CHAPTER 18
Sophie
I’m looking around the venue with nervous anticipation. This is where it happens.
“What are you thinking?” A pair of tattooed forearms slink around my waist and pull me back into a hard body.
I smile. “How crazy this is gonna get and how excited Gabe’s going to be when he sees this place.”
“I can’t wait to give him a tour. He’ll go crazy when I take him into the octagon! How’re you doing being away from him?”
Tears come to my eyes and I bow my head trying to go for indifferent. “I’m fine.”
Kyle twirls me around and holds me in his arms. “It’s okay, I know this is the longest you’ve ever been away from him. But he’ll be here in two days with my Mom.”
“I know, it’s just hard. I’ve never spent the night away from him. It’s good that I came out first though, got us settled in before he meets us.”
“And I get to take you out tonight.”
“Out?”
“I’m taking you out on a date. We’ve never been on one of those.” He laughs. “We’ve kind of done things ass backwards.”
“Definitely unconventional. A date you say? I could stand to be wined and dined.”
“Good, I plan on doing that and plenty more after my interview later.”
“I’m gonna need a nap if we’re going out after the late-night talk show.” Christ, it’s on at eleven.
“It’s prerecorded.” He looks at his watch. “We have to get going. I think we have just enough time to get home and changed before heading to the studio.”
I look around the arena again and I can’t help the feeling of dread that takes over. Kyle’s the best MMA fighter on the roster but things go wrong. People make mistakes or underestimate the situation. You can be the best of the best and something can go wrong that’s out of your hands.
“Now what’s that face for babe?”
“What if Gibson gets you in his anaconda choke? What happens if he goes at your weak side?”
“What weak side?” He growls. “Wait, you know I’ve been training my ass off, right? I’ve studied his tapes, his moves, even worked on getting out of his signature submissions. I’ve got this Soph.”
“Don’t get too cocky.”
“I’m Reckless baby, I was born cocky.”
I start to laugh my ass off. “God, it’s so weird seeing my Kyle then seeing Reckless. Cocky my ass.”
Seeing how he interacts with his team and fans astounds me. With his fans he comes off as an arrogant fighter. How can he play the bad boy and still be the most popular MMA fighter in the league? How can he play the part of a heart throb yet still be my sweet Kyle when it’s just us?
“But seriously, what the hell are you talking about? Which is my weak side?”
“Your left side sometimes comes off a little subpar when being attacked.”
“Damn that’s fucking sexy. My girl knows about MMA, let’s go find the locker room.” He crowds me and boxes me in with a wall at my back.
“You have an interview mister. You’re gonna have to wait until after our date.”
“Fuck. Okay, I hope you don’t plan on sleeping tonight.”
“I took a nap on the plane.” I wink and duck under his arm. “I just hope you can keep up with me.”
I hear him mumble something about being a tease, then he comes charging at me as I take off like a bat out of hell. As I’m running down the hall towards the back, I run into a petite woman with a scowl on her face.
“Maggie, what do we owe the pleasure?” Kyle throws his arm around me and smiles at the tiny woman.
“Someone has to keep you in line.” She smiles before staring at me.
“Oh, sorry babe, this is Maggie the head of my PR. Maggie, this is my girlfriend Sophie.”
“I know who she is.” She gives me a once over and can’t hide the revulsion from her face.
I stick my hand out and she reluctantly accepts my hand shake. “It’s nice to meet you Maggie, Ky’s told me a lot about you.”
“Ky’s told you the correct protocol to follow and how to deal with the press I assume?”
Well, I guess pleasantries are over.
“Ash and Savvy gave her a briefing on the plane. No worries. Don’t be so stressed Maggie.”
She takes a deep breath. “Those girls coached your girlfriend on how to deal with the madness?” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “And it would have been nice to get a little warning about the label.”
“The label shouldn’t mean anything.”
“You have a lot of female fans Reckless.”
“Not because I’m a fighter…”
“Because you’re a sex symbol and you have a particular image to uphold if you want to keep pulling in those endorsements. A kid and being tied down isn’t the image we’re going for.”
“Maggie, you work for me, not the other way around. Remember that. And I don’t give a fuck what everyone thinks. Sophie and I are together and I couldn’t give two shits who knows it.”
“If that’s all I’ll be picking you up later for your interview.”
“We’ll meet you there.”
“She’s coming?”
“Talk to you later Maggie.”
Kyle grabs my hand and walks us towards the exit of the venue. He stays silent but judging from his heavy breaths and his clenched jaw, he’s fuming. Once we’re outside and safely in his sports car, he turns towards me.
“I’m sorry babe.”
“It’s not your fault. You did nothing wrong, I just don’t want to be a cause for problems while I’m here.”
“You could never be a problem. Let’s grab some lunch on the way home before we have to get ready.”
My stomach growls and it sounds like a bear’s trying to bust out of my stomach. “Yup, let’s grab something quick. Don’t want you tired for later.” He waggles his brows and has me laughing.
