Fighter {Completed}

Chapter Forty-Six: Maddie {Cole}

Chapter Forty-Six: Maddie {Cole}

"You okay?" I ask her immediately as she answers the phone.

"I'm fine," she replies, sounding monotone and out of it.

"I knew I should've stayed another few days. Goddammit." I should've stayed. I should've stayed home with Ellie. I could've helped her. I could've been there for her. Fuck!

"I'm fine, Cole. I swear." She speaks just as the intercoms announce my flight over the speakers. I cough to cover it up, but it's too late. Ellie's heard it, and I'm not sure how to make sure I don't ruin the surprise.

After signing the contract, I opted out of the free stay in a luxury hotel and meet and greets. I want to get home to my girl. A presidential suite in one of the nicest hotels in L.A. sounded pretty damn good, but being home with Ellie sounds even better.

"What was that?" she asks, suspicious.

"Nothing, they're checking the systems here at the arena." The excuse is a stupid one. I shake my head as I listen to the words that go past my lips. She's never going to buy that. "I gotta go, sweetheart. I'll be home before you know it."

Lying to Ellie makes my chest ache something fierce.

"I'll see you soon."

"Bye, sweetheart."

"Bye, Cole."

Releasing a sigh as I hang up, I look around. The airport is filled with people, but I quickly make my way to my gate, boarding the flight. My legs bounce in anticipation the entire flight, making the kid next to me give me a strange look.

He eyes the UFC towel in my hands, a random item I'd carried on in my confusion and worry for Ellie. Suddenly, he pulls an action figure out of his own bag, holding it up. It's only after a few seconds that I realize he wants to show me.

"This is Mc-Mc-" he sighs, having trouble with the word. "This is Conor. He's a fighter. Are you a fighter?" Wide doe eyes peer up at me and I give a slow nod, almost feeling my hackles raise. I'm not good with children, especially not when I'm put on the spot like this. "What's your name?" he asks.

"Cole." The kid frowns, trying to think. I sigh. "I'm new," I tell him. "I haven't started yet. I just joined."

"Oh." He smiles widely, his eyes lighting up. "I'm going to have an action figure of you someday!"

His mother turns and shushes him, apologizing to me but I'm too stunned to reply. This kid is right. If I make it big, if I do this right... Everything is going to change.

I'm going to be a fighter. In the UFC.

And I get to experience it with Ellie!

As I gaze at the kid again, I notice he looks sad now. I sigh.

Okay, Cole. Think.

What would Ellie do?

The towel catches my attention, and I pull it from my lap, eyeing the UFC logo and my name across the bottom. The kid looks at me from the corner of his eyes, trying to act uninterested. I can't fight my smile as I catch him gawking in awe a few seconds later.

I'll have plenty of these soon.

"Here," I hand it to him.

He doesn't hesitate, taking it quickly and hugging it to his chest, his face going red with excitement. His mother gives me a grateful smile, smoothing her son's hair softly.

As the plan lands only a little while later, I race home as quick as I can. Despite my attempts, darkness falls and I sigh as I exit the cab in front of my building. I lug my bags into the elevator, stepping out when it opens, only to fall short.

A mass of blonde curls lie attached to a body, one that leans against my door, in a dead sleep. I race toward it, my heart pounding.

It calms instantly as I realize the face in front of me doesn't belong to the woman I love.

It belongs to someone else entirely.

Maddie.

I shake her, trying to wake her from her slumber.

"Hey, Maddie. Wake up," I try again. She groans.

"Cole?" She rubs her head. "What happened?" I frown, unease creeping in to my bones.

"I just got here. What the hell are you doing here?"

"I was drinking..." She tries to think, wiping a hand across her face. "God, my head is pounding. I think someone roofied me," she croaks, tears springing to her eyes. "How did I get here, Cole?"

"I don't know," I tell her, helping her stand. "I'll call your brother." She nods, but quickly stumbles. I catch her, smelling the familiar smell of vomit on her. I try not to crinkle my nose, but holy shit, it stinks.

Her legs give out, nearly jerking me down with her. I catch her just in time, hoisting her up into my arms.

I quickly unlock the door and lead her inside, sitting her on the couch as I call her brother. Garret answers on the first ring, and I tell him to head over, that Maddie needs him. He does so, and I hear him starting his car right before he hangs up.

"Fuck, did I puke on myself?" she asks, beginning to sob.

"Yeah," I tell her. "Here." I toss her a shirt, one that's way to small for me anyways. She catches it but as she stands up to change, her eyes roll back. I race over just as she hits the floor, unconscious once again. "Fuck." I shake her gently. "Maddie, wake up." As Garrett knocks on the door, I call out for him to enter, and he comes in to find us on the floor as I turn Maddie on her side as she vomits once again. The smell is putrid, nearly making me throw up as well.

It takes both of us to get her into a safe position on her side before he calls an ambulance.

Nearly an hour and half later, they're gone and it's silent in my apartment as I clean up the nasty puke on the floor. My unused shirt lies on the ground, and I just throw it away once I spot the small splashes of throw up that reached it.

With a sigh, I make my way to the shower, desperate to get clean.

God, I feel like I'm covered in puke.

I can handle sweat. I can handle blood. I can handle just about any gross substance on this planet, but puke?

I'd rather nosedive into an empty pool than clean up someone else's puke.

Exiting the bathroom, I feel slightly better, yet I'm exhausted. Swiping my phone off the counter, I freeze as notifications pop up on the screen.

Four missed calls from Ellie, one from Sebastian, and a text from Ellie all light up the screen. My heart slams against my chest as I try to return the call, bringing the phone to my ear. They're from over an hour ago, and it's late. Chances are, Ellie is asleep by now.

I curse as the phone goes to voicemail, shooting Sebastian a text and asking if everything's okay. He replies that everything's fine, and I finally relax enough to fall into bed, exhaustion taking over and lulling me to sleep in no time.

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