Page 112 of My Undead Heart

“Shhh...Shhh!Everyone shut up!” I dart toward the TV.

“The girl who never loved sports is suddenly an MMA fan? What’d I miss?” Rae’s stupid friend Violet laughs and I really would love to take the skills Matt taught me and punch her in the boob, but I don’t want to miss this.

I can’t believe it’s him. I can’t believe he cut his hair. I’m frantic as they flash back to what must be old film clips from his fighting days. “Turn it up! That’s Matt!” I shout to no one but myself.

Jared’s already cut the music. He presses buttons on the remote to raise the volume over the party’s chatter. It’s Matt. Old footage from his fighting days but new stuff too, from last night’s weigh-in with Xavier.

“This is one of the most anticipated fights of the evening, folks. Defending champ Cesar Hernandez in the lightweight division will be taking on newcomer Xavier Johnson from Chicago, Illinois. Now, this kid is young, but he’s hungry. And training under former UFC champion Matt Haywood, he comes with high expectations.”

“Yes, Dave. Not only that, but heavy skepticism. If you remember Matt Haywood, then you remember his fall from grace not even two years ago. Tonight’s match-up isn’t only about him proving his coaching skills, but also reclaiming some of the dignity that was torn from him the last time he was here in the UFC octagon.”

“That’s right, Larry. Matt Haywood lost his title to Suarez, at the time an underrated twenty-year-old kid from South America. Victor Suarez claimed the UFC championship with what many call one of the bloodiest match-ups in UFC history. Then came the aftermath. The shocking revelation that Matt’s own father bet against him and won half a million in the process had many fans questioning whether Matt intentionally threw the fight.”

“I wonder that myself, Dave, but watching him sustain a head injury that put him from the cage for good, I find it hard to believe he would go to such lengths.”

“I know I wouldn’t do that for my own father. Hell, I wouldn’t take one punch for the bastard.”

“Also, adding fuel to the speculation about Haywood’s childhood were his hefty donations to domestic violence shelters in his hometown of Chicago. Though Haywood never confirmed rumors about his own mother, you have to wonder what kind of abuse he experienced first-hand before making his way into the UFC.”

“That’s right. Haywood’s been a huge advocate of self-defense, too. His training facility, South Side Gym, and the same place he’s training up and coming fighters like Xavier Johnson, also offers free weekly clinics for women.”

Their commentary collides with the voices around me, but I zone it all out to focus on my Matt. No, notmyMatt. Just Matt. He looks good. Better than good really, and my stomach bubbles with nervous energy when they pan off to another story about his fighter, Xavier.

“Another striking coincidence between the two fighters. Not only were they raised by single mothers, but recently Xavier Johnson’s mother was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. As we all remember, Matt Haywood’s mother passed away from breast cancer a year after he claimed his UFC title. Not only did Matt dedicate his title fight, and every fight after that to her memory, but when I spoke with Xavier Johnson last night, he too says he is fighting for his mother tonight.”

“That’s an endearing story, Larry, and we all send out our thoughts and prayers to Mrs. Johnson this evening.”

“You okay? You want to sit down?” Rae touches my arm but I shake my head.

“Here.” She slides a bottle into my hands. “At least drink this. You’re starting to freak me out.”

“Thank you,” I mumble and bring the cool liquid to my lips. I can’t wrap my head around the information because I can’t believe Matt never shared that with me. His own father bet against him. That’s why he was so horrible to him. That’s why he didn’t care. Matt wasn’t broken at all. He was burned by his own blood. He’s good at being alone because that’s what he’s been doing all long. My heart sinks a little more because I’m the one who shut him out. Told him to leave me alone, and when he tried to apologize I didn’t give him the chance.

“Rae?” I ask, my eyes still trained on the screen. They’ve moved on from Matt’s story and are now discussing the first match-up of the night while panning the arena as it continues to fill with people. A brilliant plan is forming in the back of my mind, my pulse speeding with both the excitement and promise that it might actually work.

“What’s up, Mia?”

“Do you still talk to that artist?”

“Mia, really? Half of my friends are artists.” She laughs and eyes me closely. “You sure you’re feeling okay?”

“The eccentric millionaire.” I can’t remember his name, but I remember he inherited half a gold mine. A literal gold mine. Yes, this is perfect. Really, if I can pull this off ... I drop my voice and spin to meet her concerned stare. “The one you slept with.”

She blinks once and I can tell she’s trying to be patient with me. “Alexander, yes. We speak on occasion ... and hook up every blue moon, too.”

“Good. You’ve got leverage, then!” My heart pounds so loudly in my chest that I’m surprised it doesn’t jump right out.

“Why do you look as if you’re about to propose an evil plan, and why do I get the feeling I’m about to agree to it?” Her worries add creases to her frown, but this is Rae and if anyone will be able to make this happen, it’s her.

“He has that private jet, right?”

She nods and shrugs. “Well, it’s a shared service, but yeah.”

I grab her hands in mine. “Can he take us somewhere? Tonight?”

“Where ...” she asks, her voice trailing as my gaze drifts back to the television screen. “Ah, right. So, you want to take an impromptu girls trip. To Vegas? Tonight?”

“It’s crazy, right? And probably not even possible.” I shove my hands through my hair and bite the inside of my cheek. It is crazy. I’m acting crazy. What’s worse is I don’t even care.

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