Page 38 of Rematch
As we walked through the main lobby, I glanced around the crowds, searching for Gianna. I spotted her gold decorated afro puff near one of the concession stands. Smiling, I took a step out of my protective barrier.
“Aht, aht,” Tysir said, putting his arm out to keep me inside. “Where are you going?”
“My friend is over there,” I explained, pointing to her.
Thankfully, Gianna had caught sight of me too and was hurrying over to us. “Hey!” she exclaimed. She opened her arms to throw them around me, but Wesley quickly blocked her advance.
“You don’t have authorization to touch her,” he said, his serious tone contradicting the smirk on his face.
Gianna raised a brow. “Oh, you weren’t kidding about the security detail.”
“She’s my plus one,” I told Wesley as I lightly pushed him aside. I welcomed her into the hug she’d been aiming for. “Sorry about that. I didn’t think Max was going to go overboard like this.”
She squeezed me tight. “Don’t sweat it! Your man is in the big leagues now. It makes sense he’d want you to have some protection. People are crazy out here.” Her eyes drifted to Wesley, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “And there is nothing finer than a man in uniform.”
Wesley caught her comment and grinned wider. He opened his mouth to say something, but Tysir slapped him in his arm.
“Focus,” his partner warned. Moving closer to us, he shuffled Gianna and me back between them. “Come on you two, let’s get you to your seats.”
“Ooo, and they’re bossy,” Gianna cooed. She linked her arm around mine. “You’re just living your best life, huh?”
I shook my head. “Hardly.”
We let the men shuffle us through the crowded hallways and into the arena. They guided us to our seats that were a few feet away from the huge octagon sitting in the middle of the arena. Our row was the one directly in front of the black barrier separating the spectators from the main floor.
“What snacks can I get for you?” Wesley asked, though his eyes were on Gianna.
“You’re not our butler,” I said. “We can go back out and-“
Gianna put her hand over my mouth. “Two Coke sodas and pretzel bites with cheese.” She sweetened her smile. “Please.”
“Coming right up,” Wesley replied. He quickly backed out of the row and raced back through the aisle.
Glaring at Gianna, I shoved her hand off my mouth. “Now, why did you make that man do that?”
“Because when a man wants to wait on you, you let him.”
I shook my head at her. Tearing my gaze away, I glanced around at the other sights of the arena. The bright lights. The people filing into the stands. The big screens - frequently flashing Max’s name as one of the contenders for the headlining fight.
Clutching the opening of the jacket, I looked down at the embroidered cursive spelling the same. I ran my fingers over the stitching as a wave of nostalgia washed over me.
Max and I used to talk about our dreams all the time. We’d sit in my bedroom for hours, talking about our futures and allthe things we were going to do. Scenes like this were always ones he talked about in detail. I remember one of the summer nights before college, we hung out at one of our favorite parks and stared at the stars as we outlined everything we were going to do with our lives.
College. Moving in together. Starting our dream careers.
“I’m going to make it to the big leagues,” he told me with a big grin. “And I’m gonna put a huge rock on your finger.”
I’d laughed and shook my head. “I don’t need a big ring,” I replied, pecking a kiss on his lips. “I just need you.”
Gianna nudged me, breaking me out of the memory I’d briefly dipped into. “You alright?” She asked.
I nodded. “Just taking it all in, you know. He’s come so far. I’m proud of him.”
She smiled. “Have you told him that yet?”
“No,” I murmured. With everything else going on, I haven’t really gotten the chance.
“You should,” Gianna encouraged. “Tonight.”
