Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
Indiri
A couple days later
I kissed my teeth, tired of hearing somebody telling me which direction to look in. I hated the politics of boxing. All I wanted to do was box, but there were several events scheduled with a million motherfuckers wanting to be in my face when all I wanted to do was prepare for the damn fight.
“Over here, champ. I need you to mug the camera in your stance.” The photographer’s eyes were on me and his camera as he waited for me to mug him.
“A couple more shots and we can get out of here, Indi. Don’t throw a tantrum.”
I cut my eyes in her direction at the same time she chuckled.
“Selah said she’ll make me a lemon tart cheesecake.” She tapped away on her phone.
“Yo, why don’t you tell her ass to b—”
“I knew I heard trouble in here.” Remy’s voice alerted us to him entering the room.
“Trouble, no. Somebody being difficult, yes.” Jordyn cut her eyes in my direction before walking over to hug her brother.
I struck a few more poses for the cameraman while they spoke. He stopped and removed the camera from his face.
“That’s all for now, Mr. Jones. I’ll be in touch if I need any more shots.”
I nodded, moving toward the water cooler to grab something to drink.
“Of all the women you could fall in love with, you chose your upcoming opponent’s fiancé.” Remy laughed at his own statement.
I finished the bottle of water in my hand and shook my head. “She was never his.”
Remy laughed. “So, you admit you’re in love?” He had a grin on his face. “This is a press nightmare, you know.”
“And you know I don’t give a fuck. Considering none of this was done on purpose, I’d say you should take that shit up with fate.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asked, his tone teasing.
“About what?”
“That she didn’t know. That this wasn’t cooked up to get back at the man who broke her heart?” I couldn’t get mad at Remy for asking the hard questions. Shit, that was why I paid him. He was honest and a straight shooter.
“Positive. Selah ain’t even like that. She’s kind and soft hearted. Shit, thoughtful and so fucking fragile that it pisses me off. She ain’t no victim though. She’s just one of those souls you only encounter once in your lifetime.” I probably sounded corny as fuck, but oh well.
Remy nodded. “She sounds special, and since you know that for sure, I won’t ask any more questions. I trust your judgment. Plus she has both Journee and Jordyn eating out of the palm of her hand. Is she good with the media and shit?”
“She seems like it. Shit, if anything, it’s me with the problem with the media and how hard they’re coming at her.
It ain’t like she’s out here lying on her back for money or even present on social media.
She’s quiet, and in her own fucking space, but motherfuckers keep coming for her. I don’t like it.”
“It’ll blow over. You know ol’ boy is clinging to it because it keeps his fucked up actions out of the light. Then also, from what I hear, your girl let Jordyn take the reins on a few of her posts.” He laughed and so did I.
I’d seen the posts and laughed when Selah said she’d be front row. Hell yeah, she would be, but it still earned a chuckle from me.
“If you feel so bad, do something nice for her. You know women like sentimental shit that lets them know you’re thinking about them.” Remy shrugged.
“Like what, Remy?”
He threw his shoulders up. “I have been married for six years. And I still call Jordyn for shit like this.” His eyes were on his sister who seemed to be in her own world with her phone glued to the side of her face.
She must’ve realized she was the topic of conversation because she looked in our direction shortly after.
Remy waved her over and she held up her index finger, signaling one minute.
“But on another note, optics and media aside, I’m glad you found someone. Glad I don’t have to worry about you like I used to.”
I chuckled. “You didn’t have to worry then.”
“You’re shitting me. During the training season, I didn’t worry much. But in between, it’s different. You don’t slow the party train. It’s like you were missing something but afraid to put forth the effort to find it.”
I laughed. “And now what? You’re about to say some corny shit about me finding it, huh?”
He grinned. “Damn right. That look in your eyes when you just told me about her said it.”
I was about to respond but didn’t get the chance. Jordyn was speaking.
“Okay, Indi. I got your segment for that odd ass podcast scheduled for Friday. They’re gonna send a list of questions over for me to approve or deny. What is it you all need?”
“Indi needs you to do something nice at the house for his girl. Something thoughtful, because, you know, the media and all that.”
Jordyn smiled hard, putting her hand over her chest. “Really? That’s so sweet. When do you want to do it?”
“And that is my cue to leave. Remember you’re supposed to be handling my anniversary dinner next week. Talk to you soon, Indi. And I’ll also be in touch with you about dinner with you and Selah. If Journee brings that shit up one more time, I’ma nosedive out of one of these fucking windows.”
I laughed and tuned back into Jordyn, who was now rambling to herself about what she was thinking about doing. “Date please, Indi.”
“Um, tomorrow. Maybe after my training session. She’s not working. She’s going by her sister’s restaurant to drop off pastries.”
“She told me that. It’ll work and I know just what we’re gonna do.” She looked so damn excited, yet all I felt like doing at this moment was taking it home and going to sleep. I had gone from training this morning straight to this bullshit.
