Page 56 of Tandem

Of course! I wouldn’t miss it! I just need to deliver a few customers’ cars for Dad this afternoon. What time do they start?

I turned my car on and drove to the customs, giving Dad a hug and kiss on the cheek as I handed him his steak tacos. He gave me the keys to the first car to deliver. My phone buzzed with his reply. I pulled it out and read his message, and my smile grew.

AJ

It’s 7 p.m., baby girl. Wear those sexy little shorts and fishnets that I like on you so much. Gotta have my girl looking her best when I lift her high in the arena when I win, don’t I?

So, I swung by home and grabbed my change of clothes after this car was delivered. I took some inspiration from an old photo I had seen of Mom at Dad’s desk for a date a few weeks back and tugged on some fishnet stockings with short jean shorts and low sneakers. I didn't know at the time, but this look became a daily requested look by AJ as soon as he saw me in it, just like tonight. I drove the car to the customer. Taking an Uber to my place, then back to the customs. I started to deliver the last couple of cars that day. My excitement about meeting up with AJ later occupied my mind the entire time. I couldn’t wait.

CHAPTER 32

AJ

My phone litup with a text from Rosalie just as I was pulling into the fight parking area.

Rosalie

Hey! I'm finishing up a quick drop-off for Dad, and then as soon as I get back to the shop, I’ll be hopping in my car and meeting you there! Can you send me the address? I’ll try not to be late. You know me—I’m not slow at driving!

She ended her text with the car emoji and a face winking with its tongue sticking out. I chuckled to myself. She was right, she was anything but slow when it came to driving. I never thought I would meet a girl who was into cars, especially one who also knew how to drive fast and crazy like me. It was funny how things happened sometimes. I replied with the address.

AJ

See you soon, baby girl. Be ready to watch me wipe the floor with this guy tonight.

Then, I got out of my car and walked to the warm-up rooms. Damn, if I thought the last match was crazy setup-wise, tonightT spared no expense. We were in a bigger warehouse, meaning more people, which for T meant more money to win if they bet against me tonight. He had good old 50 Cent playing in the background, and I could already see girls in the ring shaking their asses to the beat for the crowd. Some nights, you couldn’t tell if this was a fight club or a strip club, which was why fighting in T’s circuit was one of my favorites.

I greeted a few fans on my way to my warm-up room, passing through a group of women wanting my attention before the fight. Seeing as I wasn’t with Rosalie, they probably thought they had a chance as they crowded around and started rubbing against me with their hands and bodies.

“Hey, AJ! Take me home tonight?”

“Come on, baby, we could be great together!”

“Fuck me already, AJ!”

Their shouts washed over me as I smirked and looked in their direction. They turned into a group of giggling women, all trying their best to be seductive and flirty in the hope that I would grab one and bring them with me. Too bad they were out of luck.

T greeted me outside my room, “AJ! My man! How’s it goin’, fool?” I grinned.

“Going good, man. Ready to kick Jabari’s ass once and for all, take back my title, and earn some serious cash.” T laughed loudly.

“Brotha, same. I’ve got so many bets on you. Do not lose, or I’ll have to go into witness protection from the feds, man.” I actually believed him when he said that, even though he acted like he was joking. T was notorious for placing high bets without the cash flow to do so. If he didn’t win, there was no doubt he would be on the run for a while.

“I’d say you need to chill on the bets, but then again, I take and make big risky bets myself.” T clapped me on the back.

“Don’t I know it!” I gave him a dap, still aware of the women crowding around us as we talked outside the room.

“T, when Rosalie gets here, make sure she gets to the ring all right if I’m already there, would you?” I didn’t like the thought that I would be walking to the ring without her. Shit, I wanted to make sure she got there and wasn’t messed with at all on her way up. Fight club girls were vicious, and claiming Rosalie publicly probably pissed off more than a few past lays.

“No problem, man. I’ll have Aaliyah look for her and walk her up. She can sit right next to my girls, no worries,” T said, pulling out his phone and firing off a fast text to one of his girls.

I nodded and continued to warm up. The downfall of a fighter in a ring, illegal or not, was not getting their muscles warmed up properly. That could make your muscles seize up mid-fight, causing your reactions to slow. Slower movements meant a bigger chance of losing your fights.

Swinging the jump rope, my footwork got quicker and quicker, making me focused on the swings and bringing my reaction time higher. T dipped out of my room, probably to place a few last-minute bets as I continued to move from the rope to the punching bag. But before I could grab my wrist wraps, my door opened.

I turned, expecting Rosalie. But then I saw Tracy instead, shutting the door behind her and walking over, popping her hips with each step. She was wearing a super short, dark green dress with a low neckline showing almost everything.

“AJ, baby, been a hot minute,” she said as she stopped in front of me, gliding her hands slowly up my chest. I stood there and looked her over.

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