Page 52 of Beyond the Cage

“I just want this to be over so we can leave.”

She jerks her head toward the commentators. “They’re talking about your man.”

Shaking off my distraction, I listen closely. They’re mostly talking about his record, style of fighting, and the fact that he’s known for knockout wins, while Chico’s wins are mostly submissions…but then, it gets interesting.

“Word on the street is that he found himself a girlfriend,” one of them says.

“I wonder what their conversations are like.” The other chuckles.

“I don’t know, Bill, but they were seen entering the venue together. As a matter of fact, I think we’ve found her.”

A camera man appears in front of me and my face gets plastered on the huge monitors above the cage. Chels drapes her arm around my shoulders, and we wave and blow kisses at the camera.

“Jim, I think this fight just might be even shorter than K.O.’s others,” Bill says.

“Why’s that?”

“Wouldn’t you want to get back to her as soon as possible?”

Ha-ha…very funny. I roll my eyes as they laugh at my expense. While they’re announcing the first event, my phone chimes with a text from Cameron, telling me to come to his dressing room. I grab Chelsea’s hand and pull her along with me. I find him sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by seven men, all of them hurling directions at him. This Chico guy must be good for them to be so worked up. He raises his palm to quiet them and they all shut up. When he looks in my direction, so do they. They all greet me…by name. The only one I know is Mannie, but somehow they all know me.

“Come on in, ladies.” Mannie gestures us forward.

“Hi, Mannie.”

Chels and I wave to the other men in the room as we enter. Mannie places his palms at the small of our backs and makes introductions.

“That’s Carl, K.O.’s manager. Rob, his assistant.”

Aah…assistant. Sothat’show he gets everything done!

Mannie continues, “Tony, Muay Thai trainer. Rich, boxing. Joe, physical therapy. And Dave, kickboxing.”

“Hi, everyone. Jasmine, girlfriend.” Chelsea bumps my shoulder. “This is Chelsea, best friend.”

They all chuckle, say hi, and file out of the room.

“I’ll wait for you outside, Jas,” Chels whispers.

I nod and walk over to Cameron. “Everything okay?”

He takes my hand and pulls me down onto his lap. When I wrap my arm around his shoulder, he curls his finger in the neck of my top and peers in.Perv.

“You sure you wanna do that now?”

With a frustrated groan, he nuzzles my neck. There’s a knock at the door and one of the guys sticks his head in. It’s the manager…Carl.

“Uh…K.O., we need to take care of some business,” he says.

“I’ll wait outside,” I tell him.

I try to stand but he tightens his hold on me.Okay…I guess I’m staying. He motions for Carl to enter and another man follows him in, carrying a briefcase.

“Nick, this is Jasmine,” Carl introduces me to the newcomer. “Nick’s the promoter of the event.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

He takes my hand with a smile. “Nicholas Hollis, at your service…and the pleasure is all mine.”