I loved my sport and always would but everything they used to dress it up made it less and less appealing. Every time a match was confirmed, it was the same dog and pony show like clockwork, but this time felt different.
“Stay in the ring, Indi.”
Focus on your motion.
He threw a jab.
I caught it on the glove.
“What’s your position? Where are you, Indi?” Unc’s voice was in the ring again.
He threw two jabs and a cross before landing the hit to my ribs.
“That shouldn’t have landed.”
Unc’s words echoed just as I watched Junior jump. He thought he had something.
I reacted.
Jab. Cross.
Then I dipped forward, burying a right uppercut into his ribs. He folded immediately, caught off guard.
His head snapped sideways and I sent another cross right into it.
He dropped to his knees and I backed up. Still moving, waiting for him to stand again. He didn’t, instead he tapped the ground three times, signaling he was done.
Unc chuckled. “You told me you don’t want ol’ boy to land any hits in the ring. Then we need to work on the inside. Close contact. I can tell you watched those tapes I sent you though.”
My eyes were still on Junior. By now he was laid out on his back, breathing hard. “Hell yeah he did. What the fuck was that?”
Unc responded before I could. “That, son, was a body breaker, and from the looks of it, you’ll need a minute.”
“More than a minute. My fucking ribs are burning.”
I laughed. “My bad, bro.”
“Nah, fuck that. You better use that shit in the ring on ol’ boy. Out here doing combos on me.” He was still on his back, still trying to recover.
“Good job though. Next time I wanna see more inside work. You’re strategic enough, so I know you’ll have them down pat by fight day. And give your legs a break.” He threw that last part in there which had me and Junior chuckling because we both knew what he meant.
“Whatever, old man.” I exited the ring and grabbed a towel from the nearby chair. Once I wiped the sweat from my face and neck, I checked in with Unc one last time and exited the garage, going toward the living room.
As I was walking in, I was surprised to see Selah standing in the kitchen. I didn’t even realize she had returned.
“When you get here?” I asked, watching her pulling pans from the oven.
“A couple hours ago. I went to sleep. I was really tired. How was your training?” She looked up from the pans to me.
“Good.” I moved around the counter and kissed the side of her face, not giving a fuck how sweaty I was.
“After your photoshoot, do you wanna watch a movie? I kind of like that theater room downstairs.”
“My photoshoot?” I repeated, confused as fuck.
“Yeah. Jordyn is out there setting up the lawn for it.”
I was completely confused, but then it hit me. Jordyn must’ve told her it was a shoot to keep her from finding out it was a dinner setup. “Aight, yeah. We can watch a movie, but don’t try to have me watching some sap shit. Ain’t watching no chick flick, Selah.”
She laughed. “Okay, fine. Do you want to try these lemon protein bars?”
“Yeah, after I shower. I’ll be back, baby.”
When I made it to the bedroom, my first stop was the closet to grab something comfortable to throw on.
Once I found it, I cut the water on and started moving around the bathroom.
The entire time my mind was locked on my training session, mentally going over my motions.
I was relying on muscle memory. Unc was right.
If I wanted to beat ol’ boy without allowing him to land even a cross, I needed to be strategic in every motion.
I needed to count every step and make every one of them count.
After a much-needed shower, I dressed and rejoined Selah in the living room. From the sound of laughter, I could tell Jordyn had joined her.
“Um, about time. Everything is ready for you,” Jordyn said as soon as I entered the kitchen where Selah leaned against the counter.
I didn’t know what the hell they were talking about, but both of them had amusement in their eyes, like I had missed a joke or something.
“How are you having a photoshoot and you’re in here with your pajamas on?”
I shook my head. “I’on know what you talking about but come outside with me right quick.”
“For what, Indiri? I’m not the one taking pictures of you.”
“Girl, go see what that man wants before he throws a tantrum. I’ll be around tomorrow. I have something waiting on me at home.”
I cut my eyes toward her because I knew the bitch ass nigga she was talking about. He played with her time too much for my liking, but who was I to speak about her life? So all I did was offer input when asked and be there when needed.
“Stop looking like that, Indi. It’s not what or who you think. I told you all I was done with him and I meant it.”
I heard what she said, but didn’t turn to acknowledge it because I was already stepping onto the patio.
“What is this?” Selah asked, voice closely behind me.
“Me letting you know I see you.” I took in the space. Jordyn had done her shit. She had a lil picnic set up under the stars.
“Oh, baby,” Selah said as soon as she stepped around me and saw the space. Pillows lined the blanket placed under the short picnic table. On the table was a bottle of wine for her and water on the side for me.
When I turned to the side and looked at her, my heart did some different shit.
If I wasn’t mistaken, it’d skipped a beat, affording me a mental picture of her at this moment.
She was so beautiful, even though she looked like she was about to cry.
Knowing Selah, she was. She appreciated the thoughtfulness of things like this while I appreciated her.