Page 107 of Falcon

“Hello, Jennifer. Nice to see you again.”

“He didn’t offer to put you in something a little…” She glides her eyes up and down my body with the most disgusting look on her face, like I’m nothing but trash. “…less homely?”

Take a breath, Faith.

I fight down the urge to comment, but then I remember what Marco said. I take in the expression of disdain on her horrifically painted face and the fact I can see the track from her hair extensions and reply with a simple. “Actually, I just didn’t want to outshine you.”

“Please.” She tosses her hair over her shoulder. “No one could. Falcon likes it when I wear this black dress. I thought he’d appreciate stripping it off of me later.”

“You sound very sure of yourself,” I add, my tone dripping with sarcasm. She is standing with her hands on her hips and her boobs so pushed up; I’m shocked she isn’t suffocating in them. “Oh, to have your confidence.”

She gives me a wicked grin before turning to speak with a group of women, dressed much like her, who have come to sit in the row behind me.

I do my best to tune them out and focus on the scene in front of me.

I’m just a few rows back from the wall separating the crowd from the area where the trainers stand. It’s set up like a concert in the round, really, except the stage is a large octagon with a cage around it.

There are people flowing all around, adjusting cables, bringing towels, checking cameras and across to the side, I can see the table that houses the media and the commentators for the night.

There are so many varieties of people here. I can turn to my right and see a full group of college-aged kids, but if I turn to my left, I can see a father there with his two young boys. As archaic as fighting seems on the surface, it really does give so many people a common interest.

There are five fights leading into the Falcon’s main event fight and with each on that passes, I grow more and more anxious.

There is way more blood than I thought there would be. I honestly don’t know what I was expecting, really.

My father was always a big boxing fan, but that was like a dance almost with its ballet-like footwork and tests of stamina and skill.

This is brute strength, backyard brawl, may the best man win type of shit.

I’ve seen Falcon train. I’ve seen him work out and I’ve seen him fight in YouTube videos online, so I know he is more than able to handle himself in the Octagon, but that doesn’t stop the bubble of nerves building deep in my chest.

“He’s next.” I hear Jennifer tell someone behind me. “I can feel him between my legs already.” I can only roll my eyes in response.

Is she laying it on extra thick because I’m right here and she saw us together, or does she really behave this way all of the time?

I watch as the crew comes out to clean off the mat inside the cage as everyone resets for the final fight of the evening.

It’s a well-oiled machine, this place. Everyone has a job and they do it quickly so everything moves along without issue.

“Faith?”

I hear my name from the aisle beside me and sweep my head around to see a familiar face.

“Joe. Hello.” I lean over to give him a small hug. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Marco wanted me to head out here and make sure you were all right and have everything you needed. I told him I’d make sure.”

I’d be lying if I said the thought that his mind is on me at all while he’s prepping for a match didn’t make my heart beat a little faster. That fact must be written all over my face because Joe instantly comments on it.

“You know, he had that same look back there when he asked about you.”

“Tell him I am perfect and I have everything I need…and to be safe. Please. Make sure you add that last part, okay?”

“He needs another person on his ass about staying safe, so believe me…I’ll tell him.” He throws me a wink. “Enjoy the fight, oh, and don’t pay attention to the riffraff behind you. Ignore it. We all do.”

I giggle and lean in to whisper to him, “She’s truly the worst, isn’t she? I’m not being petty or catty?”

He whispers back, “No, dear, she’s a demon bitch from hell, who reads too much into things that didn’t really matter.” He gives me a pat on the back and heads back down to the main floor, flashing the pass around his neck so he can go back to where Falcon and the other fighters are waiting.

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