“Oh God...”
“From then on, there were lawsuits, allegations of steroid use, questions of whether criminal charges should be laid. It was chaos,” Owen said, adjusting to sit cross legged in the chair.
“It also continued the famous Heavyweight Curse. No fighter has managed to defend the title three times in a row and I think only five have defended it more than once. Owen’s division is the most high profile. Getting to the top is too difficult for a lot of them, but staying there is impossible. The big problem is that when Owen fights Diaz for the belt, it will be his first title defence since winning it back.”
Tegan’s head was spinning since being reminded about the death of the fighter Andrew Craigie. “So... what does that mean?”
“If history is to be repeated, Owen will lose.”
There was a moment of silence that fortunately was broken by Owen. “Since when are you a believer in that stuff?”
“Since my misfortune...”
For the first time, Tegan saw a look of anger cross Owen’s face. “It wasn’t a misfortune. You got yourself into a shitty situation and are lucky to be alive.”
“I know, and I’m more than grateful. Every day,” she said, absentmindedly reaching under her hospital gown for a chain and fingering the pendant.
Owen brushed his pants just before sighing. “Well, I’ll ask the nurses how you’re going. Hopefully you can be out of here soon and move into the apartment I’m renting at the moment. Back in a sec...” he said to Tegan.
When left alone, surprisingly, Tegan found herself at ease talking to Olivia, though a slight sense of nausea came over her. The same as she felt at Owen’s meet and greet.
“You really like him, huh?” Olivia asked.
“I... well... yeah, he’s pretty amazing.”
“Just... please don’t break his heart. He’s had a few flings and quite a few lovers but never anything serious. He’s always been alone.”
“This isn’t like that. We’re just hanging out. I know nothing about fighting but happened to meet up with him after his match, and we hit it off. That’s all.”
Olivia sat up straighter. “Hun, we grew up together. We email at least once a week and he tells me everything. If you don’t feel anything more for him that’s fine, but I think we both know he likes you.”
Tegan swallowed at her words, and the jolt of joy that came with them, and shrugged. “He’s leaving tomorrow morning. Not much time for declarations of true love and happy ever afters.”
“And yet, he still brought you to meet me. When I’ve met none of his other persons of interest over the years. Not one.”
Tegan’s head swirled again. She needed to carry on a conversation, as that helped distract her. But not about Owen. Something else. Anything else. “Hey...” Tegan said, noticing the pendant fully for the first time. “Owen has that same red V good luck charm.”
Olivia looked down at her chest. “It’s def my good luck charm. It saved my life that night. I have no doubt.”
But what she meant by that, Tegan would never find out. Owen stuck his head in the room just at that moment.
* * *
“Do you feel better for coming?” Tegan asked, walking out onto the outdoor terrace of the smoking section.
“It was good to see her. I’m glad I came, but I don’t feel better. I won’t until she starts acting normal. Enough of this being saved nonsense. Trouble is, when I leave here, I’m in training. So, I have to push her out of my mind. It’s just... I can’t help but think back to that fucking contract signing. All that was going through my head was ‘What if this is what Olivia went through? What if she had to stand in a corner while others sat and decided what should be done with her future, how much money she was worth?’ I don’t blame anyone for the choices she made just before being attacked. She was stupid and made a mistake. Loads of them. We all have. But what started it... infuriated me today. It all came rushing back. Yet, again, I have to bury it.”
“Because you can’t be distracted during training,” she said.
“That... and because I don’t want to ruin my last few hours with you.”
She touched his face gently with a hand that he, in turn, kissed. “Enough of this depressing bullshit. It’s boring,” he said, standing up straight. “Let’s play a game. Before I leave, each of us gets one request from the other. The rule is you can’t say no. Deal?”
“Okay... you go first.”
“I want to go back to your place. Right now.”
“Mine? My apartment? But—”