"Oh don't be too rough with her!" I called after Hudson, my assistant and guard for the trip. He nodded at me and lead Atlanta into her kennel while Jamie and I boarded our small, personal plane. It was the night of July thirteenth and we were currently leaving Vegas to go straight to Orlando. I was excited, yet nervous to see Ezra again. I knew she was going to be in Orlando and I knew we would end up seeing one another.
"You excited?" Jamie asked with a bright smile on her face.
"More or less," I shrugged and plopped into my seat on the plane. Jamie sat down across the aisle from me and began pulling her hair into a messy bun. I reclined my chair and grabbed my blanket from the chair next to me then plugged my ear buds into my ear. Closer by the Chainsmokers and Halsey played through my head. I loved the feeling of wearing ear buds. The music completely drowns out your thoughts and centers itself in your thoughts.
I'm pretty sure I was asleep before the plane took off.
*
We landed in Orlando at about two thirty in the morning, causing Jamie to immediately wake up. I, on the other hand, didn't wake up until Hudson forcefully pulled me from my seat. If there is anything I know outside of kickboxing, it's the effects of kickboxing. Which is extreme exhaustion and a very sore body. That's the main reason why I sleep like a baby after a fight. Especially big ones like Vegas.
Hudson checked Jamie and I into our hotel rooms before booking a room for himself. We made sure to get a room that allows pets, so I could have Atlanta with me all night. As I stood holding her leash in the hotel lobby, Hudson and Jamie grabbed a cart for all of our bags.
"Greer," Jamie got my attention, "If you want to head up to the room with Atlanta and her stuff then Hudson and I can bring the luggage."
She handed me the key card, "It's room 312."
"Thank you," I said as I grabbed a small bag full of Atlanta's things and padded over to the elevator. While in the elevator, I decided to message Ezra back.
Greer Steel:
We just barely got to our hotel
Despite the fact that is was almost three in the morning, she messaged me back.
Ezra Morgan:
Oh thats rough, I've been in Orlando all day with Kameron (:
Greer Steel:
You brought her with? That's so great! I just brought my dog, Jamie, and my guard Hudson
I lead my dog down the quiet hallway until I spotted my room number on the left. The card I was given allowed entrance to my room and I flicked on the lights. As soon as the door closed behind me, I let Atlanta off her leash. Hotel rooms faintly reminded me of being a teenager. During my teenage years Dave, my uncle, and I spent all of me free time trying to build up my career. I guess it was safe to say it paid off.
*
"Don't worry, kid," my uncle Thomas told me, "It'll be fine."
I was only sxiteen at the time but I could tell that all of this was already going to be hard work. I wasn't completely ready to throw my entire life into something that could have the chance of not working out. At this point in time I was horrified to take that risk.
"So," I said once we opened the door, "This is our room?"
"I guess so," Thomas looked around the grungy and old room.
"I've never stayed in a hotel before."
"Trust me," Dave said while dropping his bags in the room, "One day you'll stay at the greatest hotels, kiddo."
*
That was the first of dozens of hotels I would stay in. I spent every summer and every break during highschool touring around the states and competing in fights that were seemingly meaningless at the time, but now I can tell they made all the difference in the world.
A knock at my hotel door made Atlanta perk her ears, but then lay right back down. I opened the door to see Hudson, standing so tall he may as well have been my door.
"Okay," he started off and placed my luggage inside my door, "Jamie's room is across the hall and mine is right next door. If you need anything then let me know."
He handed me an extra key for his room, which caused me to the furrow my eyebrows. Dave or any of my other guards had never offered a spare key to me. I really appreciated this actually.
"Thank you," I told him.
"Just incase," he reminded me, smiled, and stalked towards his door.
I just put his card in my nightstand. Usually I had a different guard with me on trips, Keith. But his wife had a baby and now he'll be gone for awhile. I was fairly familiar with Hudson, only because he worked closely with Keith. I also usually had Dave here with me but I guess he had too much going on for his career right now. He was working with Under Armor to make a line of clothing dedicated to kickboxing and its style. Which was really cool for him to do besides babysit me all the time.
Honestly, I wasn't uncomfortable with having Hudson be with me. It was just a change and I was going to have to get used to it.
Without doing anything with my luggage, I turned off the lights and allowed city light to seep in from the window. I slipped into the bed with my dog and wiggled into the matress until I was comfortable again. Within moments, I had let exhaustion take me over again and pull me down into a deep sleep.
YOU ARE READING
Hit Like A Girl
Random"I'm Greer," I said and stuck out my tiny hand. She gave me a dim smile, "My name is Ezra." Little did I know, she would mean everything to me for the next 6 years. ••• Follow along in this two author story about everlasting friendship. Read both si...
