“I wasn’t implying that, Trip.”
He was quiet for a while, and then he sighed.
“Look, I gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow. You’re coming to the fight, aren’t you?”
“Yup, I’ll be there.”
As we hung up, I got in the bed and let sleep over come me, thinking of how good Mason’s lips would feel all over me.
I got it bad.
****
It was fight night, and I had to say I was glad it was finally here. It was exciting for the sport, and you can finally get the opportunity to see how everyone fared during the off season. Trip was ready, I could tell. I saw him briefly in the locker room, just before the fight. He doesn’t like to have me back there with him, so I just go in, kiss him, and wish him luck.
I never bothered to ask him why he didn’t want me back there with him, especially when the room is typically packed with people—not to mention women in general. I just make sure I’m where he could see me when he comes out and cheering when he’s fighting.
When the fighters are finally announced to the crowd, it’s a huge deal. The announcer introduces each fighter and their fighting nicknames. As the festivities began, Mimi and Tiny made their way next to me to keep me company.
“Did we miss anything?” Mimi asked me.
I shook my head and said, “Nope, you guys are just in time.”
And they were. The lights began to dim, and some obnoxious rock music started playing in a packed room filled with MMA fans.
“You ready to see the best fighting you’ve ever seen in your lives?” the commentator announced on the mic.
Everyone around me erupted in cheers and started chanting fighters’ names that they knew. There were a lot of Trip fans out there, as he was the most popular fighter in this amateur circuit. There were different circuits in the amateur MMA arena. We were part of the Northern circuit that serviced the East Coast from Connecticut to Florida. Most of these fighters weren’t just from Philadelphia. They were from within a few hundred miles, but they would all come here to fight for the title at the championship that would be held in a few months.
The announcer started introducing each of the fifty fighters for this season. Typically the season lasted for ten weeks, with two to three fights every Saturday. After the ten weeks, there are about five fighters that enter the semifinals by weight class. They fight against the best five from the circuits, and it goes down to finals and finally the championship. A fighter that would be crowned champion can actually take home millions, especially if his knockout stats are high. It’s every fighter’s goal to will their opponents into submission, but there ain’t nothing like knocking someone out.
Trip was very good at that and had a great record. He ended up being champion in this circuit last year but lost in the semi-finals. I know he’s ready to right the wrong he did last year. The commentator announced where each fighter was originally from, their weight class, last year’s record, etc.
When they finally got to Mason, I paid attention.
“MMA fans, you’re gonna love this next fighter who says he’s gonna take this sport by storm. He’s from Dallas, Texas, and stands at six feet three inches and is 253 pounds of pure muscle. He’s new to the sport but says that won’t stop him from taking fighters to the grave.”
I started to hear boos, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Neither could my two companions.
“Ladies and gents, give it up for Mason ‘The Reaper’ Weeeeessssst.”
My friends and I clapped for him and, as he stepped up, he locked his eyes directly on mine. He didn’t acknowledge me with anything but his eyes. He then moved his eyes around the crowd and then went back to stand next to Lou.
“Holy shit, did you feel that?” Mimi announced.
“Yup, I sure did,” Tiny replied.
Mimi nudged me, and I realized at that second that I was still staring at Mason.
I tried to play it off some, but the look in their eyes told me I was caught. I wondered if anyone else noticed me looking at Mason. I first searched for Trip or his brother, but they were busy hamming up the crowd around them. When I looked over at Mason again, his eyes were still on me. I inhaled as he smiled slightly in my direction and gave me a head nod. I blushed and looked away.
“Oh yeah, girl. You have it bad,” Mimi said.
I frowned and looked at her.
“What do you mean?” I asked as I feigned surprise.
She laughed and looked at Tiny, “Is this girl for real? Max we just witnessed you eye fuck that Texan guy.”
I blanched and said, “I did not.”
“Oh yes, you did,” Tiny replied, and they laughed at me.