CHAPTER 3
Kyle
“Why are you over here by yourself looking so miserable?”
“Hey Mom.” I smile at her from behind my designer shades. She takes a seat next to me and wraps her arms around my shoulders.
“It’s been too long.” She whispers and I hear her sniffle.
“Don’t be like that Mom, I’ve been busy. Will you stop crying if I promise to do better?”
She sits up. “You’re gonna do what you think is best baby, we have this conversation every time I see you. I’m not going to nag you anymore. I’ll soak up these visits so they’re nothing but good memories to last me until the next one.”
Well, that hit me in the heart. Coming to this party may have been a mistake, mentally I have been beaten and bloodied. Back in Vegas I’m king. No one gives me shit and everyone knows exactly who I am. Coming home has started putting things into perspective. Life is way fucking easier in Vegas.
I questioned coming after the whole party fiasco the other night. But I decided to suck it up and forgive them for overreacting. So here I am, taking hit after hit once again from my family members and segregating myself in the back corner of the yard.
“Why is it so hard to be home?” The question leaves my mouth before I can stop it. Even when I haven’t seen my Mom in a year it’s always like no times passed. I immediately regret the question, it makes me sound like a pussy.
“Never mind…” I try to get out but she goes for it with gusto anyway.
“A lot has happened over the last couple years. Relationships have changed. They’re your family yes but you need to work at a relationship. Even if it’s just a phone call. I know your brothers would love to hang out and help you with your training… I’ve overheard them a time or two.” She winks at me. “Don’t tell them I said that. They like to give you a hard time about your fancy life.” She gets up and walks back to the other side of the yard after kissing my cheek. I take a deep breath and try not to get angry that she always takes their side. I remember once upon a time it was me and her against them. Damn, a lot has happened. Luckily, I’m 24 years old, a man, and I don’t need my Mommy to be my best friend. Or so I keep chanting in my head.
When I arrived an hour ago, I was met with blank stares. My own nieces and nephews had no idea who I was and the oldest said “Oh, look. Uncle Poopy head’s here.” Amelia’s certainly a spitting image of her mother. Already with no filter at the age of three, she’s Ash through and through.
But I took it in stride. I haven’t been back in a while, maybe I should try hanging out with them more while I’m home? It wouldn’t kill me. I bought Everly a kick ass present, that’s sure to get me some Brownie points.
“Baby Bro!”
I look up and see my older brother Jayden making his way to me with a baby strapped to his chest. The sight makes me laugh but I sigh in defeat as I’m sure another you can do better speech is coming my way.
“Don’t hate, this thing is fucking awesome. Plus, Silas loves it.”
He’s holding my new nephew that I have yet to meet. He must be a couple months old by now. I stand up and get a look at the little runt. Si grips onto my finger hard.
“Poor bastard, he looks just like you. But look at this grip, he’ll be in the ring before you know it.”
“I know, it’s fucking awesome. Oh crap.” He covers the baby’s ears. “Fucking awesome. Georgie hates that they look like me. I wouldn’t hate it if the boys took up fighting… although Georgie may have my balls for it.”
I laugh. He has two kids with my sister-in-law Georgie. Two boys. I know she’s gunning for a girl but I hear that Jay wants to stop with the two boys. He’s wrapped around her finger and I bet they have three more boys before having a girl.
“Listen, about the other night.” I sigh knowing he’s going to somehow knock me down.
“Don’t Jay, let’s enjoy the party.”
“No, you don’t know where I’m going with this. You’re young, you should be able to enjoy life and what you’ve accomplished in your short career. I just want you to think about how you treat people. Really think about who you can actually trust in your life. I can’t imagine treating people that way makes many friends?”
“I have Preston and Maggie.”
“Your manager and the head of your PR team.”
“You know me and Pres have been friends most of my life… and Maggie’s awesome.”
“Yeah, I know her reputation as a Pitbull must really make her a fun time. Just promise me you’ll try being home more.”
