You’re talking about foster care. She’s your foster sister or something?” He was the only one in that world who knew about my past.
“No. Nothing like that. She was a neighbor and a friend. She meant the world to me, and she still does. If I had to give it all up tomorrow just to save her, I would do that, in the blink of an eye.”
“Fine, but if you expect to keep your career, you’re gonna have to tread lightly. This isn’t all behind you, and all eyes are on you now, so you’ll have to be careful.”
“Chris, I’m gonna be the man I’ve always been. Nothing has changed. If people change who support me, that’s their choice and their right, but I’m standing firm where I belong, and that includes on the side of one of my oldest friends.”
“I can’t argue with you on it. I can only advise you on it.”
“Fuck that. Do whatever you think needs to be done, but I’m not giving an interview about her. She’s private, off-limits.”
“All right. I’ll call and let them know.”
We ended the call, and I remained in the position I was in before I answered the phone, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the ocean.
“How long have you been here?” I finally asked.
“How did you know that I was here?”
“Your warmth. Peace. Your mama named you right.”
She walked up behind me, wrapped her arms around my waist, and rested her head at my back. “I haven’t had peace lately. Not in the last year anyway.”
“It will come back. As soon as you start operating in your lane again. It’s who you are, what you embody.”
“Hmm. Did you mean that? The words that you spoke about giving it all up for me?”
“Yes.”
“I would never expect or ask that of you, you know?”
“But you could have it.”
“My shop is not at risk. I’m not experiencing any downturns or unusual business risks or any financial strains. I’m doing very well. All that stuff they’re saying are lies. If anything, the negative publicity spiked sales.”
“I don’t care about that shit, Dove. I would take care of you for life if you’d let me.”
“Thank you. I just thought you should know. I love making a living on my own.”
I reached down and unclasped her hands so that I could pull her from behind me to stand beside me.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
When I lifted my head again, I replied, “You’ll never belong behind me.
By my side will always be your place in my life. ”
We remained in that position for several long minutes before I took her hand and led her out of the house. Having sex had brought us a level of intimacy we hadn’t experienced before.
Without words, we headed to where the entrance to the beach was. A slow smile crept on her face when she saw me bend down and pick up the first seashell.
We slowly walked along the beach and picked up seashells, at my request, until my pockets and hands were filled, along with hers.
After we finished, we found a comfortable spot on the beach, sat down, and then watched the sun set.
It was the most intimate thing I had ever done with any woman, not including sexual intimacy, something that I had always yearned for from her but I could never get.
“Still can’t believe that you didn’t finish college. You were dead set on your career choice. What made you change your mind?”
“Anger.”
“I don’t get it.”
“The anger over life, my mama’s illness, being separated from my siblings off and on—it had all left me with this anger.
I was on the wrestling team in college, and I used to kick ass.
I started boxing as a way to work out in my spare time.
An MMA coach happened to be at one of my wrestling tournaments in my junior year and commented on my skills.
My coach mentioned that I also boxed in my spare time, and he suggested the MMA coach come out and check me out.
He did, recruited me, and that was a wrap.
I quit school and pursued my career full-time. ”
“I love that for you. The confidence and dedication that had to take was amazing. Have you ever thought about returning?”
“Not really. I mean, I guess I should.”
“Anything can happen,” she stated softly.
“Yeah, you’re right, but I’m not worried about that. I’ve got investments in place. If my career ended today, I will be fine financially for the rest of my life,” I replied, pulling her up and lifting her onto my lap. I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on her head.
“This feels like peace right here.”
“You are my peace, Dove.”
“And you’re mine, Reigh. How come we didn’t figure this out years ago?”
“We weren’t supposed to. We’re in the position and place in our lives that we’re supposed to be at this very moment. I doubt we could have truly appreciated each other all those years ago, or hell, even a year ago,” I conceded.
“You’re right,” she replied with a soft sigh.
“What happened to you and the supermodel, Daniella Pearce, you were dating? It seemed like things were getting pretty serious.”
“They were, and they weren’t. She was a major part of my life for five years. Then all this shit with the doping scandal came out, and so did her true colors, you know?”
She sighed and leaned further into my embrace. “Yeah. Same with Neal. When the rough got going, Neal got going too. Maybe it was supposed to happen this way. If not, we wouldn’t have reconnected.”
I squeezed her a little tighter, cupped her chin, and turned her to face me. “You’re the best thing to come out of all this for me, Dove.”
I lowered my lips to hers and kissed her slowly and hungrily until she whimpered and moaned. She truly was the silver lining around a very dark storm cloud.