Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(46)
“Thank you. I appreciate it,” I said, taking the card. About five minutes later, he pulled up as far as he could to the front and I slipped him some money for the ride and put his card in my back pocket.
“Have fun,” he called as I shut the door.
I rushed up to the top of the stairs and waited in line at the ticket counter. Hopefully, I could give them my name and be let in.
When I got up to the counter, the young employee gave me her best forced smile. She had bright blonde hair just like me, but her dark roots were grown out about an inch and she was wearing way too much makeup. “Just one admission?” she asked.
“Actually, I’m wondering if my name is on a list somewhere. I’m with Tyler Rushing—he’s one of the fighters. I was supposed to come with him earlier, but due to circumstances out of my control, I couldn’t make it.”
The girl lifted her eyebrows and then burst out laughing. “I swear you women need to come up with better lines. Do you have any idea how many people say the exact same thing?”
Mouth wide open, I stared at her in shock. First, I couldn’t believe that people actually said that, and second, I was being serious and I didn’t like being laughed at. “I’m being serious,” I said, clenching my teeth. “I’m with Tyler.”
She stared at me for a moment before looking pityingly at me. “Look, lady, I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. Usually, the fighter’s guests go in with them. There’s no way I can track down your seat.”
The group of people behind me in line snickered and I knew they were laughing at me, at how pathetic I must look trying to say I was dating one of the most highly sought after MMA fighters.
Knowing Tyler wouldn’t have his phone with him, I had no choice but to suck it up and buy a ticket. I didn’t care if they thought I was a liar, just as long as I got into the arena.
“Fine, I’ll just buy one then,” I grumbled impatiently.
Quickly, I gave her the money and got my ticket, only to find my seat was in the damn nosebleed section. Great, they would look like pissed off ants from this vantage point. I would see him on the monitors, but surely at the end, I’d be able to find him and the others.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer began, his voice echoing throughout the arena. “The next fight of the evening is in the Light Heavyweight division. The winner of tonight’s match will fight for the title next weekend in Las Vegas.”
The crowd rumbled, hooting and hollering their excitement. Picking up my pace, I rushed through the throngs of people and found my section, stepping on a few feet as I tried to get to my seat. Cole’s fight was next.
The announcer waved at the people to get them calmed down. He was older, probably in his mid-fifties, his light brown hair slicked back. Once the noise leveled off he continued, “Okay, so let’s introduce our next fighter. Coming all the way from Las Vegas, Nevada, Cole . . . The Bruiser . . . Beeennnnnnnneeettt!”
Jumping to my feet, I screamed out Cole’s name and whistled as loud as I could when he walked down the aisle toward the ring, strutting to his fight song, I Will Not Bow by Breaking Benjamin. From what I could tell, he was wearing a pair of blue and yellow shorts and a pair of blue gloves wrapped around his hands. I was hoping to recognize Bree down by the ring, but there were too many people. Once Cole got into the ring and did his rounds, the announcer called out the next fighter. My mouth dropped open when they called out . . . Paxton Emerson.
“Oh my God,” I breathed, sitting down in my seat.
I didn’t know Pax was fighting tonight. I hadn’t seen him in so long, not since I moved away from our hometown. Dressed in his usual black shorts and black gloves, Paxton looked like a dark angel with his black hair and tattoos down both arms. One word came to mind when I looked at him . . . dangerous. Out of all of my brother’s friends, he was the only one I cared about. He had been my friend before he joined up with my brother. Actually, we were more than friends at one time. I never understood why he chose to hang around my brother because he wasn’t evil like Kyle.
My chest tightened, the guilt of my inner thoughts causing my stomach to roll. I wanted Cole to win, but I didn’t want Pax to lose. Once the bell rang, I nervously sat on the edge of my seat as both attacked, jabbing and blocking each other’s blows. Paxton had gotten good over time, much better than a couple of years ago. His body even proved it by how muscular and toned it was.
There were only forty-five seconds left in round one, but when the sound of the final hit echoed throughout the arena, I had a feeling it was all over. Gasping in horror, I watched as Paxton’s fist connected to the side of Cole’s head and he fell limp to the floor, body smacking against the mat.
Half of the crowd roared while the other half kept screaming for Cole to get up. Unfortunately, he was knocked out cold. I held my breath as the medics rushed into the ring. When they gave the thumbs up, I breathed a sigh of relief. Fighting was dangerous and many people have been seriously hurt and even killed in the ring. However, when my brother fights, I honestly don’t think he cares if he accidentally kills someone. In fact, I was pretty sure he’d be proud.
Paxton, on the other hand, was genuinely concerned for Cole’s well-being. Kneeling down on the mat, he waited with the medics while Cole finally became responsive. He even helped Cole to his feet. The crowd clapped and screamed their encouragements as Cole was led out of the ring, licking his wounds. He wasn’t going to be happy he lost.