Hey y'all! I am very very grateful for all of you who read and love my story. I am super stoked about this. Thank y'all.
I am going to hold out on updating Friar Family Ties until I finish this story because there are only a three chapters left, including this one. But, I have two chapters posted for Friar Family Ties already, if any of you are interested in seeing that.
This is going to be a short chapter. It'll discuss the fallout of Tony punching Lucas in the last chapter.
Enjoy!
Lucas gets a phone call the day before the fight from his agent, Nick. Sadie and Maya are asleep in their rooms, so Lucas doesn't feel like he has to be careful with his words. He knows why Nick is calling him. It was bound to happen after what happened a few nights ago. He probably could've hid what happened if it weren't for a few fans, who asked Lucas for his autograph the night of Sadie's ballet recital, taking pictures of him, Maya, and Sadie leaving the auditorium after the incident happened. Lucas was pissed when he saw those pictures online.
"Hey, Lucas. Did I wake just wake you up?" Nick asks.
"Yea, but it's fine," Lucas yawns, "I was actually expecting your call."
"About that. Because there are "witnesses" and photographic evidence of what happened between you and Mr. Espinoza, they want you to hold a press conference," Nick explains.
Lucas groans, "I am really tired of holding these press conferences. I need to focus on my match with Tony tomorrow. I need to train, and I need to keep studying his moves."
"Lucas, we don't know if there's gonna be a match tomorrow. Tony violated a major rule in the contract that the both of you signed. Not to mention that people are now suspicious of his violent nature towards that girl. That's why you need to have the press conference. If you want to fight Tony tomorrow, then you need to do this. Don't bring Sadie, don't bring Maya. Tony will be there and things will get messier if either one of them are there," Nick says.
"What time?" Lucas asks.
"I've already talked to the executives of SportsCenter and ESPN to schedule a time around eleven a.m. so be ready at that time," Nick responds.
"Okay, I'll be ready," Lucas says.
"I'll feel you in on some details when you arrive. Try to be there at 10:30."
"Okay."
Lucas hangs the phone up. He tosses his phone to the other side of his bed and pinches the bridge of his nose. He really can't wait for this whole thing to be over with. He's happy that this is for a good cause but going against an opponent like Tony Espinoza takes all of his excitement and joy out of the situation.
He doesn't see Maya knock on his door, but when he hears it, he lifts his head up to look at her.
"Anything I can do to help?" Maya asks.
"You heard that?"
Maya nods and slowly walks over to his bed and sits down next to him. She lays a supportive hand on his shoulder as Lucas buries his head in his hands.
"Nick told me that Tony was going to be at the press conference. He said that you and Sadie shouldn't be there. And I agree with him. Could you do me a favor and make sure that Sadie doesn't watch the press conference? It's going to be very tense, and I just don't want her to see that."
"But you let her watch you pummel other guys to the ground?" Maya asks with a slight snicker.
Lucas grins and looks at her, "I try not to let her watch that. I told Emma, her old babysitter, that when I hired her. But, Sadie somehow managed to watch one of my fights after Emma thought she went to sleep."
"How did that go?" Maya asks.
"Not well. She was scared. She thought I was getting really hurt, and she thought I hurt my opponent badly. I had to explain to her that it was friendly fight. That my opponent and I were friends and that we were just having a friendly competition. Then, when Emma told me that Sadie punched her leg because she was being 'friendly', I had to explain to her, again, that she should never hit, pinch, or kick anybody unless she has to defend herself. And I completely banned her from watching any of my matches."
Maya giggles, "She's something, isn't she?"
"Really."
The of them get quiet for a moment. Lucas stares at his feet digging into the carpet, and Maya stares at him. Maya can't help but fall in love with his green eyes again. She knows how much stress she has caused for Lucas due to her involvement with Tony, and she feels bad about it. She feels like a burden to Lucas. He has been there for her, supporting her, when it came to her relationship. Maybe it wasn't in the best way, but she still appreciates everything he has done for her in the last few weeks.
She wraps her arms around his collarbones and leans her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you."
Lucas turns to look at her but puts his hand over her arm that's wrapped around his collarbones, "For what?"
"For taking care of me. For helping me when I was in the hospital and when I got out of the hospital. For teaching me self defense. For being there," Maya says.
Lucas continues to look into her eyes as she talks.
"Before you walked into my dance studio the first time, I felt like I was unworthy, useless, stupid, only good for one thing. I felt like that because of Tony, and I knew that if I didn't get help soon, that I wouldn't be here today. But when you and Sadie showed up again, I knew that help was on the way."
"Maya. You are worthy. You are not useless or stupid. You're actually very smart. And you are beautiful. I've always wanted Sadie to have a good mother-like, woman figure in her life, and you are perfect for that. And we love you. We always have, and we always will," Lucas responds.
