Page 67 of Fight for Forever

My throat closes up and my nose itches as tears threaten, but I’m not sad, I’m happy. I never thought I would stand in a boxing ring with a man who just knocked someone out, and not feel complete terror.

Joey kisses me again, then apologizes for getting blood and sweat on me, but who cares about that? Not when he is saying things to me, no man has ever said before.

“Shit, I gotta go do some stuff, but don’t go anywhere, okay?”

“I won’t.”

He grins and then turns away. The stuff he has to do is to be hailed the winner, be interviewed and then he hugs Perry. My heart swells at how humble and thoughtful he is. I can’t imagine a fight with Kelvin Marris ending this way. Luckily, he seems to have disappeared from public view.

I tilt my head to the balcony and see Brooke dancing and waving her hands. She blows me a kiss just as Jordan comes up behind her and puts an arm around her. He throws me a thumbs up and raises the glass of whatever he’s drinking in congratulations for the win.

After everything is done, Joey strides back over and pulls me to his side again. A wave of emotion pours through me, and I touch his chest, tilting my head up to look at him. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this about anyone before.

Even before I realized there was a monster lurking beneath Michael’s skin, and what I thought was love morphed into fear, I never experienced anything like this.

Before I lose my nerve and standing in a ring with thousands of people watching me, I take a deep breath. His head drops as he watches me. His thumb moves and makes slow circles on the skin of my neck.

“I think I love you, Joey.”

He smiles in response, and I stare up at him, letting everything I feel show on my face. I’m not afraid of admitting how I feel. It’s something I would have been terrified of doing six months ago. Even if I didn’t do it quite right. I don’t justthinkit. Iamin love with him.

Joey touches my cheek. His eyes soften. Even covered in sweat, blood and bruises, he is perfect. He always makes me feel like I’m the only woman he sees and the one he will go to any lengths to protect.

“IknowI love you, Megan.”

Epilogue

Las Vegas is like nowhere else on earth, or at least anywhere I’ve ever been. The room we’re staying in is so over the top. It’s hard to believe I’m standing here. It has its own bedroom and two bathrooms, both of which are bigger than my apartment.

I’m glad I’m here alone right now because I do need a moment to take all of this in.

It’s been nearly a year since Joey and I got together. It has been the most amazing time of my life.

He treats me like a queen. Something I struggled with for a long time in the beginning.

I still have flashbacks to life before, but he is always there to help me through it. He soothes me when I wake up from nightmares. His silent support after a difficult therapy session helps ease my racing mind.

He’s taken me to places I never dreamt I’d go. He’s integrated into my life with my friends.

Sometimes I can’t believe just how perfect he is.

He has his moments like everyone does, but he never takes it out on me. Joey never raises his voice when I’m around and when I am, he’s fully conscious of my every move.

Some people might find it overbearing, but Joey does it in such a way that I only feel safe and loved.

This is only the third fight I’ve been to since the first one. He’s had a few more, but sometimes I need to back off from watching him get hurt.

Not this time. This is a World Championship fight in Las Vegas. If he wins, it’s the highest he can go in his sport. There will be no one better than him. He’s trained none stop for this one. He stuck to the no sex rule. I've spent more time in my apartment these last couple of weeks to let him focus.

I’m so proud of him. There is no way I can pass up being here for him.

Jenna wanted to be here, but she is on tour with BreakNeck and they’re performing one of the last US shows tonight.

As I unpack, I can’t help but smile, thinking about Jenna. I can’t imagine my life without her in it, or the other women of BreakNeck, as they’ve become known. In a few short weeks, I’ll be flying out to a paradise island to see her marry the love of her life, and I can’t wait.

I take advantage of the enormous bathtub and the expensive complimentary toiletries while I wait for Joey to get back from his meetings prior to the fight tomorrow. When he arrives, I’m dressed and ready to go. He’s booked us a table at an exclusive restaurant in the Palms Casino.

“You look good enough to eat,” he says, tossing his stuff on the table in the entryway to the suite, then walking over to me.

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