For the first time in a long time, I was happy. Genuinely happy. Not surviving. Not figuring it out. Just happy. The last four weeks had felt like a fairy tale. KO and I were finally operating like a real family. He’d drop off Dakoda at school, leave for training in the morning, and I’d head to work. We’d pick Dakoda up from school together, eat dinner, play dinosaurs, and watch movies until Dakoda passed out. Then it’d just be us, talking, laughing, and making love all night. Somewhere between therapy, kindergarten drop-offs, and KO being stubborn as hell, we’d stopped feeling like three people trying to figure it out and started feeling like a family. It was everything I’d wanted five years ago. Everything I’d convinced myself I’d never have.
That was probably why sitting alone in a luxury hotel suite in Las Vegas felt so surreal. Fight week had officially arrived, and KO had flown Dakoda and me to Vegas to support him. He was downstairs handling media obligations for Saturday’s championship fight, and I was curled up on the bed, watching one of his press conferences replay across the television with a smile as wide as Texas on my face because instead of answering questions, KO was spending most of the interview trying to keep Dakoda from taking over the entire show.
“So, KO, what makes you confident going into Saturday’s fight?”
“’Cause my daddy is the strongest,” Dakoda interjected, and I laughed along with the reporter and the crowd.
“Y’all see what I gotta deal with?” KO dropped his head and shook it.
“Daddy, tell them about your muscles.”
“I’m not telling grown men about my muscles, Dakoda.”
“Why?”
“’Cause that’s weird.”
The reporter laughed again.
“So how come we’ve never seen your son before? A lot of fans didn’t even know you had a kid.”
I cringed a little at that question, but it was to be expected. This was the first time the press was seeing Dakoda. I suggested he stay back with me at the hotel, but KO insisted on having him right by his side. He said this was the biggest moment of his life, and he wanted his son to be a part of it. Before KO could answer, Dakoda grabbed the microphone.
“I was hiding.” The entire room exploded in laughter, and KO looked up at the reporter.
“I’ve never been on a stage this big before.” The crowd cheered, and he shrugged. “Never had this many cameras following me around either.” A few more laughs rolled throughthe room. “I been big on family. Y’all just finally paying attention.”
I smiled at the TV screen, surprised by his answer but not shocked, because at the end of the day, it was nobody’s business that he’d just met Dakoda a few weeks ago. The interview cut to preview stats about the fight just as my phone started ringing on the bed. I glanced at the screen, and the biggest smile crossed my face when I saw KO’s name flash across the screen.
“Hey!” I damn near sang into the phone.
“Come downstairs.”
“What?” I frowned. He and Dakoda weren’t supposed to be back for another two hours.
“Come downstairs.”
“I thought you and Dakoda were going to weigh in?”
“You coming too. Come on. I’m not asking.” The line disconnected, and I stared at my phone for a second before tossing it onto the bed. What did he mean, I was going to the weigh-in? I wasn’t dressed for that. Well, my makeup, hair, and nails were done, but still. My phone dinged again, and I rolled my eyes as soon as I looked down. That man loved reading my mind.
KO:
Now! Bad. You look beautiful!
I took a glance at myself in the mirror. I guess the polka dot jumpsuit I was wearing was going to do. I grabbed my purse off the counter, dropped my phone inside, and headed out the door. A few minutes later, I stepped off the elevator, crossed the lobby, and made my way outside. My mouth immediately hit the floor at the sight of KO and Dakoda leaning against a black G-Wagon parked at the curb.
“We bought you a truck!” Dae-Dae shouted, and my steps slowed.
“No.”
“Yes.” His grin widened.
“KO.”
“Mama, you like it?” Dae-Dae asked, bouncing toward me. I looked from my son, then back at KO, then back at the truck.
“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” My voice cracked.