Foster Mom [#Wattys2016] (completed) ✔️

41.

Ethan and I climb into the ring.

The guys gather around the ring and I hear them talking about the match I won against Mason. The guys don't think I'm much of a competition for Ethan.

I'm going to show them what I'm capable of and I hope they choke on their words.

Ethan moves towards me and he throws a right hook. I duck out of the way and I punch him the stomach. Ethan makes his move next and he can't land a hit on me. I keep moving my feet from side to side. I kick him in the stomach.

***

Ethan holds onto his stomach. He moves over to the ropes and takes a breather. He looks into the crowd and so do I.

Mom, Dad, Sophie and Gracie walk into the gym.

What are they doing here? I don't want my girls to see their parents fighting.

Dad moves towards the ring and he waves me over.

I walk over to the rope. "What are you doing here?"

He smiles. "I couldn't miss my daughter's fight with her fiancé. This could be the last fight I see and I want to have plenty of memories of you as I take my last breath. Please, don't take anything away from me."

I sit on the side of the ring and I hug him. "I won't take anything away from you, Dad. I was thinking that since the girls and you are here now that we go to Harlow's Peak for a picnic?"

"Are you sure you want to go there after everything happened there? I thought it might freak you out to go there?"

I shake my head. "The good memories will replace the bad." I look over at Ethan. "Are you good?" He nods. "Don't take it easy on me, sweetheart. I know you can do better than that. Stop, holding back and show me what you've got."

Ethan turns to Johnny. "Do you want me to continue to hold back or do you want me to give her my all?"

Why is he asking Johnny for help?

I cross my arms and tap my foot as I wait for Johnny to give him the answer. "Johnny, hurry up and decide or I'm going to jump out of this ring and beat you myself."

Johnny laughs. "I would love to see you beat me. I'll go up against you next, sis. I won't go easy."

I smirk. "Great! I'll get a double workout with you boys?"

"Give her everything you've got, Ethan. If she bleeds take care of it later. If she bruises give her an ice pack after the fight and don't stop until you can't fight anymore. She wants a workout, we'll give it to her." he blows me a kiss. "Love you, sis."

I flip him off and walk to the other side of the ring. I take a drink before Mason stands in the middle of the ring.

Mason looks at us. "Are you ready?" Ethan and I remain quiet, but we nod. He blows his whistle. "Go." He steps to the side and he whispers. "Show him what you've got."

Ethan steps forward and he uses his right leg to kick me, at the last second I step back. "Shit!"

I throw a right hook and it hits him in the head. He shakes his head and then I study Ethan's moves while I try to block his next hit.

He steps the side as I throw a kick at him. He throws a right hook and it hits me in the side of the head.

I start to see black spots in my vision and I fall on the ground. I close my eyes for a second.

Laken, stop thinking of him as your fiancé. Kick his arse like you would a stranger. Don't hold back. Make him work hard for the win.

Ethan touches my shoulder and I turn towards him. "Are you alright?" he extends his hand to me and I take it. He pulls me to my feet.