Maya and Lucas don't say anything else. Everything else that is need to be said is being said with their eyes. Maya wraps her hand around Lucas's neck and pulls his lips to hers. Lucas closes his eyes, but his eyebrows are raised in surprise. He gently caresses her cheek with his hand as he returns the kiss, and Maya now has his face in her hands.
She moves her leg over his hips to straddle him, and she pushes him backwards to where he is now laying down on his bed. Maya moves her hair out of her face and leans over to crash their lips together again. Lucas places his hands on her hips and moves them up and down her body. Maya slips her tongue into Lucas's mouth in a slow motion, making them both moan. This ignites something in the both of them. He flips her over on her back, and he kisses her neck. Maya runs her fingers through his hair.
Lucas has wanted this for so long, but he can't continue. He pulls away and immediately start to apologize.
Maya sits up, wondering if she did anything wrong, "Why are you saying sorry? I was the one who pulled you in."
"I'm sorry, Maya, but I can't do this yet. I want to, I really want to, but you had just gotten out of a long term, abusive relationship. I don't want to take advantage of you or your feelings," Lucas explains.
Maya's heart bursts, but not in a bad way. She smiles at him and lays her hand on his shoulder again.
"Thank you, Lucas."
Lucas walks over to the curtain that will lead to the press conference room. The cameras are ready, the press is ready, everybody is ready, including him.
"Remember what we talked about. Tell them the truth," Nick reminds Lucas, patting his shoulders. Lucas nods and walks out to the chair to the far end of the table, knowing that Tony will be on the other side.
Nick comes out after Lucas, and then the rest of Lucas's team. Tony walks out with his team and agent following behind him. They all take a seat and get the press conference started.
"We are here to discuss the allegations of a contract violation made by Mr. Anthony Espinoza against Mr. Lucas Friar on the night of March 1, 2016. Before we let the fighters take their stand on the situation, we will read the story of what we think happened that night based on sources. Then we will read the statements made by the witnesses."
Everybody in the room nods and the story is read. As the story is read, Lucas can tell that the story is a bit exaggerated, as is every story in the entertainment business. The eye witness statements are also a bit exaggerated but not completely false.
"Because Lucas Friar is the fighter whom was hit, he may take the stand first and tell his side of the story."
Lucas stands up and walks over to the podium and speaks into the microphone.
"On the night of March 1st, I attended the amazing production of The Nutcracker, which was put on by Madame Hart Dance Studio. I was there to support my daughter, Sadie, and to support my friend, Maya," Lucas begins.
"My girlfriend!" Tony interrupts.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Espinoza, but I believe it's my turn to talk right now, thank you," Lucas responds.
"Anyway. After the recital was over, I walked backstage to give my daughter some flowers, and I was trying to find Ms. Hart to give her a bouquet of flowers as well. The auditorium has a huge backstage, but I was lucky enough to find Ms. Hart's dressing room before she was attacked, yet again, by Mr. Espinoza. Seeing as she had been out of the hospital for not even a week before Tony shows up again to "teach her a lesson", so I defended my friend. Now, I'm not gonna lie, I did start the argument that led up to the confrontation, but I didn't hit him back; therefore, I am not in violation of my contract," Lucas says.
"But I would like to as the board to hear me out. Our match is scheduled for tomorrow night. We will have the largest audience in attendance and an even larger audience spending money to watch it at home. All of the money that will be given to various charities. I ask you not to cancel our fight tomorrow night. I don't hold a grudge for what Mr. Espinoza did to me the other night."
Everybody is dead silent as Lucas keeps talking. He looks at Nick, who holds two thumbs up.
"And if you don't mind, I would like to add something onto this," Lucas looks directly into the camera and says, "Anybody out there who is watching this right now and is in an abusive relationship. I want you to know that you aren't alone. If you ever need any help dealing with how to get out of an abusive relationship then please call the domestic abuse hotline. You are a strong individual, and what happened to you isn't your fault. Thank you," Lucas finishes.
"Anthony Espinoza will now give his side of the story."
Tony walks over to the podium, but not before slyly smiling at Lucas. He wipes the smile off his face and replaces it with empathy.
"Thank you all for coming, but I cannot give my side of the story to this confrontation. Because Mr. Friar retold what happened correctly. I do have anger issues, but I am trying to work on them. I am seeing a counselor, and I use boxing to help me unleash my anger. Mr. Friar," Tony says looking over to Lucas, who knows that he is a filthy liar.
"I would like to offer my most sincere apology to you. I would also like to offer an apology to the sport, to the leaders, and to the board. I would like to ask you to not cancel our fight tomorrow night. It is for charity after all," Tony finishes and walks back to his seat.
Lucas glares at the smug look on Tony face. He knows, though, that that look on his face right now won't be there tomorrow night.
Good luck, Tony. You're gonna need it.
Alright! I think this was probably longer than I was planning. (Ngl, I got a little carried away with the second Lucaya kiss.)
Anyway, I hope y'all liked it.
Next chapter is fight night. Only two chapters left!