Fighting for Love (Second Chances #4)(22)
When I let her go, her eyes slowly opened and she moaned. “That was my good luck kiss,” I told her. “I couldn’t let you leave without giving me one.”
Her lips tilted up into a lazy grin. “It was my pleasure.”
Mason chuckled and slapped me on the arm. “Do you want me to walk her out there? It’s the least I can do since you always sit with Claire. Besides, I’m starting to think I need to bow down to her for taming the wild beast. It’s like you’re a whole new you.”
That’s how I felt when Shelby was around … different.
After they left, I followed Garrett down the corridor to the entrance where I’d walk out to the ring. Ever since Shelby came back into my life, I wanted to be a better person. If Mason could see that I was changing I could only hope she could see it, too.
SEATED AND READY FOR THE FIGHT, Mason switched places with the guy to my left so he could sit beside me. Mason Bradley was a celebrity among the MMA world for his undercover work last summer. There were UFC fighters showing up dead in Las Vegas, and he was the one who figured it all out. I was determined to write an article on him some day.
The lights overhead started to dim and the crowd began to scream, knowing it was time for the fighters to come out. The announcer called for Tyler and immediately he came strutting out with his fists pumping in the air. He had his blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail, and was wearing a pair of white and black shorts with black gloves. When he smiled at the crowd the ladies went crazy, screaming obscene things that I would never attempt to say out loud in public. Tyler loved it, and as soon as he did his turn around the ring it was time for Matt to come out.
“All right, the time has come to announce our next fighter,” the announcer shouted. “We all know him as the charming, UFC bad boy and Heavyweight title champion. So, gentlemen, keep a hold of your ladies because this guy has been known to steal them away. I give you, MATT ‘THE DESTROYER’ REEEYYNNNOOLLLLDDSSSS!!!!”
The lights beamed brighter and the screams grew louder as Matt came into view, strolling down the walkway. The ladies were going crazy around him, trying to touch him as he walked past, except he kept his eyes on the ring and kept moving. Before, he used to slow down and let the women touch him and sometimes even kiss him. I wonder if he’s just doing that because I’m here, or if he really doesn’t want them to touch him.
When he got into the ring he searched around the arena until his gaze landed on me. At that moment it was just me and him, two people brought back together by some unknown force to give us a second opportunity; to give us a chance at redemption. Most people rolled their eyes at the talk of soulmates, that it was a myth or fairy tale. I, on the other hand, believed in such a miracle. Never once had I felt whole or complete without him in my life. The void, the ache in my chest was no longer there, tormenting me. However, I still harbored the guilt for my terrible decision to leave.
Was it selfish of me to keep my secrets? Yes, it was, but I couldn’t let go just yet.
The sound of the bell brought me back and Matt made sure to smile at me before he went head to head with Tyler. “He’s a good guy, you know?” Mason noted. His eyes were on the fight, but he continued to speak, “I think he just lost his way for a while, especially with coming from nothing and then having everything. I was the same way. It gets to your head.”
He had a point, and in a way it made me wonder if our separation saved us. If I would’ve stayed and Matt screwed up then that damage would most likely have been irreparable. It still hurt to know that he’d been with an uncountable amount of women, but unfortunately, our life paths are paved in mistakes.
“What made you want to change?” I asked him. “When do you realize that money and screwing numerous women aren’t what’s important in life?”
Mason’s lips tilted up in a sad smile before he looked over at me. “I left the sport to take care of my mother. She died a couple of years afterwards, but it made me grow up. That’s when I became a cop and put fighting aside. Claire knows of my past and what I was like. I was afraid she wouldn’t trust me if I came back to the sport, but I haven’t given her a reason not to. I love her too much to f*ck up what we have.”
“I see,” I murmured.
Round one was over, but Matt and Tyler were still pumped and ready to go. They grinned at each other from across the ring and I couldn’t help but laugh. It was hard to fathom that even though they were friends they could still hit and pummel each other for sport. Matt was good at it and he loved it. At least he found something in life he loved doing.
Ding, ding, ding. The bell rang for round two. Only one more round to go.
“So, Shelby, let me get this straight. I can only assume by your question that you’re wondering if Matt is going to stay the infamous bad boy who f*cks every woman that spreads her legs. Is that what you really wanted to ask me?”
“O–oh w–wow,” I stammered, clearing my throat. “Yeah, that was pretty much what I wanted to ask, but I was trying to figure out how to be tactful about it.”
He chuckled. “Well, I don’t do tactful. I usually just come right out and say the shit that’s on my mind. To answer your question, though, yes. He will most likely stay MMA’s bad boy until it comes time for him to retire. Even I couldn’t take that title away from him, and I was worse than him.”