Damn, only the first day of Vegas and two girls tried to double team him straight from the plane and his PR lady hates me.
I pray the interview later goes off without a hitch.
I can’t believe my eyes as I walk through the entrance of Kyle’s pent house. This isn’t what I was expecting at all and I shouldn’t be surprised he lives in a place as luxurious as this. I’m used to his house back home which is massive but not to the extent of this.
A mother freaking penthouse!
“Holy shit…” The entire living room walls are made up of windows. Being on the top floor and in the heart of Vegas I see everything! Not that I know what anything is but still, the view is gorgeous and I can’t imagine waking up to this view every morning.
“Awesome huh?” Kyle wraps his arms around my waist from behind and I melt back into his body.
“I can’t believe you live here! A tabloid said you lived in a mansion outside the strip. Er… or so I’ve heard.”
Kyle laughs and pulls me tighter. “I do but I prefer to stay here during fights because I’m closer to where I train and all the media outlets. It’s just easier. If you don’t think this is good for Gabe we can stay at the house…”
“No this is fine! He’ll love the view! Maybe you can show me your house while we’re out here too, I’d love to see where you live when you aren’t home.”
“Of course, Gabe will love that place more because it has a pool right outside the back door, not one you have to take an elevator 30 floors to get too.”
“I’m sure he won’t care.” I laugh.
“We need to eat quick and then get ready.”
“I just wanna call Gabe really quick. My Mom’s still a little hesitant on how to work facetime but Gabe knows how to do it.”
I pull out my phone and dial my mom’s number. It rings and rings with no answer and I groan out in frustration. I know they’re home, she just text me saying they just finished dinner. I try again and the phone finally connects and I’m met with the smiling face of my handsome boy.
“MOM!”
“Hey baby! Are you having fun with Grammy?”
“Yes, we went to the Inn for a while then she took me to the zoo! There were these monkeys with jacked up butts.”
I laugh and hear Kyle chuckling to my side as he approaches. When he comes into view on the phone Gabe goes crazy.
“DAD! Dad, can you see me?” He gets his face crazy close so we can only see his eye.
“I can see you and I miss you like crazy!”
“You guys are babies. I saw you last night.”
“You don’t miss me at all?” I question.
“Oh god, here comes the water works.” Kyle whispers while laughing and pulls me close.
“Maybe a little. I’m a man now Mom and men don’t miss their moms.”
“Okay, you be a big strong man and I’ll talk to you tomorrow okay. Love you.”
“Love you little man.”
“Bye!” He goes to hang up but comes close again. “Love you guys too.” He gives us a big toothy smile before hanging up the phone.
“Deep breaths babe.”
“He doesn’t miss me!” I whine but know it’s a good thing. I’d rather have him happy with my Mom than a terror saying he wants me every two seconds.
The doorbell rings and Kyle runs to get it. He comes back a few minutes later with a small package in hand.
“What’s that?”
“No clue. It was delivered downstairs and its addressed to you.” He shakes it and it doesn’t make a lot of noise. When he pulls it open I try to grab it because it’s addressed to me!
“I need to make sure its safe babe, anyone could have dropped it off.” He takes what appear to be pictures out of the box and throws them right back in. “Motherfucker!”
“What? What is it Kyle?” I try to lean over but he shuts the box.
“Believe me…” He looks at me with a panicked look on his face. “You don’t want to see what’s in here.”
“What is it?” I inquire again, it has to be bad.
Kyle pulls out a note after looking inside carefully. He reads it over and crumples it in his hands and throws it across the room. I run for it even though he yells for me to stop. After picking it up and straightening it out I read it.
To the infamous Sophie Frankel, the woman who took our Reckless off the market. Ha, I can’t write that with a straight face. I wanted you to know what you’re getting yourself into… have at it doll. -Gibby
“Kyle, what’s in the box?”
“I told you you’re not seeing it.”
“It’s of you and other women isn’t it?” I take a deep breath because I really don’t need him to answer.
“Yeah…”
I walk to the windows as anger starts to swirl inside of me. How dare these people try to tear us apart! What did I ever do to them to warrant such nasty behavior?
“I’m sorry Sophie, I just…”
“You have nothing to apologize for Kyle. This isn’t your fault.” But I can’t turn to face him thinking of the twins in the car from earlier.
“It’s because I’ve been a complete asshole for the past several years. Seeing what’s in that box is a real eye opener for me. I’ll understand if you want to go home.”
I turn and face him. “Why would I do that?”
“Because everywhere we turn there’s someone trying to cut us down. How much more can you take? I’m waiting for you to realize I’m not worth it and run for the hills.”
“Kyle don’t ever think that. You are completely worth it and I love you. Don’t forget that or lose sight of us while we’re here. We came in strong and we’re going to leave even stronger.”
He kisses my lips gently and grabs my hand. “Let’s go eat at least. The foods probably cold by now.”
“I got a salad it’s all good.” I wink at him and he smiles back.
Vegas may be winning at this point but nothing will break us apart.