Page 48 of Love Over Easy

Shyanne

I feel alone, even in a room filled with people. I look up and in the mirror I see my father and two of my brothers deep in conversation with several of my trainers. Four Wharton Sports representatives are making their rounds. They are financial supporters of my team and I have an endorsement contract with them for promoting their sportswear—Shywear. V-Water is the other product my dad recommended I sign with. There’s two tables and refrigerated chests filled with five dollar bottles of water.

There’s at least a dozen more people in here that I have no idea who they are. I don’t really care. The only person I want here isn’t even in the same state.

David.

I’m still hurting over how we ended things. I miss him every single day. I kept waiting and hoping he would call or at least answer my texts. His silence only drives home how serious he was about my choice. I didn’t see it as picking my dad over him and he couldn’t understand why I had to leave.

“Time for your weigh-in, Shyanne,” Ed, my trainer, says.

I’ve never understood why weigh-in has become a promotional opportunity. I have to stand on a huge official scale and have my weight broadcast on television. If that wasn’t invasive enough, four female officials surround me and hold up two Wharton-branded beach size towels for modesty while I strip down to my skin before stepping on the scale.

There’s a weight range I’m allowed. Usually, I’m at the top of the range, but today I’m only one pound away from being too light to fight. I cut my eyes to my father and see he’s displeased. My diet is always carefully followed during training, but this time I couldn’t choke the food down.

I wrap one of the towels around me and the officials lead me to the bathroom where a woman watches me pee in a cup. Women are not only tested for drugs, but also for pregnancy.

Finally, I’m led to my dressing room where I’m alone. Just not for long. I have only enough time to pull on my fighting shorts, chest protection and sports bra. All branded Shywear.

I braid the front of my hair and pull the rest up into a high ponytail and then twist it into a bun. Hair pulling is illegal, but it happens. Once I’m ready, I sit and try to get my head on right. Five rounds. Five minutes each.

Several times, I have to chase David out of my brain. I need to focus. Focus can be the difference between life, severe injury, or even death. I know the risks. I always have. I’ve just never had them mean so much before.

After a very short thirty minutes, a knock at my door has my shoulders sagging. It’s showtime and for once in my fighting career I don’t feel prepared. My oldest brother, Jay, steps in and closes the door behind him. Of all my brothers, he’s the one I’m closest with.

“Hey,” he says and holds my phone out. “I know you said you didn’t want to, but I really think you might want to check your messages. You should change your password. Your birthday… really, Shyanne? Don’t worry, none are from the asswipe.”

I hold my hand out and roll my eyes. After hearing me cry my heart out more than once, Jay isn’t a David fan. I open the app and grin at the messages I find. My heart and my soul needed this.

Melissa’s text reads, Kick ass, girl! And she added a heart emoji.

Good luck. I’m cheering you on,Brandy writes and added a megaphone and party hat emoji.

Take her to the ground.I chuckle at Suzie’s uncharacteristic comment. I wonder if she even knows what that means.

Kimberly’s text makes my eyes sting. We’re all pulling for you and we hope you come back home soon. We all miss you and love you. Book club. My house. As soon as you’re home.

I have other well wishes from Blake and Hannah Murphy and more of the friends I made on the island. It does my heart good to know they care.

The one person missing is David. It hurts, but I have no one to blame but myself.

Jay lays a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You love him, don’t you?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak without crying.

He sighs and pulls me into his arms for a big brother hug. “Why did you let Dad talk you into this? I can’t believe you need the money.”

I sniffle and wipe my tears and nose on Jay’s shirt. He growls his displeasure and that makes me look up and give him a teary smile as I explain. “I did it for Dad. He wants to retire and this fight will set him up. I owe him that.”

Jay blows out a breath and shakes his head in disbelief. “Shyanne, Dad doesn’t need money to retire. I’m his financial advisor. I’ve invested his money through the years and he has plenty of money to retire in style.”

I look up at Jay, confusion clouding my brain. “No. He told me…” When it clicks, I feel like the biggest chump in the world. I gave it all up for a lie. My dad played me. “Why did he lie to me?”

Jay cuts his eyes toward me. “Come on, Shyanne. You know why.”

I bow my head and feel another round of tears about to fall. Yeah, I know. The attention he’ll get by being my father and my manager. He’ll be able to ride on a win this big for years. “That’s all I’ve ever been to him, isn’t it?”

Jay wraps his arms around me again. “You don’t have to go through with this, sis. I can take you out right now and you can catch the next flight out for Faire Island.”

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