“God, when did you turn into such a Dad?” I laugh.
“I know right. Ever since we’ve had kids I’ve become Mr. fucking Rogers.” He laughs back.
“I’ll try to come around more.” I promise hoping to keep it.
He looks around and takes a deep breath. “Have you seen Soph around?”
“Nope, I have no reason to. Why would you bring her up?”
“Shut the hell up. Suck up your pride and go talk to her. I really think you should go see her. I ran into her at the store a few weeks back.” He’s looking at me weird like I should be in on the joke somehow.
I nod my head in understanding. “We’ll see.”
“So… when’s the big fight? Two months, right?”
“Yup. I really need to buckle down on my training. My home gyms good but I need to spar again.”
“You got it. Meet me at Z’s gym tomorrow morning.”
“Maybe I’ll get someone else…”
“Why the fuck would you do that?” He growls then puts his hands over the baby’s ears.
“Well, you’re old now. I need someone that’ll be a challenge… no offense.”
He starts pacing in circles, bouncing on his feet. “Ohhhhhhh, it’s on.” He points his finger at me. “Make sure your ass is at the gym at 7 AM little boy.”
I fucking hate when they make references to me being young. I’m 24!
“I’m already on thin ice with Mom, I can’t add injuring her precious baby to my rap sheet.”
“Knock that shit off, I can take a hit. Did she tell you about the wedding?” He has a giant smile on his face.
“What wedding?” I wonder who’s getting married.
“Billy proposed a few weeks back. They’re getting married beginning of next year.”
“What? And no one bothered to tell me this?” I’m pissed. Why the fuck wouldn’t they tell me huge news like that?
“Do you ever return our calls or reply to our texts? Call us just because or fuck, fly home every once in a while? You don’t know because you’ve become a prick. Someone you promised me back at Josh’s bachelor party that you’d never become. Don’t come at me, look in the fucking mirror bro.” With that he turns on his heels and marches away, baby in tow.
“Christ!” I whisper yell not wanting to become an even bigger spectacle today.
All right, maybe segregating myself isn’t the best idea. Everyone keeps approaching me and telling me what a dumb fuck I am. With that thought, I get up and make my way back to the party. Well, I try before the one and only Jack Jenks walks by me, grabs my elbow and pulls me behind a few bushes.
“These fucking parties…” He pulls a flask out of his back pocket, unscrews the cap and takes a healthy swig. It doesn’t surprise me in the least. Savvy’s dad is funny as shit and I’m hoping we can hide out for a bit. “What happened to keeping your guests happy? If I have to endure a kid’s soiree filled with unicorns and fucking tutu’s someone needs to keep a cold beer in my hand and plenty of food in the other.” He offers the flask to me and of course I take it.
After a big gulp, the burn is instant. “Christ, what is that?” I cough but try to hide it. I’m not a pussy.
“Canadian Club, take it like a man.” He takes another gulp and doesn’t flinch. “What the hell type of drinks are they giving you out in Hollywood? Fucking Cosmo’s and Mimosa’s? Man up Kyle!”
I can’t help but laugh. I’ve always liked Jack even though I’ve never really been one-on-one with him like I am now. “I’ll try.”
“So, you have Gibson in a couple months, huh?” He eyes me with curiosity letting me know he doesn’t really want to talk about my fight.
“Yup.”
“Are you ready?”
“I will be.”
“You gotta lay off the booger sugar first.”
I shouldn’t have taken another sip from the flask, I immediately start spewing it everywhere… including on Jack.
“Fuck son, I already took a shower this morning. Say it, don’t fucking spray it.” He’s pulling his shirt off his chest with a look of disgust aimed in my direction.
“Jack, I don’t do drugs. I know what’s been written in the tabloids but it was all a misunderstanding.”
“Were you at a club with people dabbling in blow?”
I nod my head.
