Page 69 of Sucker Punch Drunk Love

“You know what I miss the most about Medina?” he asked, putting the keys in the door as we closed up shop.

“What is that?”

“That girlstayedwith a spray bottle. Had the gym smelling like lavender over broken souls. Hopefully, with some of these new women coming in, they get the place smelling good again, instead of smelling like an elevator full of musty men,” he joked, and he was right.

Running a mostly male facility, her presence was certainly felt, but I had to be fucking for real. Maybe it was just time for me to move on. She certainly had. I think I just wished I’d gotten some damn closure, but I suppose that's the lesson I had to learn getting involved with a female fighter. Walking back to our cars, Héctor rested his arms on the top of his car, hesitating to get in.

“Hey, you trying to grab some late-night Mexican? They got $2 tacos after ten at Orale’s.” It did sound tempting, but after looking at the books all day, I just wanted to turn in for the night.

“Nah, I think I'm gonna call it a night. Take it easy, okay?” I said, getting in my car and watching him pull off. With the press of a button, my car started up, the Bluetooth connected showing a number too late to be someone who didn’t know me. I almost didn't answer it, but when I did, the silence from the other end made me glad that I did. I knew her familiar breathing from anywhere.

“Hey,” I said, too impatient for her to announce herself.

“Hey.”

* She wolf

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Josue

Hopping on I-95 South, I filled my ride and mind with the right music to distract me. I didn't knowwhatI was fucking doing. But Sierra had asked me to come, so I came. The ninety-minute drive from Jersey to Philly wasn’t as bad as I remembered. In fairness, I’d only been there twice and never with her at my side.

Luckily, since it was a little past Christmas and New Year's, the traffic had been light. Sierra reserved herrealChristmas as Three Kings Day anyway, so there was an upside to not having to share the road with all the crazies. Nervous didn’t even begin to cut it. I had no expectations, but I couldn’t lie and say I hoped this was more than a check-in trip.

Pulling into her apartment building’s parking lot, it was modest, but nothing to be ashamed of, given she had worked for it. I was probably out of my element here, but if I moved with no expectation, I couldn't get disappointed.

There was a staircase that led to the number on her door, almost set up like a motel, but nicer. Stacking the boxes I’d spent an hour trying to wrap, I took a deep breath before giving the bell a ring. The sound of footsteps on the other end matched theerratic beats of my heart, pounding like I was meeting her for the first time. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could have prepared me for the woman on the other side.

“You made it,” Sierra stood, wearing an infectious smile and warmth that filled the whole street. She looked beautiful, even though she was just wearing something simple like a cropped hoodie and jeans.

“What did you think, that I was going to blow you off?” Instinctively, she reached out to hug me, but since the boxes were in the way, I opted to invite myself in to put them down. For as annoyed as Iusedto be when it came to her hugs, I actually missed hers, relief washing over me when she caved into my space. She smelled really nice. One of those girly smells I didn't know how to describe. It just smelled…inviting. I was bummed she let me go.

“You look good. Healthy, and healed up. That's good.”

“I'm just so happy you came,” she beamed, like she didn’t think I’d actually come. It surprised me that she was so happy to see me.

“I got you something,” she said, disappearing into another room and coming back with two gifts. “It's not much, but I remember you saying you didn't get anything growing up, so I didn't want you to feel like that this year.” What could I say? I never took it personally that the holidays were some of your worst times as a foster kid. Never getting presents just became the norm. But it was sweet to be thought of.

Handing me two wrapped gifts, she took out her phone to film my reaction. I rolled my eyes.

“Jesus, Medina, you’re really gonna fuckin’ record me?”

“I want to remember your face when you open it?” she whined.

“It's just another day to me, but whatever.” Since it was two gifts, I put one of them down to focus on the first. I don't know what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting what was inside.

“The fuck?” I laughed pulling out a plush trash can that was filled with Krumm…umm.. I think the red one was Ickis. Who could forget the Gromble? But it had my favorite from the show, Oblina. She was always the best at scaring people. No competition. I didn't know how I was going tousea plush trash can full of toys, but the gesture put a smile on my face. I couldn’t believe she actually remembered that. “Youreallyfucking shouldn't have.”

“Well open the other one,” she demanded, almost impatient. This one was a lot smaller, so I opened it with a bit more patience than the last. Inside was a square box holding a simple mug. I took it out, breathing into words that read "World's Best Coach. I smiled, but unsurprisingly, fighting the urge not to tear up.

“Thanks, Medina.” This time I initiated our next hug. “Now get that camera out my face.” She sheepishly apologized, tucking her phone in her back pocket.

“Don't forget, I got you something too,” I said, reminding her of all the boxes I had set down. Joining her on the floor, I withheld the second one meant for her daughter, as I watched her open the Lego set. “Home Alone?”

“Yeah, haven’t you ever seen Home Alone? Best Christmas movieever. Macaulay Culkin’s the only white boy I ever wanted tobegrowing up. By the end of the weekend we’re watching it. The people in your generation are on the phone too much. Neglecting a whole bunch of classics—” She cut me off with a hug, and I was happy to put my arms around her again.

“I’ll gladly watch one of yourclassicsif it means you’re staying the weekend. You can help me put it together.” If her plan wasn't to get me hooked, she was doing a horrible job at it. I already didn’t want to let her go.