“So tell me more about this fight tonight?” I asked Stacey trying to appear nonchalant about the whole thing.
“There will be a couple of minor, non-important fights to start out. Those you don’t need to pay attention to. But Ice’s fight - it should be over practically before it starts,” Stacey said. “He is on a killer winning streak and is brutal in the ring. Knocks most of his opponents out dead cold with the ground and pound. This new guy, Dread, hasn’t been around as long as Ice and has been talking a lot of smack. He thinks that he’s as good as Ice, but we all know better. Probably the only reason that he’s here is because if by some kind of dumb luck he makes it more than a few minutes against Ice, he’ll get more status with the rest of the league.”
“That sounds dumb,” I said. “Why would you pick a fight with someone when you know you can’t win?”
“You never know,” Stacey said with a shrug. “Sometimes the underdog gets lucky. Most of the time in this sport, though, the underdog gets hammered. But we’ve got VIP seats, and this is going to be awesome!”
As we made our way to the ticket line, I felt the eyes of people on me. Despite what Stacey said, I felt uncomfortable and out of place in the outfit she made me wear. Beside me, Stacey practically bounced in her stride, and I saw her give a nod of acknowledgment toward several of the guys who catcalled in our direction.
“I don’t think we’re dressed like everyone else,” I said in a low voice.
“You look hot, and that’s what matters,” Stacey said. “The VIP seats are for special guests. If Ice invited you here, he’d want you to look like you belong to him.”
I grabbed her arm. “What the hell? Belong to him? Is this the Ice Age?”
We had reached the front of the line, and I knew that many of the people waiting in line were looking at us in annoyance. Stacey held up our tickets and flashed them at the security guard standing there letting people in. As soon as he saw them, he barked something in the speaker on his shoulder. Then he waved at us to move past him.
“Your escort will be in a minute. Wait there,” he said, pointing at a spot just inside the door.
“Escort?” I whispered.
“I told you,” Stacey said with a grin. “This is so cool. I don’t care what your tight ass says. You are going to love this. For one night, pretend that you’re me. Enjoy it. Let loose. A hot guy who is miles beyond any other guy you’d normally meet in your lifetime wanted you here to watch him knock the shit out of another guy. Yes. For one night, you belong to him. It’s not barbaric. It’s romantic, or at the very least, panty-melting hot.”
I let her words sink in as a man approached us. He wore a dark blue blazer over a pair of jeans. He had an earbud in just like the guard outside. He was bald and built like an army tank. I didn’t think anybody would want to mess with him.
“Ladies, I’m Marcus. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your seats,” he said with an easy smile that belied his gruff exterior.
“Hello, Marcus,” Stacey said in a long, slow breath. As we followed the man through the arena, Stacey kept bumping my side and pointing at Marcus’s ass. I rolled my eyes at her and tried to ignore her. Stacey was truly incorrigible. I was starting to wonder if there was a man alive that she wouldn’t sleep with if given the chance.
Still, there was some sentiment of her little speech that had sunk in. I did tend to live life by a strict set of rules that I had made up myself. My life was as perfect as I could make it. Hopefully, after I got back home, I’d get a job and start my career. I didn’t do anything that could be considered drastic or out of character ever. But there was something about the buzzing energy that I felt all around me that made me feel like maybe tonight I could be a little bit reckless. Have a little bit of fun. All within certain boundaries, however. I’d never be Stacey, hitting on every guy out there. But maybe just one…
Marcus took us through a long tunnel that I thought must run underneath the seats leading down to the ring, and then we emerged ringside. I gaped as I took in the massive number of seats going up what seemed like a mile high in every direction. Our seats were first row right in front of the octagon shaped ring.
“Oh my God,” Stacey squealed. “We’re going to be able to see everything! This is killer, Alexa. I can’t believe it.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Stacey’s attitude was infectious. As we settled into our seats, Marcus asked us if we wanted anything to drink. Stacey ordered beers for both of us, and Marcus spoke into the walkie on his shoulder before giving us a nod. “Anything you need, just let us know. Enjoy the fights,” he said as he left us.
It was surreal. The seats above us were starting to fill up, and the buzz of anticipation was evident. “Is it always like this?” I asked.