Last Chance To Fight (18 page)

And as for Anna, I couldn’t believe she’d come there for me after I was such an asshole. It scared the hell out of me that I needed someone as much as I needed her, but when I woke up and she was there, I thought that everything would be all right. Most people in life don’t get a second chance. And here I was, getting my third. This time, I would have to do things right.

Of course, it was harder than anything to let her go, especially while I was lying there in a hospital bed, hardly able to move. But I knew it would be better for us in the long run. I knew that she loved me, and I hoped to God that she came around to realize that she wanted both me and Jane to be a part of her life. I knew there was a possibility that she’d come to realize that it would be too hard, and we couldn’t be together. I refused to think about that.

So I threw myself into getting better, and into getting ready for the championship. I got a new agent, an older woman named Bonnie who had been in the business for a long time. She had a tough reputation, and I thought she was my best shot for getting me a good contract after my old one ran up, after the championship.

I got a new physical therapist too, and I got back on track. My new physical therapist was a guy named Dan, and he was great at his job, but I had to admit that his touch didn’t have the same magical effect that Anna’s had. Still, I hoped he could whip me back into shape.

We worked a lot on strengthening the muscles around my ankle, and also on pain management by doing as much as possible to keep it from swelling. I kept ice on it any chance I got, elevated it, and massaged the fluid away from the ankle pretty much constantly. No matter how hard I worked on it though, it still hurt a little. I had three weeks to get better, and I hoped it would be enough time.

In the evenings, if it wasn’t one of my nights to spend with Jane, I mostly kept to myself. There was a time in my life when I would have thrown myself into the arms of ten different girls for comfort, to keep from getting too sad and lonely. But I had long since realized that there was no comfort in that at all, it was all empty and meaningless. I missed Anna like hell, and no one else was going to make me feel any less lonely.

I tried to use my time wisely. I did some online shopping and bought every single self-help book I could find that had anything to do with cancer survival, or what it was like to lose the ability to have children. If Anna ever decided to give me another chance, I would be ready for her. I would know exactly how to support her, and how to make it easier for her to accept Jane into her life. I would finally be the man she always deserved. Or, at least I would try. Because when it came down to it, Anna was perfect, and I was anything but. Still, I was determined to spend the rest of my life trying to catch up with her.

It was during these weeks that I decided to finally finalize my separation from Jackie. We really only got married to appease her religious parents in the first place, and I thought it was time to end it officially. I talked to her, and she seemed to be on the same page.

“Actually,” she told me, “I was kind of thinking the same thing. I recently started seeing someone else, and although we aren’t serious yet, it would be great if I didn’t have to later on explain the fact that I have a husband.”

“Great,” I said. “I’m glad we agree. So, I’ll have my lawyer draw up the papers and it’ll be simple.”

“Sure,” Jackie said. “I’ll sign, no problem.”

“Thanks, Jacks.”

After that, I started looking for a ring to give Anna. I knew it was a little premature, because I didn’t even know yet if she’d decide she wanted to be with me. I guess maybe buying the ring was just sort of my way of hoping, or praying, that she would decide to come back to me. And anyway, no matter what she decided, she was the woman I’d love for the rest of my life. I wanted to have an object that represented that, whether I got the opportunity to give it to her or not. I hoped more than anything that I would get to.

T
hree weeks later

Walking out of that hospital room was probably the hardest thing I ever did in my life. Every cell in my body cried out in protest, telling me to go back, telling me that I was making the wrong choice. I wanted more than anything to be with Hunter, and honestly didn’t know how my feet were able to carry me away from him.

But, after a few weeks, I started to see that he was right. I had some serious thinking to do. And although I missed him like crazy, it was easier to do my thinking without him.

I spent a lot of time with Betsy, Ted, and Avery. I even volunteered a few times to watch Avery so that Betsy and Ted could go out together, and I think that spending that time alone with her really helped me.

