Undefeated by Lark Maren

Author:Lark Maren [Maren, Lark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Naomi:

I’d never seen the gym this packed before in my time here. Even with the air conditioner running and the fans on full blast, I felt like I was melting into a puddle of mascara, and I was glad I put on extra deodorant. I didn’t realize there were even this many people living in this town. I didn’t recognize anyone. If this was a low key event in Harley’s world, I couldn’t begin to wrap my brain around something that was publicized.

I stood next to her at the table the entire time. In between signing photos and action figures and t-shirts, she made it a point to introduce me to everyone, her girlfriend, the next up-and-coming featherweight fighter, talking me up to the point that I almost believed everything she was saying. She was so good with the public. I couldn’t imagine being on that level, I couldn’t see this for myself, but it was fun to imagine one day we would sit side by side at that table, me signing autographs right next to her; me being able to shower her in jewelry, being able to hop on a plane whenever we felt like and travel across the country.

Me being able to earn the respect she warranted by being a talented athlete was definitely step one, the part of this equation that felt most critical to me. I vowed to myself that I wasn’t just going to be her pretty side piece, as tempting as that sounded. I would do whatever it took to make my own way in this world, even though she’d already offered me a huge advantage by getting me hooked up with Joe.

“I’m out of t-shirts,” Joe said, pushing in between the two of us. “Out of pictures. Out of membership applications. Hell, I don’t have anything left to sell that isn’t nailed to the walls. I think you girls just paid for my future golf cart.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I said. I’d just been standing here smiling and nodding, taking photos for people as they drooled all over my woman.

“You’re kidding, right?” Harley asked. “Joe doesn’t endorse any random scrub, I don’t just go around introducing people as my girlfriend. Which I’m sorry, I probably should’ve asked you first. You’re as much a part of this as the rest of us. Sorry, babe, you’re one of us now.”

She squeezed my hand and smiled up at me. She didn’t need to apologize. For any of that. The place might have been packed, but I felt like we were the only two people in the room, or at least, the only two people who mattered. I wasn’t overwhelmed anymore. These people didn’t have her like I did. That was a feeling I couldn’t deny.

She finished signing autographs, treating every person in that line like they were her most important fan, answering questions and giving out hugs. As the place started to clear out, she let out an exhausted sigh, and rested her head on the table.

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