calling my name, but none of
them sounded familiar. Her pretty red hair was usually easy to spot, but the
auditorium was too dark and I was too blinded by the light.
Shit! I let myself be led out to the cage. I had no
other choice. Once I took my corner of the Octagon I heard the announcer once
again call out Bo’s name and title. I’ve never fought him, but I’d made
watching his fights and his You Tube videos part of my routine. I knew his
moves, his tricks, his strengths and his weaknesses and I intended to use mine
to beat him. I was confident that I was ready for this and as far as this fight
was concerned I had no doubt I would walk out tonight wearing that championship
belt. My only doubts tonight were about who was in the audience.
As I waited for Bo to make it down the aisle, I
searched again for a familiar face…and after several minutes of squinting, I
found one…No, two. Well, I’ll be damned. My parents were here. Mom and Dad were
sitting about four rows back at the end of the aisle and my Mom was holding…no
wait! That big, yellow sign was being held up by a pair of hands next to my
mom. It said, “Ian is the Champion,” in glitter. I could see the top of her red
head from behind it before she lowered the sign and I saw her beautiful face.
Alexa was here…and so were my parents. I guess I have three more reasons to lay
this guy out.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
ALEXA
I realized that Ian saw us. I started to wave, but
thought better of it. I’m sure he was already distracted enough, just knowing
that his parents came. I glanced at his mom. Poor thing looked like a nervous
wreck. I had called her earlier just to see how they were doing. We started
talking and I told her I was going to Ian’s championship fight.
“Ian’s fighting for a title tonight?”
“Yes, he didn’t tell you?” She started crying and I
suddenly felt like crap.
“I’ve been such a horrible mother to him.”
“No! Oh no, don’t say that. Ian thinks you’re great.
He loves you so much. He understands that you can’t watch him fight….” Kind of.
“No, I have been, Alexa. I’ve been so wrapped up in
my grief that I’ve almost forgotten I have another child that needs me. What
time is his fight?” I told her where and what time. And then I said, “I think
it will be sold out…” I heard her suck in a breath, trying to control a sob before
she let me finish. “His tickets are at the window. This is a different stadium
though. So, look for pick-up or will-call and tell them who you are.”
I heard her let out the breath. “Thank you, Alexa.
You’ve been such a good friend to both of my babies. I hope you know we love
you.” I got choked up then. She was the closest thing to a mother that I ever
had. I thanked her quickly and hung up.
I was further surprised when I got here and saw that
his father came too. He looked proud and excited. It was the first time since
Emma died that I saw any signs of life in his eyes. I hoped Ian was as happy to
see them as they seemed to be just being here.
“Crusher” was standing in his corner glaring at Ian.
He was completely bald and his oiled head glowed under the lights. The lack of
hair emphasized the scars on his face and the way his nose sat to one side. He
looked mean…and very dangerous. This was about defending his title. I doubted
he was going to give it up easily.
The referee motioned for them to meet in the middle.
They went out and he gave them the speech. The fighters seemed to be locked eye
to eye and although I couldn’t hear what was said up there, the motion of
“Crusher’s” lips and the glare in his eye made me think some serious words were
being exchanged…or maybe only flung from the “champion.” It didn’t look like
Ian said anything back. They tapped their knuckles together and then went back
to their corners. A few seconds later the loud sound of a horn brought them
back out. They met in the middle with raised fists. I felt Ian’s mom take