least. I make a mental note to thank Austin for suggesting I bring my camera, because by the time Lance’s arm is raised in victory, I’ve got so many shots that I can’t wait to get home and look through them.
Hilary cheers loudly for her man and stands to her feet. I almost feel like I should help her up seeing as how she’s got that huge belly. She points in the direction we were standing in earlier and nudges me to walk that way. Once we get away from the crowd, I turn to face her. “I have no clue what was going on but that was so amazing to watch. I can’t wait to look at these photos. I told him if he won, I’d give him the prints for free.”
“No, you have to let us pay you. Oh, hey, maybe you can take my maternity pictures. What’s your rate?”
“Don’t worry about a rate. Just tell me when you want them and as long as my calendar is clear, I’m yours.”
“You are too sweet, Tamilyn.”
I just smile. I love helping people and I love taking pictures. I make enough money most of the time that doing two jobs for free isn’t going to hurt me. Lance and Austin come toward us and Austin’s arms snake around my waist. “You enjoy your first fight?”
“Yeah, that was pretty amazing. Oh, and Lance, I am positive I have some amazing shots. I can’t wait to go through them.”
“Your camera was just blessed, anointed by the amazing one’s face.” He tries to speak seriously, fails tremendously, and I’m doubled over laughing. “What are you two up to now? You sticking around to watch the rest of the fights? We’re probably going to go check on Garrett, Raegan, and the baby.”
“We’re gonna go get something to eat,” Austin says. “I’m glad I saw this. Now I can’t wait to get inside the ring, man, for real.”
“In time. Y’all have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I wave to Lance and Hilary as they walk off. Austin leans forward and kisses my lips. I’m taken aback by his kiss but I don’t exactly push him away. “I’m sorry I just left you hanging during the fight. I’ll make it up to you.”
“It’s fine, Austin. Hilary and I just sat there and talked. I had a good time, I swear.”
“Want to go back to the apartment? I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich.” His eyes are sparkling and I know I should say no in case Ruston is there, but I nod and tell him yes.
I could be adding salt to the wound, but right now my stomach is growling, and all I want is something to eat.
Chapter 10
Ruston
One of these days I swear I’m going to invest in a cat or a dog. Any kind of animal would be nice. It would beat being home alone. Being alone just makes me grumpy, giving me the mentality that the world is out to get me and no one is my friend. That’s because no one really is my friend, because my one best friend is out with my cousin, thus sealing my alone status. Fuck, I really need a pet.
They’ve been gone about an hour or so and stir crazy isn’t even the word anymore. I’ve managed to clean what little mess I’ve made over the last few days and I’ve done laundry. That shit has been cleaned, dried, folded, and put away. I know I could have gone to the fights tonight to scope it out like Howard suggested, but I decided I didn’t want to be part of that tonight. Why be reminded that the one person who dragged me to the gym is the one person who is single-handedly taking everything that’s important to me?
The doorknob turns and I jolt out of my trance to see who is walking in. Of course it’s only going to be one person. I pull myself from the couch and slowly trudge toward the refrigerator. I need a beer to get through whatever pathetic story he’s going to feed me. I’m sure the night they had was magical, but it has nothing on the night I shared with her.
I take a swig of the beer in my hand and notice Austin walking in. I’m ready to speak to him, ready to get this shit over with, when I realize the
Hilary cheers loudly for her man and stands to her feet. I almost feel like I should help her up seeing as how she’s got that huge belly. She points in the direction we were standing in earlier and nudges me to walk that way. Once we get away from the crowd, I turn to face her. “I have no clue what was going on but that was so amazing to watch. I can’t wait to look at these photos. I told him if he won, I’d give him the prints for free.”
“No, you have to let us pay you. Oh, hey, maybe you can take my maternity pictures. What’s your rate?”
“Don’t worry about a rate. Just tell me when you want them and as long as my calendar is clear, I’m yours.”
“You are too sweet, Tamilyn.”
I just smile. I love helping people and I love taking pictures. I make enough money most of the time that doing two jobs for free isn’t going to hurt me. Lance and Austin come toward us and Austin’s arms snake around my waist. “You enjoy your first fight?”
“Yeah, that was pretty amazing. Oh, and Lance, I am positive I have some amazing shots. I can’t wait to go through them.”
“Your camera was just blessed, anointed by the amazing one’s face.” He tries to speak seriously, fails tremendously, and I’m doubled over laughing. “What are you two up to now? You sticking around to watch the rest of the fights? We’re probably going to go check on Garrett, Raegan, and the baby.”
“We’re gonna go get something to eat,” Austin says. “I’m glad I saw this. Now I can’t wait to get inside the ring, man, for real.”
“In time. Y’all have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I wave to Lance and Hilary as they walk off. Austin leans forward and kisses my lips. I’m taken aback by his kiss but I don’t exactly push him away. “I’m sorry I just left you hanging during the fight. I’ll make it up to you.”
“It’s fine, Austin. Hilary and I just sat there and talked. I had a good time, I swear.”
“Want to go back to the apartment? I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich.” His eyes are sparkling and I know I should say no in case Ruston is there, but I nod and tell him yes.
I could be adding salt to the wound, but right now my stomach is growling, and all I want is something to eat.
Chapter 10
Ruston
One of these days I swear I’m going to invest in a cat or a dog. Any kind of animal would be nice. It would beat being home alone. Being alone just makes me grumpy, giving me the mentality that the world is out to get me and no one is my friend. That’s because no one really is my friend, because my one best friend is out with my cousin, thus sealing my alone status. Fuck, I really need a pet.
They’ve been gone about an hour or so and stir crazy isn’t even the word anymore. I’ve managed to clean what little mess I’ve made over the last few days and I’ve done laundry. That shit has been cleaned, dried, folded, and put away. I know I could have gone to the fights tonight to scope it out like Howard suggested, but I decided I didn’t want to be part of that tonight. Why be reminded that the one person who dragged me to the gym is the one person who is single-handedly taking everything that’s important to me?
The doorknob turns and I jolt out of my trance to see who is walking in. Of course it’s only going to be one person. I pull myself from the couch and slowly trudge toward the refrigerator. I need a beer to get through whatever pathetic story he’s going to feed me. I’m sure the night they had was magical, but it has nothing on the night I shared with her.
I take a swig of the beer in my hand and notice Austin walking in. I’m ready to speak to him, ready to get this shit over with, when I realize the
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