Chapter 55: Lexa
It was after eleven pm before my phone rang. We were out at some hole-in-the-wall bar that Bellamy brought us to. Apparently, it is one of Echo's favorite bars, and she was meeting us. Bellamy had already asked her if she would be willing to join the team if we needed to go get Ash, and she had agreed.
I looked at the caller ID and saw it was Clarke. "Hello beautiful, are you just getting off?"
"Hey babe, yeah. It was an extremely long day. I'm sorry, but I think I'm just going home to crash."
"Oh, okay. I can come by and see you if you want. I miss you."
"I miss you too, but I just need to sleep. Although I would like to talk to you soon about the meeting with Mr. Cantrell."
"Sure, what do you want to know?"
"Mom has already told me everything. I just want to tell you that I don't want you going to jail just to keep the rape out of the public. I can deal with people knowing about it better than I can deal with you being in jail."
"It's fine. We don't have to worry about that right now. Let's just wait and see if the attorneys can work it out before we worry. Do you think you can get a day off the week after next to go to Vegas with me for the physical, then can you take off August 1-8 to go to Dubai?"
"I'm not sure, but I will ask first thing tomorrow and let you know. Are you having fun tonight?"
"I mean, I guess, but it would be more fun if you were here. I understand, though. Will I get to see you tomorrow?"
"I hope so, but I will let you know. I'll call you on break. I love you!"
"I love you too. Sleep well."
I head back into the bar after I hang up with Clarke, and Octavia says, "Why the long face?"
"Clarke's not coming. She just got off work and said she was tired after a long day and she just wanted to go to bed. So, I guess I'm just disappointed because I was looking forward to seeing her tonight. We've just been so busy since we finally started our relationship, and I just want to spend some time with her."
O says, "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but she's always working. She's been out more with us since you got here than she's probably in the last year, but now her last year of residence is kicking into high gear, so you may want to get used to her working a lot."
"Great. I wonder if she would consider not working. But, no, that would be selfish of me. She's worked hard to get where she is, and it is what she wants, so I will just have to learn to be supportive. Even if I don't like not being able to see her as much."
Bellamy speaks up, "Yeah, I don't think she would like to be told what to do."
"Nope, because that was exactly what Finn used to do. Oh well, we're here to celebrate, so let's get to drinking."
I wake up late the following day to a text from Mickey.
Mickey: How would you feel about fighting Keya Bagdi?
Me: When and how much? Oh, and who is that?
Mickey: You fought him in the first fight of the tournament. He's been talking shit, saying you got lucky with that punch.
Me: Oh, I remember him. He called me a dyke and said he was going to make me tap out. I will definitely take that fight. When and how much?
Mickey: Sloan said you had a dislocated shoulder. When will you be ready?
Me: I'm good to go.
Mickey: Alright, Saturday after next at 8 pm. $100,000 payout.
Me: What about if I take him out in the first round?
Mickey: You kill me, kid. As much as he has been talking, I'll make it $500,000 if you can end it in the first minute of the round and $250,000 if you finish it in the first round.
Me: Deal, see you then.
I send a group text to the crew, O, and Bellamy saying to meet me at the training ring to figure out a training schedule. Once it's said and done, the schedule looks like this:
5am yoga Morrigan 10am wrestling Blake 4pm weights/spar O
6am jujutsu Stefania 11am boxing Reed 5pm wrestling Jan
7am capoeira Jose 12pm kickboxing Logan 6pm boxing Nikki
This will be my training schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays unless Clarke is off, and then I'll switch the days around to accommodate her days off. I plan on spending Saturdays with Asher and his adventure jar. Speaking of Asher, I need to call Callie and check in with her and ask if they can go to the fights in Dubai.
I text Callie. Me: So, Dana text and offered me another UFC fight the week of August 1 in Dubai. Could you and Asher come?
It takes her a few minutes to respond.
Callie: Seriously?
Me: Yep, I will take care of everything. All you have to do is show up. You and Asher will be on summer break, right?
Callie: Yeah, but are you sure you want us to come?
Me: Are you kidding? Of course, I want you all to come. How are you both doing?
Callie: We are hanging in there, but I think this is just what Asher needs to look forward to. Are you free for dinner tonight? You can come over, and we can tell him together.
Me: Sure, what time?
Callie: How about 6 and bring Clarke.
Me: I will see if she is available. She's been working nonstop. See you tonight. Can I bring anything?
Callie: Nope. See you tonight.
After 3, I hear from Clarke, and it is just a short conversation by text. Basically, she tells me she has to work late, loves me, and hopes to see me soon. I hope she isn't avoiding me, and it really is work that's keeping her away. I can't help but worry because it took me so long to get her to give me a chance, then we finally had sex, and now she's gone MIA at work. I thought she enjoyed it, but what if she changed her mind. What if she's using work to avoid me? I know O said she has always put work first, but…Lex, get out of your head and just trust her.
Dinner with Callie and Asher cheered me up. Callie also agreed that she and Asher would fly to Vegas with me next week for the physical. Asher is super excited about going to Dubai for the fight, and Callie assures me that Clarke isn't avoiding me that she's just working. That may be true, but I think that I will go to the hospital tomorrow and ask to see her to get these stitches out.