“Did you have a high-class hooker in your hotel room the same night?”
“She wasn’t as high-class as she looked.” I mumble.
“Don’t shit yourself, no hookers are high-class.” He laughs. “What the fuck is going on Kyle? Everyone’s worried about you.”
“I wish they wouldn’t. I’m fine, living the American dream. I have more money than I know what to do with, a different woman in my bed every night and I’m the Light Heavy Weight Champ! Which I won from my own flesh and blood by the way. What more could I ask for?”
“Do you really need that answered? You’re only fooling yourself.” He eyes me skeptically. Jack has always been good at getting his point across with his eyes.
I take a deep breath and run my hand through my hair. “I thought that’s how I felt… until I got home and now I’m starting to question it.” I can’t believe I’m actually admitting what’s been in my head out loud. “I love my life and everything I have but every time I’m home it’s like I’m not enough. They all treat me like the black sheep of the family. And they wonder why I don’t come home more often.”
“That’s not true. I think they have their panties in a twist because you’ve shut them out. Think, now really think Kyle. What aspects of your life do you let them in? You have two top notch MMA fighters you could use for training and you ignore them. A Mom that just wants you home for a visit more often and a whole plethora of little psychos that if given the chance, would look up to you as a role model. Hell, little Jesse has seen all your fights and idolizes you even though he plays it cool in front of his cousins. But first you need to stop fucking up your life.”
“There’s no way Ashlyn would let my two-year-old nephew watch my fights.”
“Your right, he’s seen them with me.”
I laugh. “Man…”
“I’ll say it again, you need to figure your shit out son. In the ring you’re golden, no one can touch you. You need to get your personal life set so you don’t have distractions in the ring.”
I hang my head because I know he’s right. “It’s driving me crazy that even though I have everything anyone could possibly want… something’s missing.”
“Or someone.”
“Fuck. Are you gonna start talking to me about Sophie too?”
“Who the hells Sophie?”
“Thank Christ.” I look up to the heavens thankful at least one person doesn’t know who she is.
“Want some advice? Take your time at home to regroup. To figure out what’s important in life, or more, what’s important to you. You have a family that loves the hell outta you that you’ve been neglecting. Something tells me you had your reasons for staying away but it has to stop. The tops going to look awfully lonely when you’re all by yourself.”
“Zander was right. You do give good pep talks.” I laugh. “I’ll do just that but I doubt the outcome will be different. I love the life I’ve built for myself. A life fit for a king. I’m just thrown off being at home for so long. All their bullshits getting to my head. Everything was fine when I was in Vegas.”
“Even Kings question who their real friends are. Who’s with them for their fame or their company?” He claps me on the back and heads back for the party and I’m hot on his heels.
As my eyes meet Mom’s from across the yard I smile at her. She smiles warmly back and snuggles into Billy. As I approach them I put my hand out for him and shake.
“Congrats you two. Do I call you Daddy now?”
“Hell no!” Billy laughs as tears build in Mom’s eyes as she pulls me in for a hug.
“I really hope you’ll be there.” She whispers in my ear.
Pulling back, I smile down at her. “How could I retain my title of your favorite son if I don’t show up?”
“Ohhhhhhh, now it’s really on!” Jayden yells as he starts doing his weird bouncing around pacing thing again.
“What’s on?” Georgie asks holding their son in her arms.
“I hope you don’t mind tending to your husband tomorrow, he’s about to get a beating. He thinks he can take me on. Kyle `Reckless` Cage!” I laugh.
“My moneys on Jay.” I hear Josh say to Zander.
I’m about to make a witty retort when excruciating pain hits my nether region. “Oh my fucking god!”
“Oh shit, she hit him right in the bean bag, That, was not pretty.” Savvy yells.
I hit the ground cupping my balls with my hand, praying something isn’t broken.
“He’s turning white, I think we should see if he’s okay?”
The pain becomes unbearable until something nails me in the head and everything goes black.