As we came through the arena's gates, the unmistakable scent of popcorn and the distant hum of the crowd finding their seats charged the air around me with anticipation. I had to run home and grab my clearance pass before Fallon and her son followed me to the arena, but there was no turning back for me as I flashed my pass to the door attendant and he called another employee to escort us to our box seats.
We entered our section, high enough in the air to see the ring in the middle of the ground--the center of tonight's drama.
Just like the first time, there were people I didn't know mingling with one another with drinks in their hands, toting elaborate jerseys that displayed their support for The Hometown Hero, Nassau Riley. It made my store-bought shirt look like nothing, especially considering that I was his girlfriend.
I did, however, spot two faces I recognized.
Maddie, who revealed to me Santana's pregnancy, was sitting next to her husband in the very back row. Even though I had only met them once, I felt comfortable enough to speak, but she beat me to it.
"Is that Indica?!" she cheesed, trying to maneuver her body into a standing position so she could greet me.
"Maddie, sit down," Noah scolded her. She swatted his hand away and squeezed her way out of their row to meet me.
"You look gorgeous," I smiled as I brought her into a hug.
"Really? Thank you! I don't feel gorgeous. I feel fat."
Her eyes made their way over to Fallon, then down to Jalen, and back up to Fallon.
"Oh, Maddie, this is, uh...this is my...my sister, Fallon," I introduced them, "And my nephew, Jalen."
"Hey, y'all," she gave a small wave, "Nas didn't tell us you had a sibling! Nice to meet you."
"It's a complicated story," Fallon added, which made me eagerly nod my head in agreement.
"You wanna sit by us?" Maddie asked. I looked over her shoulder to see exactly 3 empty seats next to her and Noah and let her lead us to the spots.
Noah greeted me as I squeezed past him, helping his wife to get comfortable in her chair.
When I sat, I looked out through the glass at the ring below me. The lights in the arena dimmed, signaling the imminent start of the match and making the fans cheer and shout left and right. Dramatic red spotlights circled around the crowd before settling in the middle of the ring, and the announcer's voice make me jerk awake.
"Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, are you ready for the match of the night?"
The sound that erupted from the fans nearly burst my ear drum, but Jalen was eating it all up.
"Tonight, you very own Hometown Hero challenges his undefeated streak against Mike Hunt of South Carolina!" The crowd boo'd at the opponents name, even Maddie, which made me giggle.
"Let's not keep you waiting any longer! Introducing: the man you all know and love--" Debatable, "Standing at 6-foot-four and 240 pounds, your undefeated Champion, Nassau Riley!"
I watched as the tiny bodies below me stood from their seats, waving towels and fists in the air in admiration and support. Nas appeared out of a narrow tunnel in his signature Arizona red boxing gloves and shorts, throwing practice punches in the air while his coach followed closely behind, rubbing his shoulders.
He entered the ring where his opponent already stood, once again not being introduced by the announcer, and they locked eyes.
On the way over here, I gave myself a pep talk. Tonight wasn't about me or my emotions, it was about supporting my boyfriend and cheering him on while he did what he loved. I had to remind myself about Quin's mention of exposure therapy, which just meant forcing myself to do things that made me uncomfortable. The more I watched him fight, the easier it would become, similiar to how we did with touching each other.
