“Come on now, Rico. It’s only been three weeks..”
“Yeah, but no call or anything? I thought we were cooler than that?”
“Yeah.. well… I’ve kinda been staying off my phone recently. And my dad has me working six days. It’s hard to even find time to meet up.”
They made their way onto the deck. The night had already fallen. And the air was colder. Rico rubbed his right knee. Casey looked at it. He’d seen him favoring one side as they’d walked.
“What happened to your knee?”
“It was a small injury at work.”
“Casey, you can’t take the Nadene thing too seriously. To be straight with you. We are young. We’ve got options”
“I really don’t think that’s a good way to live, though. I’m a guy who likes the idea of a family.”
“Well I know that but you still have to understand that you need to find someone who thinks like you.”
“Yeah, I see what you’re saying”
Casey shifted the topic. “So, how are you?”
“Well, I’ve been doing alright. I’ve been working at a hotel. The Maypole, if you could believe it?” Rico leaned on the railing and faced Casey.
“So, what they got you doing there?”
“I’m a server, but sometimes I do security at their casino.”
“Is that how you got hurt?”
“Yeah.”
Seeing that Rico didn’t want to talk about it, he asked, “So, does it pay well?”
“Kinda, it depends. I usually make good money. But it’s because of gratuity and tips. They’re paying like 80 more than minimum wage.”
Casey stood next to him. He felt some cold air rolling off the pond.
“Well once you’re happy with it, I guess. You can always come work for my dad if you want. You know he always liked you. “
“Yeah, your old man always looked out for me. Maybe I’ll try a little longer at the hotel and then take your offer.”
Casey leaned onto the railing looking at the cars passing. Some drove into the distant trisection. The right would take you to another community and the left would take you to the southern, business, district.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Some of the cars stopped just down the road. At the basketball court.
“So they’re fighting over there, right?”
“Yeah Case. That’s actually what I called you for. I need to borrow your BPC I.D.”
Casey realized that the registration for the Bimini Cadoo and Pugilism group was not cheap, so he didn’t ask why.
“I can lend you it, but you do know it’ll be a problem if we get caught?”
Rico explained. “You haven’t been involved in the fighting scene that much. And the guys doing the judging and security tonight are locals. You really think they’ll tell on us?”
“Well I’d hope not. I’ll help you with it. But I’m coming with you.”
……..
The air smelt salty tonight. The ride over had been beautiful. Just her and some slow music; just watching as the trees went by. She felt like she needed a rest. Sometimes her mind would still think back to him. Her ex Casey.
She sighed.
Kendal had gone to get her a drink. Weaving through the thick crowd to a stall off to the left of the court. Smoke came from it, probably also that lingering scent of barbecue that she fought against wanting.
They, the BPC group, had temporarily refurbished the court; laying a red rubber mat over the asphalt. Red stains were splotched on it.
There were benches along the court. Both sides were used for matches. Usually the group would base themselves in Williams Town, but sometimes they would host fights in other communities. They weren’t big enough to be on tv, but they were entertaining.
Kendal would be fighting later, too. He was a pretty well built guy, but she was worried. She sat in the front row. Kendal had set up the seat for her. He had some pull over these things because his dad was a cop. More influence than Casey had ever shown. Not that Casey couldn’t.
She had left Casey because he lacked ambition. He seemed to only be interested in working for his father. In being almost a clone of the man. She had always felt like he could be more. But Casey wouldn’t hear her out.
She bit her lips.
The lights were warm, and the crowd cheered as more fighters came in. Nadene’s mind came back to the present.
One of the guys was brown skinned, with lots of hair, and some really symbolic tattoos. He took off his shirt, and swung his arms.
She thought that he seemed nervous because he was sweating, and she hadn’t seen him fight to sweat like that.
The second man was shorter. He was also bare-backed, but he was stoutly built. His body was covered in sweat too; and hair.
She felt the cool drink on her cheek, and winced.
“Lovely, I got you something mixed..”
Kendal’s eyes were brown. His eyes were gentle and attentive. He didn’t have the softness of Casey, or that stupid smile. He leaned his head and spoke. “I told the bartender to be careful with the alcohol, because I know you used to go to church a lot.”
“Thank you, hun.”
She put it to her peach lips. It was mixed just right.
She winked at him with a smile. And he sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Nadene turned her attention to the ring again. A slim man in a striped shirt entered it. He was tall. He had a white squared beard and was really handsome, despite his age.
“Jeffrey Dean, versus, Johnathan Clarke. I hope everyone’s ready for what’s about to come?”
The crowd cheered loudly. And a lot of cameras flashed.
The fight started just as the slim referee dropped his arm. Jeffrey, the slim man shot forward with a switch kick. Johnathan parried his heel and stepped across, letting him miss completely.
Jeffrey stayed on the offensive. Throwing jabs and straights, then kicks to land powerful hits. Johnathan slipped and parried. Going in and taunting the slim man.
After a few minutes Johnathan became slower. The sorcerers weren’t allowed to use their powers in this tournament. From Nadene’s seat she could see the big wristband on Johnathan. He was a sorcerer.
Johnathan deflected a jab upwards. Dropped to his knees and grabbed one of Jeffrey’s legs, twisting, slamming him to the ground.
Nadene knew that he must’ve cracked asphalt beneath the mat.
Her eyes were wide and amazed. She had finally forgotten.
