Page 53 of Forever my Love

Reece was in the ring talking with a group of men. He wore a long black silk robe with his name on the back.

“I made that for him.” Amber smiled as they moved closer. She’d grabbed her other arm, which thankfully forcing Aaron to drop his hold on her since the aisle was too narrow for three people to walk side by side.

“He looks so serious,” she pointed out.

Amber chuckled. “He has always been able to concentrate on the sport. To him, it’s as important as when he writes code for Modark.” She shook her head. “He gets that from his father. I have ADHD.” She sighed. “It seems like yesterday he was wearing diapers and chewing on his sister’s fingers.” She chuckled then lifted her phone and took a picture of Reece.

They were shown to seats along the front row. “These are yours,” Aaron said just as his phone rang.

Suddenly, Reece glanced over in their direction, and she saw his concentration slip as his eyes landed on her. His smile was quick, but she felt what it did to her deep in her core. Her body had an automatic response to him. Would it always be like this? She hoped so. Hoped they had many years to come together.

She sat down and watched as the men continued to talk quietly. When they were done, Reece headed towards them and climbed out of the ring, followed by a few of the men, and stopped in front of them.

She and his parents stood. He wrapped his arms around her, then pulled his parents in for a group hug.

“I’m heading back until the fight starts,” he told them in the huddle. “Thanks for being here for me.”

She didn’t know what to say, so she let his parents talk to him, encourage him, praise his skills.

He stood back then leaned in and kissed her quickly before leaving.

“He’s going to do great,” Amber said as she wiped some tears from her eyes. “I’m so proud,” she added when Luke pulled her into a hug.

“Of course you are,” he said with a smile.

For the next hour, they sat in their seats while other people shuffled into the arena.

When the place was almost full, the lights dimmed slightly.

“We still have half an hour,” Luke pointed out. “If you ladies need to hit the bathroom, now is the time.”

“I should go.” Amber stood up. “Hailey?”

“Yes.” She thought she could make it but knew that, once the fight started, there was no way she was going to stop watching it for a bathroom break.

She and Reece’s mother made it back down the aisle, this time wading through the people heading towards their seats. The bathrooms were situated outside the main door to either side.

She followed Amber to the closest one and stood in line with about half a dozen other women who had apparently had the same idea.

They chatted about the wonderful morning she and Reece had and what their plans were for the next day, before their flight left in the evening.

Reece’s parents were staying on for another couple of nights before heading back home.

She wished that they had more time in Vegas but knew that she had work the day after they were set to return home.

After using the bathroom, she washed her hands and stepped out of the crowded bathroom and into the hallway to wait for Amber.

“You’re her, aren’t you?” someone asked, getting her attention. “Reece’s girlfriend.” The woman stopped in front of her. “Yes, it is you.” She smiled then held up her phone and took a photo of her. “Can I get a picture with you?”

“Uh, sure.” Hailey chuckled and then posed with the girl who was standing in line.

After that, she felt awkward and stepped further away from the line while she waited for Reece’s mother to come out.

She was standing in front of one of the large posters of Reece when hands wrapped around her, and she was pulled back into a dark side hallway.

“There you are, Princess,” a man hissed in her ear. “I’ve got you now.”

Her entire body froze at the sound of Fred’s voice and his nickname for her.