Chapter 11
Summer
Saturday morning, I’m up early with my checklist and lanyards in hand.
We’ve got people to check in the fighters and greet everyone, but I’m overseeing all of it.
E, Alex, and Nick are already up when I leave the room.
I left a snoring Seb inside. I was worried it would be weird sleeping in the same room as them, but it wasn’t at all.
Alex, Nick, and I grab a quick breakfast from E before heading outside.
Nick breaks off to visit the other fighters while Alex and I move to the booths.
I hand Alex his staff lanyard, and I also give lanyards to Markus and his trainers as they set up their booth.
A sporting goods store, which is sponsoring the tournament, is setting up a sales area.
A paramedic and a student in training staff the first aid station.
I can see the stands are being opened from here.
Stopping in the tents, I notice the curtains are installed to create changing rooms, and the concession group has set up tables and chairs with refreshments.
“Everything appears to be in place,” Alex comments.
“Yeah, looks good. Let’s go check in with Zander.
” He’s at the entrance to the grounds and in charge of the volunteers this morning.
Finn employees are working security this weekend to make sure no one wanders away from the area we’ve set up, to watch the parking area, and to keep people away from the house.
Markus’ trainers will take over as supervisors for Zander this afternoon and tomorrow.
Everyone we’ve talked to has been eager to help us set this up.
“Hi darling,” Zander greets with a chirpy smile.
“Hi. Do you have everything you need?” I ask.
“Yes. Relax, Summer, you’re practically vibrating. You’ve got everything planned out and have confirmed and reconfirmed all the details. Try to enjoy yourself this weekend,” he says, giving me a side hug.
“I’ll try,” I smile. “See you later,” I wave goodbye as Alex and I walk back towards the cages. “Thank you for all your help on this, Alex, and for hosting.”
“No thanks needed. I am glad we could do this for Nick.”
As I’m rechecking all the volunteers have shown up, Bay and Seb join me.
“People have started to arrive, Sunshine. Everything looks amazing,” he smiles.
I hand them both a lanyard, then walk to the officials’ tent.
Markus is there, ready to go. We’ve got a PA system set up to announce the seminars and fights throughout the weekend, and Seb volunteered for that job.
“Hey guys,” Markus greets. “Everything looks great. The first two fighters are ready to go.”
“Okay, thanks,” I reply. “Seb, you’re up in 10 minutes.”
“Roger Sunshine,” he salutes.
I shake my head at him with a smile, deciding to walk a loop around the grounds, and Bay offers to join me. “You’re tense this morning,” Bay tells me.
“Geez, Zander just told me that too,” I reply.
“Well, you are,” he smiles. “The hard work is done. Enjoy the fights and seminars now. There’s twelve of us here to run things. That’s plenty. It’ll be great.”
“I hope so. Do you think Nick will have fun?”
“He already is, look,” he says, pointing to the fighter’s tent. Nick is sitting with two fighters. His laughter making me feel like a kid in a candy store, and my shoulders relax at the sight. I guess I was worried.
I take a seat in the stands for Nick’s first fight, with E, Bay, Gabby, and Alex joining me.
According to the schedule, he’s up against a guy who teaches karate in Columbia.
Nick looks huge compared to his opponent, and I’m a little worried for the guy.
We cheer when they announce Nick. He looks over and makes eye contact with me, giving me a smirk. Cocky man.
The fight doesn’t even last until the end of the first round.
Nick has his opponent submitting quickly.
I give him a smile when he makes eye contact again, then make my rounds.
We have an hour break for lunch coming up soon.
The guys and I will divide up our lunch time, so a few of us remain in case of issues.
In the afternoon, I watch Zander, Troy, and a bunch of Finn employees taking a seminar class.
Nick teaches Krav Maga to a group in the afternoon as well.
We had a bunch of beginner classes for kids this morning, and every one was full.
There’s been a few broken noses today, and a sprained ankle, but nothing more serious.
When the last fight has ended, I meet the guys near the officials’ tent.
“So, what do we think? Do we need to make any changes for tomorrow?” I ask everyone. The consensus is that it was a success.
“I’ve got a bunch of new signups today,” Markus tells us, walking over. “The fighters seem to enjoy the outdoor cages, too.”
