Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rage
Sleepovers with Luna quickly become one of my favorite things.
She stays at my place for a few days, and when she runs out of clothes, we move to her place.
I take some time to double-check her doors and windows, the security system, and the doorbell camera.
Everything seems to be working perfectly, and hearing me say it seems to relax her, so we settle into a bit of a routine.
Today I had to drive into L.A. for a job protecting a politician attending a movie premiere with his wife. It was almost a no-brainer. All I had to do was drive to their house, use their SUV to escort them to the event, sit with them during the movie, and drive them home. Done.
It’s not even midnight, so I opt to head home instead of staying in L.A. I’d much rather sleep in Luna’s bed than that of a hotel. Well, I’d rather sleep next to Luna. At this point, I don’t even care about the bed as long as she’s beside me.
I’ve just gotten on the highway when a text pops up from Garth and the audio system in my car reads it to me.
GARTH: Hey, was wondering if you’re available to chat for a minute?
I dictate a response.
RAGE: I’m driving right now but you can call me if you want.
The phone rings and I answer. “Hey. What’s the plan?”
“Well, it looks like I have a total of ten fighters. We’ll do five fights, with yours being the main event and last on the schedule.”
“All right.”
“You’re fighting Bronco.”
“Sure, give me the toughest guy on the roster!”
He laughs. “You’ve always been the toughest guy on any roster—you getting soft now that there’s a woman in your life?”
I grunt, annoyed by the insinuation that having a girlfriend somehow makes me less of a man. “That’s the second time you’ve said something like that about me. You have a problem with me having a girlfriend?”
“No, no, of course not. I’m just an ornery old fuck who likes to mess with you. I don’t mean anything by it.”
“Because if you think I’m soft, we can get in the ring any time so I can show you otherwise.”
He laughs. “Whoa, not me. I’m way too old for that.”
“I bet you still have some fight in you.”
“I do. In fact, I’ll be fighting the middle bout. Against Wayne Booth.”
This time I laugh. “He’s, what, seventy?”
Garth chuckles. “Fifty-eight, but neither of us has any plans to get crazy. Just have a little fun and raise money for charity.”
“Sounds good.”
“So, Wednesday works for you?”
“Sure. Whatever you need. I’m bringing Luna along. She said something about getting together with Candy to work on donations.”
“Yeah, yeah. Great. Candy’s been a godsend.”
“She’s a little young for you, no?” I figure if he can dish it out, he should be able to take some ribbing in return.
“Eh, it’s not serious. She’s mostly a distraction. Her schedule keeps her busy and I’m not interested in getting married again or having kids, which I know she’ll want eventually, no matter what she says now.”
“Then why waste your time? Why not find someone your own age?”
“Come on—have you looked at her? She’s fucking gorgeous. Who wouldn’t want to hit that given the chance?”
“Not me,” I say. “She’s young even at my age. I don’t know what we’d talk about. Not to mention, I might break her in half if I touched her.”
He laughs again. “I’m not nearly as big as you, so I get that. Anyway, she’s a nice girl, but it’s not going anywhere. We’ll probably call it quits once the event is over.”
“I meant to tell you how sorry I am about Marissa.”
“It’s been a few years,” he says with a sigh. “It was hard at first but the last year was so hard on her, I was just glad she wasn’t suffering anymore. Cancer is a bitch.”
“Yeah, it really is.”
We’re quiet for a beat.
“Anyway.” He clears his throat. “You still hang around with your buddy from the Marines? What was his name?”
“Grim? Of course. He’s my brother. He and his girlfriend are probably going to drive down to L.A. with us. He’ll be my cornerman for the event.”
“Oh, okay. I was going to ask who you were going to have with you. I figured it wouldn’t be the girlfriend.”
“Luna will be there but no, she’s not involved with or interested in fighting.”
“Candy’s actually pretty into it. She was excited when she found out you were going to join. She’s a big fan.”
“Well, I hope I live up to her expectations,” I say lightly.
“You know, she’s a good girl underneath the diva facade,” he says after a beat. “You at all interested?”