I looked down at her now, happily asleep in my arms. I thought back to when I first got off the airplane and saw the empty car seat in Betsy’s car, and all of the insanely jealous and depressed feelings that I had tried so hard to quash. But now, with Avery in my arms, I couldn’t even imagine feeling jealous, or even depressed. I just felt happy to hold her, to get to know her and have her be a part of my life.

It took some time, but after a while I started to feel that way about Jane, too. That was a bit more complicated, because of course I wished more than anything that Hunter and I could have children together, and it stung that he’d had her with another woman. But I was starting to think that I could get over it. After all, she was Hunter’s daughter, so how could I not love her? Anything that came from Hunter had to be sweet and beautiful, just like him.

I missed Hunter like crazy for those three weeks, and I thought all the time about calling him, or texting him, or something. But, as hard as it was, I had stopped myself every time. When Hunter and I got back in touch with each other, I wanted to be sure that I was ready. I had already had to say goodbye to him twice in my life, and I never wanted to do it again. So, I waited.

Of course, I couldn’t go on every single day wondering how he was doing, if he was hurt from the accident very badly or not. So, I got back in touch with his mother. She and I had always gotten along. In fact, she always used to tell me that if she had a daughter, she’d have wanted her to be just like me. It was comforting to have her back in my life, and it was especially helpful to get her frequent updates on Hunter.

From his mother I found out that he’d gotten a new agent after Trina turned out to be a total fake, and everyone thought that the new woman would be able to work out a better contract for Hunter the next time around. I also knew that he had gotten a new physical therapist at a different clinic, and was going several times a week. I decided that while Avery was sleeping, I’d go ahead and get the latest news, now that it was just a few days before his championship.

“Hi, Jean,” I said when she picked up.

“Hey, sweetie,” she said, as always. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good,” I told her. “The usual. Babysitting right now.”

“That’s sweet of you to help your friends out,” she said.

“To tell you the truth, I think it’s helping me more than it’s helping them,” I told her.

“That’s the way it goes sometimes!” she said, laughing. “That’s why I volunteer at the homeless shelter. It makes me feel good.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I said.

“I don’t think so either,” she agreed. “It’s a win-win.”

“So, how’s Hunter doing these days?” I asked.

“He’s good, honey,” she said. “He misses you, of course.”

“Thanks, Jean,” I said. “I miss him too. How’s his ankle? Is he ready for the fight in a few days?”

“It’s doing a lot better,” she told me. “It’s not as good as a brand new, unbroken ankle, but it’s pretty close.”

“That’s great,” I said. “That’s about as good as it can be, at this point.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m a little worried about him, but to tell you the truth, I think he’s going to win.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked. “What makes you so sure?”

“I’ve never seen him so determined,” she told me. “I’ve never seen anyone so determined, actually. I think that makes all the difference.”

“I think you’re probably right,” I told her. I hoped she was right. I knew how badly Hunter wanted to win that title, and how the opportunity had been ripped away from him the year before. If anyone deserved to win, he did.

We exchanged some more pleasantries, and soon got off the phone. Avery woke up from her nap, and I took her for a long walk along the boardwalk. The sun was setting over the ocean, and I felt a calmness in my soul that I hadn’t felt for a long, long time. That afternoon, as I looked down at Avery and felt nothing but a serene, peaceful joy, I thought I was finally ready. After Betsy and Ted got back and I went back to my place, I got out my phone and gave Hunter a call.

I didn’t think I’d been that nervous about calling a boy since I was about thirteen years old. My hands shook as I dialed, wondering if he’d answer, and what it would be like to talk to him after all this time. After a few rings, he picked up, and the sound of his voice made me so happy that I instantly clutched my hand to my heart. God, I had missed him so much.

“Anna,” he said, “you’re calling me.”

“I am,” I said, laughing for no particular reason, out of pure joy. “How are you?”

“I’m great,” he said, “now that you called. Before that I was all right, I suppose.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” I said. “It’s really, really nice to hear your voice.”

“Back atcha,” he said. “How are you doing? What’s new?”

“I’m good,” I told him. “Nothing really is new. I’ve just been working, and spending time with Betsy and Ted.”

“That sounds pleasant,” he said.

