“I ordered us breakfast. It should be here any minute.”
“Oh, thank you.”
She gets up to use the bathroom and, while she’s in there, the food arrives. After the guy wheels it inside, and I give him a tip, I grab the various plates and move it all onto the outside terrace so we can eat and enjoy the Miami ocean breeze.
We enjoy breakfast in companionable silence. It’s insane how comfortable I am around this girl, like I could just stay here in this fake cocoon forever with her. I can’t remember a time I felt like this around a woman. Usually, I’m out the door before the sun comes up. I only have until tomorrow, but I think I would really enjoy spending some more time with her. I decide to bring it up, figuring the worst she says is no.
“I was wondering…” At the same time, she says, “Do you think…”
We both look at each other and laugh.
Like I said, it’s just so damn comfortable with her.
“Go ahead, you first,” she says, the corner of her lips quirking into a half-smile.
“I was wondering if you might want to spend the day with me. My flight leaves early tomorrow morning, but I’d love to spend what time I have left here with you.”
Her face falters for a split second, and if I weren’t staring at her, I wouldn’t have even noticed. She immediately catches it, though, and gives me a wide smile.
“Yes, I’d love to spend today with you.”
I’m not sure if her fallen smile was because she’s unsure about wanting to spend the day with me, or because I said I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m obviously hoping for the latter, but either way she’s on board for spending the day with me, so I’ll take it.
In another lifetime, this would be the start of something new and beautiful, but this girl is just starting out in life. Having just graduated, she has her whole life ahead of her, and she definitely doesn’t need to be bogged down by the drama that is my life. From the little I know of her, I can already tell she’s the whole package and deserves the whole happily ever after bullshit all women want.
I can’t give her the happily ever after, but I can give her today. When we part ways, I’ll be moving forward toward advancing my pro career as a UFC fighter in Vegas, and Liz will have the entire world at her fingertips. With the grueling training days ahead, there’s no room for anything but fighting. I have worked my entire life to get here and, with all these recent wins under my belt, I can finally see the light.
Fighting is all I have.
When I leave here, I’ll be going back into the devil’s lair. I spent the last four years away, but in order to advance my career, I’ve finally come to my senses and made a deal with the devil himself. My dad might as well not even be my dad. He’s the owner of one of the most elite UFC training facilities and has decided to open one up in Las Vegas. I’ve been training at a smaller facility in Colorado for the last few years, but now, with my recent wins, my current trainer isn’t pushing me the way I need him to, and that’s where my dad comes in. Kaden is a huge trainer at one of my dad’s gyms and my best friend.
My dad has transferred Kaden to the Las Vegas location, and I’ll be moving to Vegas to train at my dad’s facility with him. Bentley and Caleb have decided to make the move as well. I know it is the right move but the thought of being this close to my parents again is making me sick to my stomach.
In my dad’s eyes, I am just a fighter that can potentially make money now that I have proven myself. My mom has been drunk since my dad caught her cheating and left her ten years ago. My dad was a fighter back in the day and rarely ever home. Since the day, he caught my mom cheating, he has drilled it into my head that fighters shouldn’t be in relationships and they definitely shouldn’t be married.
According to him, you can’t have both and be successful. Fighting isn’t a nine-to-five job. Some days I’m in the gym for thirteen to fourteen hours, whether it’s to workout, train, or just to watch fights and learn about my opponent. I go home to eat and sleep, and then I’m back at it again the next day. Watching what my parents went through years ago, I’ll never put a woman or myself in that position.
“So, what are you in Miami for?”
Her question breaks me out of my thoughts. I look at her and realize she has no idea who I am. I’m not in the top ranking in my weight class yet, but since my wins recently and the fact that I’m undefeated, people are starting to notice me when I’m out in public. Women are definitely starting to notice me. It’s nice to be around a girl who doesn’t just want me because I’m a fighter.