Scarlett reaches out to straighten the lapels of my suit jacket. “You’re damn right, you’re all mine. I’m so proud of you, Gabe. No matter what happens tonight, you’re it for me. I love you.”
Hearing her say that it doesn’t matter whether I win or lose means more to me than any victory ever has. But, even so, it doesn’t cause my confidence to waver in the slightest.
“I’m going to win. The rest of our life starts tonight. I’ve got big plans for us both, ladybug.”
Her smile is shimmering in its brilliance. “Good, because I have big plans of my own too.” She leans her head toward me and ghosts her lips across mine, and I savor the faint taste of her.
When she pulls back, our eyes lock.
“I love you, Scarlett. Thank you for being you. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for showing me that life was about more than I realized. You have no idea how much you’ve changed me for the better.”
“It goes both ways. You taught me about living. How not to just stand on the sidelines. I can’t wait to see where we go next,afteryou win.”
She smooths her delicate fingers across my hair, the gentle movement slowing my heartbeat. It’s the peace I need. The calm before the storm.
Forty-Eight
Legend
The rideto Legend has never felt quite like this before. Hal’s driving us in a snazzy Range Rover, but we’re not alone. We’ve got security in front of us and behind us in black SUVs.
Scarlett hasn’t said anything about it, but I assume it’s not her first time arriving somewhere with an entourage. When we pull up to the club, there’s a red carpet rolled out, and even though I didn’t expect to see many cameras, given the relatively early hour, there’s plenty.
She must read my thoughts from my expression.
“And ... that’s probably because I posted our picture and said we were on our way.” She turns to me with a hesitant expression on her face. “I hope you don’t mind.”
I rake my gaze over her in that dress and rub my fingers over my mouth. “The more pictures of you in that dress, the better. You’re gorgeous, ladybug.”
Her smile lights up her entire face, which is already glowing, like Kelsey said. “Bump, Zoe, and Q are already here, right?”
I nod. “Zoe and Q have been here all day. Bump is coming with Big Mike and Joanie.”
“Are they bringing Roux?”
“Of course,” I tell her with a grin. “My girl wouldn’t miss it for the world. Bump’s been taking good care of her, though. It’s going to break his heart when I tell him that she’s coming home with us because I’m done training.”
“Maybe we need to get Bump his own puppy so he won’t feel the sting quite so much.”
“Maybe we will,” I say as Hal glances back at me.
“You two ready? You want me to get the door?”
“We’re ready,” I reply, and Scarlett nods. “Let’s do this.”
As soon as Hal opens the door, the paps lean into the barriers, craning their necks to see who’s in the SUV. As I step out, they start calling my name.
“Legend!”
“Gabriel!”
“Do you really think you can beat Black?”
I hold out my hand for Scarlett and help her out of the vehicle. As soon as her feet touch the carpet, she turns an incredible smile on the paps, and together, we walk toward the lineup as they shout questions at both of us. About Bodhi. Our last fight. Whether Scarlett and I are engaged. Getting married. Whether she’s pregnant.
The questions go on and on, but Scarlett doesn’t respond to them as we walk and pause and pose, then keep moving. As she takes my arm to carefully climb the steps in front of the club, I have to marvel at her poise.
“You’re really fucking good at that, you know?”