Spent - Part 1 (Spent, a New Adult Romance, MMA Series) Read Free Page B

MMA guys here to shame. Many find him menacing, but I know him for what he really is, a complete softy.  

    “Tasha!” He cries out when he sees me, his deep raspy voice vibrates along the walls of the building. Massive arms wrap around me tightly, “Where you been, girl?”

    “Hey Mikey! I’ve been busy with school. How’re things goin’ for you?”  

    “Great, everything's been great. Cresha graduated from med school this year,” Mike beams, his face always brightens when he talks about his oldest daughter, “We’ve finally got a doctor in the family.”

    “Awesome! I bet you’re so proud. Tell her I said congratulations and that I wish her all the best,” I smile warmly at him, wishing that I could have had a father like him.  

    “Will do, Tash, will do. Anyway, I assume you and your friend here are wanting to see your man’s fight today? I gotta tell ya, they’ve been cracking down on who I let come in through the back.”

    “Oh?” Crap, I don’t want to have to pay an entrance fee to go through the front.  

    “Yeah, they’ve been saying only close family and trainers. But you’re basically like family to a bunch of the people here, so I’ll just tell them that you’re Baptiste’s fiancé and that your friend is his sister. Will that do for ya?”

    “Hah!” Cameron guffaws, “I would have already died from boredom if that big oaf was my brother.”

    A deep chortle slips past Big Mike’s mouth, but he quickly purses his lips, trying to stifle the noise.  

    I jab my elbow into her side, “What Cameron means to say is, that’s a great idea. Thank you, Mike,” I give him another hug.  

    “No problem, Tash. I’m just glad you’re coming back to the fights. Been missin’ you a lot,” he opens the back door for us and gives us lanyards with passes on them.  

    “What was that for?” Cameron rubs her side as we walk through the door.  

    I roll my eyes at her. “We would’ve had to pay 100 bucks each to go through the front door if Mike hadn’t of done that for us.”

    “Oh wow! People actually pay to see testosterone raging idiots beat this shit out of each other?” Cameron yammers on, a little too loudly. Some of the trainers turn their heads to stare at us as we walk by.  

    “Fighters and trainers have to eat too, you know. Not everybody can make a living off of reading books and crushing budding writers’ dreams.”

    “That is certainly not ALL that I do. I also keep red pen companies in business,” Cameron smirks, “It’s a hard job to use up so much ink in one day, but someone’s got to do it.”

    I cast her a sideways glance as we make our way through the trainers lounge and into the competitors’ prep area. I haven’t been to this arena as frequently as I have some of the ones in the Baltimore area. This one is huge and I feel myself growing a bit nervous being here. There are so many trainers everywhere to make the back area of the stage intimidating, but all of the incredibly buff bare chested men walking around only adds to the nervous tension. Cameron’s eyes are wandering everywhere, like a hawk seeking out it’s prey.  

    “See any prospects?” I nod my head towards the cluster of half naked men who are all clamoring around workout equipment.  

    “Can I have one of each?” Cameron licks her bottom lip.  

    “You’re kind of disgusting when you’re horny.”  

    “Anything fun in life requires you to get a little dirty first,” Cameron winks.  

    I snort. Cameron and I are nothing alike, and yet, I always have so much fun when I’m around her. Turning back to face the crowd of men, I try to determine which ones will win and which will lose. After going to so many of Derrick’s games earlier in our relationship, I’ve gotten pretty good at predicting the winners and losers. I’ve even been able to make a little money from a few side bets.  

    “I’ve found the love of my life,” Cameron speaks up, drawing my attention