Olive's P.O.V.
I couldn't believe that Lucas had taken me here. I had no idea that he and Davis had stayed in touch since I last brought him here. The thought of him wanting to come and watch me fight, filled me with joy. He was supporting me even before all this.
I feel stupid for not letting him in sooner than now. I can feel myself falling in love with him already, and it frightens me. I know the longer this goes on the more in love with him I'll fall. This is different from what I felt for Julius. It already feels so much more intense. I am frightened of how badly Lucas will break me if anything were to happen.
"What'd you do to her?" Davis marched pasted me right to Lucas, ready to strike.
In my excitement, I hadn't thought of how it might look like to come here with an already sweltering cheek. I raced after Davis, trying to save Lucas from the blunt force of one of his punches.
"It wasn't him. I swear!" I yelled over the thundering music and yells of the enormous crowd.
"Don't defend the asshole, Twinkle Toes." Davis didn't believe me.
"You really think I'd let him do this to me? Get serious, Davis." I placed my hands on my hips, giving him a stern look, even though his gaze stayed fixed on Lucas.
He pried his eyes away for just a moment to look at me. His shoulders seemed to deflate as he took in my seriousness. He sighed, wiping his hand over his face and dragging it down, pulling on the skin in the process.
"Explain." He pointed to my cheek.
He knew that I would never get hit in a fight on the face. The only way for me to get hurt like this is unexpectedly. I let out a breath, staring into Davis' caring eyes. The man was large, with muscles so thick you would think they'd burst the sleeves of all his shirts. His long dirty blonde hair was in its usual viking braid. He could instill fear in anyone, yet he cared the deepest of all the people I knew. Once Davis accepts you as family, that's it. You'll forever be in his care. He'll forever worry over you. Davis was the father I wished I had.
"My dad's in town."
Davis' eyes narrowed, and his teeth clenched at the news. I'd told Davis about my father before. Shared my whole life story with the man the night I won the championship. He'd heard it all, and accepted me into the fold. I'm forever grateful to Davis for giving me this place, for his confidence in me.
"That motherfucker." Davis seemed intent on punching something with the anger that boiled deep inside him. "Get up there, you're up. We'll talk about this more later."
He gestured to the ring behind him where the last fight had just ended. The crowd was still energized and it didn't take long to hear them cheer, as my name was being announced. I turned to Lucas, who only gave me that playful smile as he gestured with his head for me to go. He held out a hair tie that he dug out of his pocket. I am not sure when he grabbed that, but I was grateful as I took it. I kissed his cheek before heading towards the ring. I didn't waste time, getting my hands tapped and my mouth guard in place. I was up against a larger man, he towered over me, forcing me to look up at him when he was near.
He had larger muscles than I, but I knew his larger body would make it easier for me. I'd found the larger they were, the more blind spots they had. Like their muscles made it hard to reach there. I looked outside the ring to find Lucas and Davis deep in conversation. I wondered, for just a moment, what they were speaking about before reminding myself to focus on the fight. I shook out my feet, arms, and hands as I jumped between my feet.
I heard the announcer start the fight in not so many words, seeing the muscles flex in the man's calves as he stepped forward to kick me. I knew it would hurt to even block, so I fell to my knees, leaning back, letting his leg fly over me, narrowly missing my nose. I felt the wind, from the force of his kick, brush past my skin. I spun on my knee, swiftly standing back up behind him now. I was never one for attacking people from behind so I waited for him to turn, before I double tapped his side.
It hurt him, but he didn't slow down. He brought his fist into my stomach with a great force, causing me to almost hurl immediately. I caught my breath, spinning around him on the balls of my feet as he tried to swing at me again. I hooked my ankle around his own, pulling so that he was forced to take a step out, or risk falling. He did as I assumed and moved his leg out. I used that moment, when his muscles relaxed, to pull his leg all the way out, causing him to fall forward.
He didn't stay down long, jumping back up like a springboard. He aimed for my face, but those punches are always the easiest for me to read. This guy was tough, but nothing I couldn't beat with a little effort. I twisted and spun all around him, easily avoiding his punches, while simultaneously making him dizzy. My opponents never seemed to realize that the way I dodged is meant to inebriate them in a way. They lose focus when they track me as I block, making me this big spinning blur around them.
When I saw him sway on his feet without meaning to, I knew it was time to end it. I fell to the floor, sweeping his leg out from under him. When he fell to the ground, I jumped on him, pummeling him as he lay under me. I knew my punches were too aggressive, but I kept thinking of my dad and everything he'd done.
I hadn't noticed that I had been announced the winner, or that the fight had ended, until a large arm wrapped around my waist and lifted me out of the ring. My opponent laid on the ring floor, bruised and beaten as I fought against the arm holding me. I kicked the air like a mad woman, until a pair of familiar hands found me.
Lucas stood before, eyes wide and concerned. He held my face, pulling all my attention to him. His thumb rubbed my uninjured cheek, while his other hand ever so lightly grazed where my father had struck me.
"It's okay, Rose. We got you." Lucas assured me.
I let all the tears pour out of me as Davis let me go, allowing me into the passionate embrace of Lucas. Lucas lifted me up, carrying me bridal style as he followed Davis to the back, past some double doors. This corridor only held a few wanderers from the crowd around the rings. Davis continued to lead us until we were in a small room away from others.
I felt some catharsis as the tears dried. I'd poured all my anger out and then all my pent-up emotions. I felt like a blank slate. A dingy, almost broken slate, but a blank one all the same. I will no longer carry my father on my slate.
"I want the full story, Twinkle Toes." Davis crossed his arms as he leaned against the tattered large desk of the room-I'm convinced-used to be an office at one point or another.
"There's not much to say. He showed up, we argued, he slapped me, and then I kicked him out of my flat. He told me he was staying at a nearby motel and that he wouldn't be leaving until we spoke again," I quickly explained with a nasally voice because of the stuffy nose I'd given myself from crying.
"Oh, he'll be leaving alright." Davis uttered through his teeth. "Here's your money, fireball. I'll leave you two alone to talk. Oh, and don't forget, championships are coming up soon. You need to win at least 2 more fights to enter. You interested?"
"Extremely," I answered with an excited grin.
"I'll tell you when and where." Davis left after uttering those words, leaving Lucas and me alone in this dusty old office.
My heart hammered against my chest as I stared into those intense brown eyes. He looked at me so tenderly that I felt I could melt.
This man has a hold over my heart and my body like no other.