“No security issues,” Zander adds.
“I have the cleanup crew coming in half an hour,” Alex informs us. “Shall we go inside?”
“You guys go. Security will stay until everyone, including cleanup, is gone,” Zander says. He walks over and squeezes my hand. “You created a fantastic event, darling. You should be proud. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
“Okay, thanks,” I smile at him. The guys and I walk over to the house and, by the time I get to the third floor, I’m wilting like a flower in a desert.
“You okay, Sunshine?” Seb asks.
After yawning enormously, I nod. “Yup, just tired. I’m going to shower, if you and E don’t mind waiting?” I ask.
“Go ahead, we’re fine,” he waves.
The cool shower wakes me up some, and I walk out to get a water bottle from the fridge after I dress. E is already cooking dinner. “Hey, want help?”
“Nope. Just tell me what you want on your pizza,” he smiles. “I made the dough already, so I only need to add the toppings.”
“Yum, how about mushrooms, pepperoni, and extra cheese?”
“You got it. Go relax.”
“Thanks, E,” I smile. I take a seat in what I call my corner of the couch. Nick comes out of his room freshly showered, and he surprisingly sits beside me in the corner. “Hey, I haven’t talked to you all day. What did you think?”
“I can’t believe you did all this,” he says, shaking his head. He leans closer to me and whispers, “best birthday ever.”
“Yay!” I whisper back with a smile.
Since I was the first to shower, my pizza is ready first, and E delivers me two huge slices.
I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the taste of the cheese hits my mouth.
I compliment the chef as I devour my slices.
The guys all spread out around me as their pizzas are cooked.
I bring my plate to the dishwasher, then offer Nick the last slice of cake, and I scoop up ice cream for the rest of us.
I’m feeling like a broken clock with my full belly, so I stretch out in my corner, feet tucked under me.
The guys put on an action movie, but I don’t make it until the end.
I wake up when someone shakes my shoulder. My eyes open to a smiling Seb in front of me. “Time for bed and your sleeping pill, Sunshine.”
I lift up to realize my head is in Bay’s lap. I look up at him. “Sorry Bay. Not sure how I ended up on your lap.”
“I offered,” he smiles. “You kept drifting further to your left as you were falling asleep.”
“Oh, well, thanks then.” I get up and say goodnight to Alex and Bay, then lean over and kiss Nick on the cheek. “Happy birthday, Grumpy.”
Seb and E follow me to our room. I take my pill and brush my teeth, then hop into bed.
I grab my tablet to read, not wanting to go back to sleep until it kicks in.
Luckily, I didn’t have a nightmare while on the couch.
Seb and E snuggle into their bed after they get ready.
They’re so cute together. Seb is the little spoon to E.
I found out last night Seb snores, but it’s not loud.
E said that’s one reason he’s the big spoon, as it keeps Seb on his side.
He only snores when he’s lying flat on his back. “Night guys,” I smile at them.
“Night Sunshine. Great job today,” Seb mumbles, already falling asleep.
“Goodnight, Summer,” E replies, then turns the lamp off.
I wake up at 3am to a noise outside my room.
Listening, I hear someone in the kitchen.
Since I’ve been sleeping for several hours, I won’t be getting back to sleep tonight.
Tiptoeing over to the door with my pillow, I gently turn the knob and stick my head out to find Nick rummaging around in the fridge.
After quietly clicking the bedroom door closed, I drop my pillow on the couch and sit. “Hey Nick, can’t sleep?”
“Shortie. No.”
“Want to watch tv?” He nods and joins me on the couch with a water bottle.
“Why are you up?”
“I’ve been asleep for hours already. If I try to go back to sleep, I’ll just have nightmares,” I shrug.
He watches me for a minute, then gets up and picks me up from my corner.
Lying down, he opens his arms to me. I happily snuggle down between him and the couch on my side while he pulls the blanket off the back of the couch and throws it over both of us.
“Now maybe we can both get some sleep,” he says.
“How did you know?” I ask as he turns on the television.
“The night we rescued you, you settled when I touched your skin, then you slept when I held you.”
I nod against his chest. Nick turns on Game of Thrones, but I barely see any of the episode before I’m back asleep.