Page 49 of Hear Me Roar

“I'm good for it,” I started, looking her dead in the eye, “but I can't take it home today. If I leave this store with that in mypocket…”

“You'll want to give it to her. I understand completely, sir.” She smiled. “You can pay for it up front, or we offer different payment plans. Either way, with a deposit, we’ll hold it for you until you'reready.”

“ThatI can work with. Okay, so the ring itself is sorted. Talk to me about theband.”

“Personally, this thin infinity band right here would complement the style you chose beautifully. The diamonds wrap around the perimeter hence the infinity namesake and although they're smaller, they still offer that bling women think of when they imagine a set on their finger. Here's what they look liketogether.”

I was awestruck as she pulled out the band and held the two rings together. They fit seamlessly against one another and it wasn’t difficult to picture them sitting on Hazel’s finger. She was right… They wereperfect.

“I’ll take them,” I said withouthesitation.

Claire beamed a bright smile and set the rings into the small tray she’d brought out from underneath the display case. “Right this way, Mr. Carr. Let's talk payment plans, and then you can decide what you'd like todo.”

I followed behind her silently, trying to mask the surge of excitement that had quickly consumed me. If Luis were here, he’d probably try to talk me out of it and tell me to shop around, to take my time coming to a decision, but sometimes you just know when something is right. And this was so fucking right. Spur of the moment or not,thiswas the ring I’d eventually propose to Hazel with. When that was, I wasn’t sure, at the moment, but at least I knew when the time came, I’d be ready in allaspects.

After talking sizes, exact price, and payment plans for half hour or so, I finally walked out ofTiffany’swith one piece of the puzzle locked in place. I’d chosen to pay it off over the next several months, mostly because I didn’t think I was capable of hiding it and forgetting about it for an undeterminable amount of time. There was also a chance Hazel could find it when she went on one of her OCD cleaning rampages, which was often. The rings were simply safer at the store, as was the integrity of the surprise itself, and Claire made it clear they’d hold it for as long asnecessary.

Just as I was sliding in behind the wheel, my phone vibrated in my pocket, to which I assumed was more than likely my girl. I’d told her this morning I’d be home around seven, and it was now almost 8:15.

But as I pulled it out and glanced at the screen, I realized it wasn’tHazel.

Brie:Pun is pissed. Pixie is too. So, I just want to apologize. I was out of line the other night. I guess seeing how you’d really moved on hurt more than I thought it would and I thought maybe I could remind you about the good times wehad.

This girl just wouldn’t take the hint, and it was really starting to wear on my last nerve. Whether Pun and Pix had made her feel like shit for what she’d done or not, there was absolutely no need for her to text me; especially when I’d basically told her to leave me the fuck alone. But as I’d told Hazel that night, Brie was stubborn and she wasn’t one to give up easily. Good thing I wasn’teither.

Me:Out of line doesn’t cover it. Just stay away from me, stop texting me, and we’ll begood.

Brie:Why can’t we befriends?

I scoffed and rolled myeyes.

Me:Simple. Because I don’t wannabe.

Brie:Did you even loveme?

Me:Yes, I did...past tense. Goodbye,Brie.

Brie:So you mean to tell me you still don’t feel anything forme?

Me:Not a damn bit. Once again, goodbye,Brie.

Hopefully she’d read the message loud and clear this time; though, I knew the likelihood of that was one in a million. I guess we’d just have to wait and see how things playedout...

Between preparingfor my next fight and driving Maya to and from Karley’s office to finalize the details for her divorce papers, August faded into September in the blink of an eye. Everything was going by in a blur and half the time, I couldn’t even remember what day it was. One night, after training with Knox for over four hours – and refusing to quit when he’d thought we were finished – he demanded I take a few days off to rest, and called for a mandatory chill night with our friends before everything went down. I hadn’t been happy about it in the moment because I needed to be in prime condition for this fight, but after a day or two without strenuous activity, my body truly thanked me for it. The fog that’d been clouding my brain lifted away and I was able to see that no matter how many hours or days I spent going ham in that gym, I was as prepared as I’d ever be. All I could do now was walk into that cage and focus on my opponent, just like Bernie had taught me and Knox constantly remindedme.

A week before the fight, Luis, Rey, and Liv came over as per Knox’s request. It just so happened to be Liv’s birthday too, so we’d bought some party decorations and a cake to surprise her. We had food, drinks, music, good conversation, and a few highly entertaining rounds of Heads Up. By the fifth round, I was ready to call it quits and head to bed, but apparently, I was the only old lady in the group. Knox had the phone to his forehead with the movie titleMatildadisplayed on the screen. Luis, in his inebriated state, was screaming different clues at the top of his lungs, completely overshadowing Rey and Liv’s attempts to play along too. Meanwhile, Maya and I were slouched on the couch, watching this all play out like an episode ofAmerica’s Funniest Home Videos.I kept waiting for Luis to get so hyped he’d fall on his face, but so far, the guy was holding seven beers pretty well. Aside from all the slurring, that is. He sounded like Mike Tyson and his famous lisp with the added Tourettes, from all the random shit he was beltingout.

“I’m gonna grab something to drink. You want anything?” Maya asked besideme.

“Sleep. I want sleep,” I countered and she giggledsoftly.

“We’ll kick ‘em out soon enough. Don't bail on menow.”

“Trying here, Iswear.”

“I can make some coffee if you want,” sheoffered.

Coffee actually sounded delicious, despite the four Amaretto Sours I’d knocked back a few hours ago, so I nodded and she winked, fully understanding my silent plea for a much-needed pick-me-up.

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