23- Ariyah Nova Stevens
“So, Breaker got everything done.” I looked up and saw Stone standing in my doorway. Charly looked at me like here this nigga go, but I’m sure he was happy. He got the fight he wanted.
“Yes! I can’t believe he got us the fight with Tricky. A month away seems like forever, but I’m ready,” I said excitedly.
“You better be. It’s a lot riding on this fight. I’m guessing you and him are going out to celebrate.” I ignored him being an agent because I was on a high.
“Nope. We already had our celebration. Tonight, it’s just me and my girl.” If you didn’t know Charly was the one I was speaking of, you wouldn’t have guessed it. Her ass was damn near hiding her face inside of her phone.
“That’s nice. Look, get it out of your system tonight. You don’t have long to train. Sparring to strengthen yourself is different from sparring to fight an opponent. We don’t want Breaker’s hard work to be in vain.”
“I know.” He stared at me for a moment longer, and I looked at him waiting on the other foot to drop.
“The news is covering the announcement on every channel, so be careful out there.” I smiled at him taking off his agent hat to be a father.
“I will. I promise. I’ll turn on my location if it makes you feel any better.” He gave me a half smile that parents do when they’re still worried.
“You coming home? I’ll stay up if you are.”
“I’ll be here.” He left out and Charly exhaled as if she was the one in the hot seat.
“I totally didn’t see that going that way. Okay, Stone. He’s finally acting like you’re more than a paycheck. Let me find out Breaker got everybody around here acting right.”
“Speaking of, your lil sneaky ass stole my gloves. Thank you!”
“Girl, if you thought I was going to tell that big ass Black American no, you don’t know your friend at all.
” We laughed as we grabbed our purses and headed out.
Well, mine was a fanny pack, but same difference.
We ended up at a bar called Lost Weekend.
Walking inside, both of us were in a good mood and ready to get the night started.
Especially since I had to lock in after tonight.
Finding us some seats, we immediately ordered some shots.
“Two tequilas for me, and two for her.” I was starting out strong. The bartender sat them on the counter, and I passed her my card to run a tab.
“To my bestie, and her first professional fight.” Me and Charly clinked glasses before taking the first shot. “Oh, and to that sexy man of hers.”
“And her bus driver.” We both laughed as we took the second shot.
“Don’t stand there looking crazy, give us another round.
” Knowing we were going to be drunk on our asses if I didn’t do something to slow this girl down, I ordered some food.
By the time it came, we not only wanted food, we needed it.
The music was great, and so were the vibes.
I was feeling grateful, and ready to go back on my word.
I told Stone I was coming home, but I was about to send Landon a text to come and pick me up when I was done here.
A group of women came and sat next to us, and I smiled at them in admiration.
All of them were pretty as hell, and my drunk ass was proud to be black.
“Why I couldn’t get an ass from my black side? That thang is hanging off the seat. It’s cool though because this pancake be flipping.” I think she believed she was whispering, but from how the girls laughed, I know they heard her. Luckily, she was giving a compliment.
“Excuse my friend. She’s drunk.” The girl waved me off as if it was nothing.
“Girl, she’s good. I need to catch up to yall.” I gave her a smile, and grabbed my phone to send Landon a message. “I’m not about to be out with yall all night. You know my nigga waiting on me.” I smiled as my drunk ass tried to find our text thread. I felt her one hundred percent.
“I told you, I’m not buying it. If you and Breaker together, why did he post that girl?” That caught my attention, so I shifted in my seat to lean closer. Maybe my drunk ears were hearing his name because he was on my mind.
“It’s what he does. She’s a boxer and has a fight coming out. He’s trying to get her name out there. If they are together, why don’t they have more intimate pictures?” Now I know I wasn’t crazy. She was talking about me and Breaker.
“Bitch, you’re delusional,” her friend said confidently. I was hoping she was right. The girl next to me pulled out her phone, and began showing her pictures.
“No, bitch. I’m paid.” Slamming a black card on the table, she slid it to the bartender.
“Be grateful that’s my nigga, cus the whole day has been on him.
” I looked towards Charly to see if she was hearing this, but her face was so far in her phone, her eyelids were damn near scrolling the page for her.
Turning back towards the girl, I noticed she was still showing them pictures.
“Damn, that nigga dick big as hell. If you ever want to share, let me know.” I damn near had my neck in her lap I was stretching so hard trying to see.
“If you wanted to see, all you had to do was ask. You about to fall off the chair.” I gave a fake laugh, but I waited for her to show me.
Sure enough, Landon was sleeping naked in the pics with her.
Not one of those sleeps where you can say someone looked drugged either.
He was laying on his stomach on a few, looking peaceful just how he be with me.
I went to get up, but I bumped into somebody behind me.
Turning around, Charly’s ass was all on me trying to see the pics as well. “You okay? Look like you seen a ghost.”
“Naw, that’s her,” her friend finally recognized me.
“Who?”
“The girl he posted. Nova.” The girl finally looked up at me and laughed.
“Oops. Guess that’s our man, sis.” Not saying another word, I swung.
I wasn’t really mad at her, but I was mad at myself for believing his lies.
For Stone being right. I continued to swing until someone grabbed me in the air.
Realizing it was the police, I couldn’t stop the tears.
I was just given a chance to prove myself, only to throw it away on a nothing ass bitch, and a nothing ass nigga.
****
“Stevens.” Hearing them call my name, I exhaled.
Charly must have come to the station and bonded me out.
That was the least she could do since her scary ass hid.
I saw her hiding in the corner when I was getting my ass dragged out of there.
When I walked out, I was shocked to see Stone.
He passed me a hoodie, that I immediately threw on.
Thankfully, we made it outside and into the car without being seen.
I wanted to beat Charly’s ass for calling him because I knew he was about to do the most.
“Are you okay?” I looked up at him shocked.
“Yeah.” I didn’t know where this conversation was about to go, so that was all I said.
“I called in some favors, so tonight didn’t happen.” He was back in agent mode, so I rolled my eyes.
“Thanks.”
“You don’t have to pretend to be hurt. I know you think I’m a hard ass, but this was what I was trying to avoid. Seeing my baby girl with this look on her face. I’m sorry.” Hearing that, I couldn’t stop the tears from slowly falling down my face.
“I feel so stupid.” Stone placed his hand on mine and squeezed.
“Tell me what you need me to do.” I thought about what he said long and hard.
“I don’t know how to train and be around him. Cancel the fight.” He didn’t yell or get mad and that stunned me.
“Breaker doesn’t have to win. You don’t have to give everything up because he doesn’t know what he had.
There are other gyms, and other fighters that can train you.
I’m representing someone over at Knock Outs.
That’s the gym where Danger fights, so we know they are legit.
You worked hard for this, and you deserve it. He doesn’t get to take that from you.”
“Okay, set it up.”
“I got you baby girl.” Closing my eyes, I tried my best to hold it together.