Chapter 22 #3
“But what I will say is, I'm not perfect.
Resources for women like me have always been few and far between.
No one really teaches you what the transition from child-free to motherhood will look like without support, and my hardships have affected my privilege to care for her at the moment.
But against all odds, I still fight for her.
I want that little girl to be proud of me.
I mean, she already is, but next time I see her, I'd love to tell her that mami won, because she knows every win brings me that much closer to bringing her home.”
***
Sierra's shoulders felt like a braided rope beneath my palms, every knot resisting before surrendering. Following the tension across her back, I felt the muscles in her shoulder soften one by one.
“Ugh, that feels so good,” she mewled.
"Good, because you fucking need it, you're tense.” I leaned in and kissed her back, taking in her soft toned skin and getting lost in it. “You did good today, by the way,” acknowledging that her speech had exceeded their expectation.
“I know it sucks, but the arrogant act doesn't always work so well for women. Being smile-y and giggling? People eat that shit up, especially men. Makes you look more vulnerable and not a woman who could kick their ass.”
“To be honest, I felt like kicking someone's ass. For all those times they wanted me to talk about you or Vega. I was this close to throwing a heel in someone's face for rehashing those DaCosta comments. Especially after I had addressed them and she apologized.”
“You're lucky you even got an apology. DaCosta probably knew she'd fucked up, but she's right.
People ain't always a fan of how women provoke one another. Vega’s definitely got a different strategy with her, because she's not as girl next door as you, but you both had things to answer for.
Whatever's left, just save it for the cage.”
Hopping off the bed, I grabbed something from my dress jacket. “Before I forget, I got you something.”
“Really?”
“Don't act so surprised,” I warned. “And don't make a big deal about it, because I would do this for any fighter. It just looks different because you're you.” Holding the rectangle box to her hand, I waited for her to open it, anxiously hoping she didn’t hate it.
It was a necklace. A howling wolf pendant sat in its center, with the shape of a moon and star. “It's beautiful.”
“Here, let me help you put it on,” as I crawled behind her, pushing her locs to the side, unclasping the back of the necklace to rest it on her neck. I couldn't resist the kiss to her shoulder plate that followed, but she didn't seem to mind.
“No one has ever gotten me something so nice before.”
“I just remember you saying you had to pawn a lot of things to get here.
Your grandmother's necklace, to be specific. I’m sure this doesn't replace it, but…I just figured you deserved something that reminded of your time here. Not in Vegas but…you know? Your time in Jersey. Your time with House of Beast…your time with me.”
Words couldn't express the amount she had grown. How much I had grown. I was proud of what she had achieved but proud of myself for not letting trauma prevent me of being a part of something great tonight.
“I don't know what's going to happen after tomorrow night, but given what you're up against, you're going to have a lot of eyes on you. That kind of attention makes a fighter want to quit or get poached by another trainer—”
“Josue stop. Win or lose, I don't see myself going anywhere else. Even if I lose, you're stuck with me,” she smiled.
“That sounds good in theory, but no one can count on forever. Even with my first title, I left my first trainer. It happens, and I'm not going to let myself be the reason you're not able to grow. Everyone has their limitations of where they can take you,” I admitted.
“Yeah, but I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.”
“Yes, you would have, because you're a wolf,” I beamed. “And I bet on you, because you wouldn't take no for an answer.” She kissed me, and somehow it made me feel at peace. Like the words I was saying weren’t just words, and I knew I could count on her to be there, no matter what happened.
“From the moment I met you, everything you've used these lips to do has gotten me in trouble. But the moment you used them to bet on yourself, that's when you became a real winner. I want you to do something for me, Medina. But you have to really lock in tomorrow night. Don't win this match for me. I know you want to win this match for your daughter, she’s who you do it for, but don’t fight for her tomorrow night. Don’t even go to prove haters wrong.
When you go out there? Just do it for yourself.
Because that's the only real way to do it.”
“Okay,” she nodded.
“?Ya*?”
“Mmmhmm.” I kissed her shoulder one last time, before making my way down to her waist.
“Now, spread them thighs, girl. I'm about to give you the biggest motivation to win tomorrow.”
* Please
* Damn, you are so beautiful.
* Freedom
* Freedom
* My she devil. My angel. My little crazy one.
* My she wolf
* “My dick” but this is much more common amongst Cuban Spanish.
* Fuck, or dammit, but most common in Cuban Spanish
* And you’re special.
* Literal: What do you have? But it’s a way of checking in/up on someone, more like “What’s wrong?”
* Context matters but confirming her ”Okay” with a “Yeah?” Or “Okay?”
* She wolf
* Again, context matters, but like saying “Yeah?” In reference to her “Okay”