Chapter 32
Sage
Roman’s phone died. He said to watch SKW at 7. -Marcus
“Is that Ro?”
I tossed the phone on the coffee table. “No, it was his friend. Roman’s phone died, but he said to tell you we need to watch him at seven.”
“Woo! That means he made the night show!” Sam jumped up and down. “This is awesome, Mama. He told me if he keeps winning, he could win some big thing in the end.”
Sam was so specific. “You mean a title, baby?”
“Yeah, a title.”
I had found that out too. I felt like a jerk when Roman would start talking about karate, and I had no idea what he meant. Not that I was going to actually learn karate, but I figured I should learn some of the lingo and what the gist was with everything.
“How long until we get to watch him?”
“Hour and a half, bud.”
His face fell, “Oh man.” His head popped up. “Can we have rice for dinner?”
“So random, Sam,” I laughed. “You mean Chinese?”
“Yeah, China! Not the kind you make either. The stuff they bring to the door.”
“Chinese.”
“China,” he smiled.
“Now you’re just messing with me.”
He shrugged. “Roman said I needed to keep you on your toes.” He pointed his finger at me. “So now, order China.” He raced down the hallway to the bathroom. “I’ll even wash up right now.”
Oh poor, Sam. Too bad he was going to find out he was going to have to wash up again when the food got here.
“Mama,” he called. “Can I have some paper? I want to make a sign for Roman.”
I strolled down the hallway and leaned against the doorway. “Baby, he can’t see you.”
He rolled his eyes and balled up the hand towel. “Yes, he can. If you send a picture to him.”
Lordy. Here came one of Sam’s crazy ideas.
“I need a big piece of paper, markers, and you need to order China.”
I threw my hands up in the air. “Aye, aye, captain. But it’s Chinese, not China.” The kid wanted me to order a whole country.
*
Roman
“She text back?”
Marcus shook his head. “No.”
That sucked. I didn’t expect her to have a full-blown conversation with Marcus, but I at least expected an okay or something.
“Dude, she’s got a kid. Maybe she’s busy.”
It was half past six. She probably was. Sam was a handful, and it was right around his dinner time.
“Look, just focus on your shit coming up.” Marcus’ phone dinged. “Whoa, hold on, brother. She just sent a picture. If this is a tit pick, I am so saving this shit to my phone.”
I grabbed the phone from his hand and flipped him off. “Just for that, I am so kicking your ass tonight.”
“Just one glimpse, brother. That’s all I’ll need.”
“You follow me, and I’ll take out your good hand, brother.” I moved to the other side of the stage and clicked on the message. Sage and Sam’s smiling faces lit up the screen with a huge sign with words “Go Roman” scrawled on it.
“It’s titties, isn’t it? That’s why you look like you’re about bust a nut.” Marcus peeked over my shoulder, and I didn’t even try to elbow him in the gut. “Oh man, that ain’t no titties.”
I looked over my shoulder at him. “It’s fucking better than titties, asswipe.”
He shrugged. “To each their own, brother. I’ll take titties any day, though.”
“Can I have a fucking moment, please?” Marcus was a good friend, but he needed to get gone for five minutes. He held up his hands and strolled away.
“Roman, I need you for five minutes.” Lauren walked onto the stage with her hands on her hips.
“Kind of busy here, Lauren.” This bitch popped up at the least convenient times.
“Well, you’re on SKW’s time right now, and I’ll tell you if you’re too busy to talk to me. Sending little love letters to your girlfriend is not what you’re getting paid for right now.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “What do you need now?” As much I didn’t like Lauren, she was still my boss.
“Karate Illustrated wants to talk to you right now. They want to get inside the brain of Roman Yeck before he competes. I told them you would meet them on the side of the stage. Make sure to mention SKW.” She tapped the toe of her shoe and crossed her arms.
This shit was getting old. After I had told Lauren to stick where the sun didn’t shine when it came to Sage and me, she was a raging bitch pulling me here and there. I quickly typed out a message, sent it Sage, and tossed the phone to Marcus.
“Be back in ten, brother.” I turned to Lauren. “Lead the way.”
She smiled smugly and marched off the stage.
She may have thought she won, but she was going to have a rude awakening come Monday.
Roman Yeck didn’t put up with this shit.
*