Chapter 14
Max
Henry, my manager, taps his chin with a pen.
“The whole game is visibility,” he says, studying me with calculation.
“We need shots that’ll work for press and Instagram both.
” He clears his throat, his neck bobbing.
“This charity ball will be great for publicity. All you need is a couple of photos, and you’re done,” he says, looking over at Bob, my promoter, who’s rattling his whiskey on the rocks. “Don’t you think?”
Bob sets his drink down, and his white brows rise. “It’s a great idea. You’re helping your community. It’s for a great cause, and you only need to mingle for about an hour or two, and you’re done.”
I guess it isn’t so bad.
“I know this shit is not for you,” Henry says, leaning forward, “but if you want people buying pay-per-view in eight months, they need to feel something for you. Right now, you’re respected.
We need you to be loved. The charity angle helps.
The photos help.” He pauses. “Sports Illustrated is going to be there—five minutes with their reporter, and you’re done.
That coverage alone will build toward the Barreca fight in a way money can’t buy. ”
Bob licks his lips. “It’s a great cause. You mingle for an hour, and you’re out.”
Not bad. I can do an hour.
“You will need a date,” Bob adds.
I laugh. “A date? Nah, I’m not taking a date with me. If you want me to go, I’ll agree, but it won’t be with a date.”
The only date I’ll have is Sol. She’s the only woman I need.
“Carlos informed us you and your lady split.”
Fucking big mouth.
“We did,” I admit, and it only angers me that I had to leave for this bullshit. I went to the café to see her. A whole two months without seeing her was killing me. I’ve kept myself busy to the point of exhaustion just to respect her space. Seeing her on the camera was not enough.
When I walked into the café, I scanned the room for her familiar silhouette, only to find the back empty.
The look on my face must have shown disappointment when Isabella said, “Rainey is at school.”
I had completely forgotten it was her first day back at college. I even had it on my calendar. Isabella said she would be back at noon. While waiting, Isabella and Bethany stuffed me with so much food that I was close to napping in her office.
“Then we can find you a date unless you have one for the night.” Henry pours himself a drink from Bob’s liquor cart.
“Don’t need one.” The only woman I need is the woman who holds my heart.
My mind goes back to seeing her in the dress I bought her months ago—that yellow one that pushes her breasts up like ripe fruit.
The fabric caught the light when she moved, shimmering against her skin.
I haven’t seen her wear it yet because it was among the dozens of garments I’d purchased, enough that she could wear something new each day for eight straight weeks without repeating.
She’s always looked good in yellow. Today she looked radiant…
happy even. She was glowing like a candle lit from within, her smile reaching all the way to those eyes for the first time in months.
The thought sits on my chest like hot coal. She may be better off without me.
When I called the campus to pay Rainey Collins’ fees, I thought maybe she would be going as Sol now.
But if she hasn’t started going by Sol Mendoza, then she probably hasn’t legally changed her name yet for that to happen.
Sometimes I think of the past. If I had found a way to tell her the truth, would things have been different?
Would we have resolved everything and just be happy together?
It all comes down to—no, I wasn’t mentally stable enough to be there for her.
Now I am, and she doesn’t need me. I’m not trying to be petty.
I worked my ass off to be as stable as I could be for her.
“Max!” Bob shouts, then whistles. “Hey. Where did you go?”
“Maybe it’s all the concussions he’s had in a lifetime that made him check out,” Henry barks.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I’m here. I listened to what you said.” I really didn’t. “And the answer is no. I’m going solo, and if a date’s non-negotiable…” I shrug. “I’ll take Leo.”
They both sigh.
“You’re a pain in the ass,” Henry grumbles. “Just think about it. It doesn’t have to be romantic or even intimate.”