“Didn’t we already cover this?”
“So, you and Luna? You’re serious?”
We’re making a baby.
I think that’s pretty fucking serious.
Not that it’s any of his business.
This attitude is one of many reasons I left the life—it’s exhausting having to defend every decision you make from who you date to who your friends are.
“Yeah, it’s serious,” is all I say.
“How come?”
“How come?” I demand, getting annoyed again.
“I just mean, where’d you find her? I don’t picture her as your type.”
He was good to me once but he’s starting to annoy me. “What’s my type, exactly?”
“I don’t know—more like…”
“Candy?” I demand sarcastically. “Someone too young to make conversation with and not the kind of woman who plans to settle down?”
He undoubtedly knows I’m irritated now.
“Aw, don’t be mad. I’m just curious.”
“You’re being a dick.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I guess I am. I’m sorry. Maybe I’m a little envious. She seems like a great lady. Does she make you happy?”
“She does.”
“Then I guess that’s all that matters.”
“There’s lots of fish in the sea, Garth. You don’t have to pick the prettiest, youngest one you can find. It’s okay to find a woman close to your age, someone who’s lived a little.”
“Yeah, I know. I guess it just feels disloyal to Marissa. Like, dating Candy is easy. There’s no depth. But if I found someone my age, someone I might actually settle down with…I don’t know. What would Marissa say?”
“She would probably not want you to be alone. You were, what? Forty-eight when she passed? You could live another forty years. You think the woman who loved you would want you to be alone all that time?”
“I guess not. I just thought she was it. That there wouldn’t be anyone else but her.
She wasn’t supposed to die. Now I don’t know what the fuck I’m looking for.
So I date hot women there’s no chance I’ll fall in love with and run charity events to keep me busy because I don’t know what the fuck to do with myself every damn day. ”
“Why not get into training or managing?” I suggest. “You could even become an agent. You know the world and the players. And they know you. It could be win-win, give you something to do while you figure out what you want for the rest of your life. You’re fifty, not eighty.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, yeah. I know.”
We’re quiet for a little bit, and then he clears his throat. “Anyway, I guess I’ll see you next week. If there’s time, let’s all have dinner.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll text you the details and put you up in a hotel.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s all part of the cost of running the event. I’ll see about getting a room for Grim too.”
“You really don’t have to, but if you do, send me the details.”
“Will do.”
“Take care.”
I disconnect and stare at the road ahead.
Traffic is light so I’m making good time, and I’m looking forward to getting naked with my woman.
My woman.
It’s been a long time since I considered anyone mine, but it makes sense. I knew we’d be good together from the moment I saw her, some sixth sense telling me she was the one. I just didn’t know how to make a move on a co-worker. Instead, I wasted months pining for her.
Now that we’re together, I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing or anyone I’d rather be doing it with.
We haven’t talked much about the whole baby-making thing since we started having sex but she was clear that it might take a while.
Or not happen at all. That’s the whole reason we started this, but it doesn’t matter to me.
Baby or no baby, I just want her. That was simply the catalyst that got us together.
Not that I’m giving up on having a baby.
We’re only a month into trying.
Even women without issues sometimes take a lot longer than a month to get pregnant. I’m not going to worry about that unless and until we have to.
Meanwhile, this time we’re spending getting to know each other is perfect. I’m showing her she can trust me and she’s starting to open up.
Since she has the alarm now, I can’t get in unless she opens the door, so I call her when I’m five minutes away. She’s a night owl so I’m not worried about waking her up, but it seems to take her a long time to answer the phone.
“H-hello?” She sounds weird.
“Hey, it’s me,” I say quietly. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, just not feeling great.”
“I’ll be there in five. Can I stop to bring you anything?”
“You know, I think I’m just going to…sleep,” she says in a hoarse whisper. “This isn’t a great night for you to come over.”
I stare at the road ahead since she’s on speaker phone.
This isn’t like her.
Something isn’t right.
And I’ll be damned if I let her blow me off.
“I’ll be there in five,” I say.
Then I disconnect.