Page 3 of Bruised Hearts

“Of course.” Hugging her, I pulled her chair out and waited for her to sit down. Glancing over, I saw her. The shorty from my last fight and even though I had no idea who she was, I was drawn to her like a magnet. For most of the fight, I kept glancing at her. Our eyes would connect, and she would quickly turn her head. I’m guessing that had something to do with the nigga she was with. The same jit she was sitting with right now. I was trying to look at her and Mila at the same time since she was talking to me about some show, until she grabbed my arm requiring my full attention.

“What’s up, Jam?”

“Is your eye okay?” I could hear my pops trying to hold down his laugh, but I ignored him.

“What you mean?”

“I think the fighter knocked your eye loose. One is going this way, and the other is hanging that way. You’re looking cockeyed and ugly. Is it going to stay that way?” I opened my mouth and closed it before looking at my parents. We all fell out laughing in disbelief. I don’t know why the things she said still shocked us, but it did. Her being on the spectrum meant no filter. She didn’t care what came out of her mouth.

“Keep on, I’m gone knock your eye loose.”

“Oh, so you’re a child beater. LANDON’S A CHILD ABUSER! HE WANTS TO BEAT ME!” This lil mufucka screamed that shit and everybody in the restaurant turned to look at us in horror. My father tried to wave it off letting them know everything was okay, but I was ashamed. I looked over at my mystery woman, and she was looking at me in shock and disgusted before turning away.

“You’re a cockblocker, you know that?”

“I don’t block cock and I don’t even like that kind of stuff.” My mouth fell open again, but I was done.

“Mila, what have you been watching on that iPad? Don’t make me cut your screen time.” My moms was horrified, but I was ready to beat her lil ass.

“You’re punishing me for not liking chicken? I don’t have to block a chicken if I don’t want to.” Putting her headphones back on her head, she disregarded all of us, but we breathed in relief.

“She be treating the shit out of yall,” I said before laughing. My moms popped me in the head as I stood up. “That’s my cue. I’m gone head out and let yall have at it.”

“Son, you sure you don’t need me to go with you?” My pops was trying to get out of shopping after Mila just embarrassed our ass.

“Naw, you stay here and teach your daughter what cock is.” Laughing, I walked off. I made sure I walked past my mystery woman hoping to catch her attention, but she turned away as if she was trying to avoid me. Not wanting to get embarrassed for the second time today, I headed out. Me and my security left, and I texted Tan. I needed my ego and my dick stroked.

2- Ariyah “Nova” Stevens

“What the fuck you steady looking at that nigga for? That’s your problem, you’re focused on everything but your career.” My stepfather/manager, Stone was snapping off while looking at me in disgust.

“I wasn’t looking at him. I was trying to see what was going on. Besides, we’re getting food, what am I supposed to be focusing on?” The look he gave me let me know my attitude was about to piss him off. Stone was the type that didn’t need to yell. His authority and connections were enough to make anyone fear him. I knew not to fuck with him, but I never could control my mouth.

“You’re here for a meeting. Keep on talking out the side of your mouth, the same money that paid to get you out of the mess you were in, will be the same money I use to put you back. Remember that.” I nodded in understanding. Darion “The Fixer” Smith walked in, sat at the table, and from the look on his face, I knew this meeting wasn’t going to go in our favor.

“Hey, sorry I’m late.” Stone waved him off acting as if it wasn’t a bother.

“Don’t worry about it. So, tell me; who did you get her lined up with?” Stone was trying to get me a professional fight, but it was always a struggle.

“I like her.” Stone nodded with a smirk on his face.

“Good.” Darion held his hand up to stop him.

“Let me finish.” Before he said that line, I would have smiled, but everybody likes me and then they deliver a soft gut punch. “She’s a natural. Great potential. Man, she has speed, raw power, and strong athleticism. That’s the type of shit you can’t teach.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.”

“But…” There was that word. I hated that fucking word. “She’s not ready.” Stone’s expression shifted and he looked shocked.

“What you mean? She’s been in training for years and the other fighters are not in her league.”

“Training does not mean she is developing. She fights exactly the same as she did when she first started.” I couldn’t even look at him because he was right. Nothing about me had changed besides my age. “Plus, nobody likes an emotional fighter.” Now that made me look up.

“I’m passionate, it’s a difference.” I hated when they called women weak for doing the same thing men did. The only difference was our gender, but for them it was passion, for us it was emotion. “You don’t know shit about me.” Stone threw me a look telling me to shut up without saying a word.

“You right, I don’t know you, but I know fighters.” I guess Stone got tired of us going back and forth, so he intervened.

“So, what do you suggest? I need for this to start paying out. I’ve been pouring money into this girl, and nothing has come of it.” There it was. The only reason he decided to help me was because he thought I was a payout for him.