“It has been really great, actually. Very therapeutic,” I told him. “So how has your recovery been going? How’s your ankle?”

“It’s good. I’ve been doing overtime at the physical therapist’s office, trying to get ready for the championship.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said. “Your mom told me.”

“What?!” he exclaimed. “You’ve been talking to my mom?”

“I have,” I admitted. “Almost every day.”

“Well, I’ll be,” he said. “And she didn’t tell me anything, the old sneak.”

“She’s good at keeping secrets,” I said. “I couldn’t really stand not knowing how you were doing after the accident, so I called her. And then we just kind of got in the habit.”

“I’m glad,” he told me. “She always liked you.”

“I always like her, too.”

“So, I’m really glad you called,” he said. “I was thinking about calling you myself, but I wasn’t sure if I should.”

“Oh?” I said. “About anything in particular?”

“Mostly I just wanted to hear your voice, and see how you were doing,” he said. “But also, I wanted to see if maybe you’d come to the championship? I’d totally understand if you didn’t want to, but it would mean a lot to me to have you there.”

“Of course I’ll go,” I said. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Really?” he asked, sounding like a kid whose mom just told him he could have the chocolate bar he’d been asking for all day. “Awesome. Oh man, that makes me so happy. Now I know I’m going to win.”

“I hope so,” I told him. “You deserve it.”

“Thank you, Anna,” he said. “Really, this means so much to me.”

“Anytime,” I said.

“Oh God, I can’t wait to see you there,” he said, still brimming over with happiness.

“I can’t either.”

S
o, a few days later, I found myself getting ready to go to Hunter’s championship. I put on a little black dress that I had just bought a few days previously, and which I thought Hunter would probably like. I brushed my hair and clipped half of it back with a barrette, applied some mascara, and I was pretty much ready to go. A few minutes later, Betsy, my perpetual lifesaver, arrived to give me a ride. Luckily this match was in L.A., so we didn’t have too far to go.

“Wow,” Betsy said, “you’re looking hot.”

“You think?” I asked. “I hope so. I haven’t seen Hunter for a while, so I was hoping to wow him a little.”

“Girl, you have got it going on,” Betsy said, pulling out into the street and heading toward the arena.

When I got inside, I found my seat next to Jean and Bonnie, Hunter’s new agent.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, shaking my hand. “We’re glad you’re here. Hoping it’ll make Hunter win so we can get him the money he really deserves this time around. He’s one hell of a fighter.”

“You think so?” I asked.

“One of the best,” she told me. “I mean, look at this crowd.” She gestured around us. “They’re going nuts. Partly for that Jake character, but mostly for him.”

“Wow,” I said. “So what do you think his chances are of winning?”

“I think they’re pretty high,” she told me. “This Jake fellow is a good fighter, but he’s fairly young and inexperienced compared to Hunter.”

“True,” Jean put in. “He probably wouldn’t have won last year if Hunter hadn’t gotten hurt.”

“Same with this year,” Bonnie said. “That ankle is the only thing we have to worry about. It should be OK, though. He’s been doing great.”

“Oh boy,” I said, “I really hope it’s OK.”

I settled nervously back into my seat, hoping that the fight would go well. I liked Jake well enough, but I wanted Hunter to win so badly that a knot had started to develop in my stomach.

“Ladies and gentleman!” called the announcer, spurring an ecstatic cheer from the crowd. “Tonight is the night you’ve all been waiting for!”

The lights started flashing and the crowd went wild. I don’t think I was even smiling at that point, I was so anxious.

“So without further ado, please welcome tonight’s challenger, in the red corner, two-time finalist Hunter, the Skuuuuull Crusher, Fiiiinnnnn!”

Hunter’s music started and he came jogging into the arena, and the audience started cheering like crazy. I stood up and cheered for him myself, some of my nervousness dissipating as I got swept along in the excitement of the evening. When Hunter got to his corner, he looked up at the audience and found me right away. He smiled a soft smile, and waved at me. I put my hand to my heart, so happy to see his face even though it was far away, and waved back.