Champion

Chapter 13: Fight Night

My phone rang in my pocket from beside the ring, Jade was ferociously defending her title against Cat Zingano and I could see that she was going to win. Ronda was standing up, screaming supportive things at Jade who's training paid off, she looked amazing in that ring, and I was so proud of her. Tommy and Conor sat drinking beers together, laughing and talking about how Cat was no competition for Jade. I pulled out my phone, plodding my other ear and speaking loudly into it.

"Hello?!" There was a pause, and I began to get worried, was Kian okay

"Naomi, it's me" Brendan's voice rang through. "Come back to the house, where's Jade and Tommy?" My blood turned to ice, something had to be wrong... Or Brendan would be here right now.

"You... What? What's going on? I'm at Jades fight-"

"Naomi it's serious" he hung up abruptly and I began to shake. I got up and walked to Tommy, the bell rang signalling the end of the round.

"I gotta go, babe somethings up with Kian" tommy's eyebrows furrowed and he got up, grabbing his jacket. "No, stay here with Jade for now, she needs you here" he sighed, kissed me gently and then I walked into the ring where Jade was.

She was bloodied up a bit, Cat put up a fight, but she wasn't even tired. I wiped down her face and looked at her eyes. "You're doing great, you keep it up. I'm so sorry I have to head back to the house, somethings wrong with Kian" I decided to tell her that until I found out what was up with Brendan. She smiled at me and gave me a hug.

"This round it's mine, just for you, I'll meet you back at he house" I stepped out of the ring, got my stuff and left quickly.

Driving back to the house my anxiety was all over, I was shaking. I've never heard Brendan like that other than when Tommy left. I pulled in as quickly as I could, running out of the car and into the house. It was late, Kian should be in bed by now.

Brendan sat on the couch by himself, his head in his hands and his eyes were red. "Oh my god... Brendan" I walked over to him, crouching in front of him and watching the tears stream down his face "holy shit what happened, where's my son?"

"When I got here the baby sitter left, we played a bit, but he's asleep now." I nodded, clasping  Brendan's large hand in mine. "What's going on" he paused, and he began to shake. I felt tears in my eyes as I watched him cry.

"It's pop..." He whispered, I paused. Was he drinking again? I was scared. "He's... Naomi, he's dead" my face went white and my blood went cold. I stared in shock at Brendan's face but then wrapped my arms around his neck as he cried silently into my shoulder. I couldn't believe it, last time I saw Paddy was before we left for California, he was fine, he was happier... I opened my mouth to ask what happened, but Brendan's raspy voice spoke up. "Car crash, a drunk driver crashed into him, he was killed instantly..." Ma always told him the alcohol would kill him one day, but none of us ever thought it would be like this. "That's why I wasn't calling, that's why I couldn't make it on time, I had to-"

"Shhh" I comforted him, not wanting him to talk about it anymore. I could only imagine what would happen when Jade and Tommy found out. I made him a cup of hot tea and sat down next to him on the couch. The silence was deafening, but I found myself silently crying beside Brendan.

"I... He died thinking that... I hated him... Naomi, how can I-"

"Brendan, he knows you didn't hate him" his bright blue eyes met mine and he shook his head.

"You know as well as I do... Pop regretted everything he did to us, and none of us came back to tell him we loved him, we didn't even get to say goodbye..." Koda came down quietly, but I could hear the pads of his paws on the wooden floor as he walked up to Brendan. He hopped up on the couch and didn't bother licking him, he just pressed his head against Brendan's cheek, and stayed there quietly.