Ryder Cane: This is me

Chapter 7

I glanced at my manager who softly called out to me. I acknowledged him with a nod when he motioned that he wants to have a word with me. “My manager wants to have a word with me,” I told Alex who was gazing back at me. She gave a smile before she answered.

                 “I have to get going anyway.” She answered, turning to walk away and made her way over to her locker. A part of me was stuck watching her walk away. “Ryder.” I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Twice in one day. I would say that you are bored.” He chuckled. “Not at all, I’m just making sure that first thing tomorrow morning we are heading out for your interview with the TV-host Ellen.”

               I gave a curt nod. “Got it. But you could have called me.” I pointed out. “You wouldn’t have answered anyway.” He then gave me a pointed look before he looked in Alex’s direction. She was leaning with her shoulder up against the locker while she had her phone pressed to her ear. “Do I want to know what you are up to? Am I going to have to extinguish flames?” I rolled my eyes at him. “Have you ever had to cover for me?” I questioned, walking over to my sports bag and threw it over my shoulder. “Don’t let it be the first.” He warned.

                “You are my manager of what goes on in the ring and my fights. Not my personal stuff. That’s why I’ve got my dad.” I gave him a quick tap on the shoulder before I made my way out of the gym. Alex glanced in my direction when we made our way out of the gym together. “Everything alright?” If she only knew. “Yeah, on your way home?” I asked, realizing how dumb that sounded. But to my surprise, she answered without a blink of an eye. “Actually, on my way out to get some food because my roommate is going out on a date.”

             I felt like this was my chance. We stood outside, opposite each other and she wasn’t running away. “I know of a place that makes really good burgers and has superb company,” I suggested. “If you are not one of the salad-eating kind of girl who is watching her figure.” I teased.

           “What about you, Mr. fighter who is on a strict fighter’s diet?” She teased back making me chuckle. Just to tease her a bit more, I pulled up my shirt to show off my ripped abs and gave it a tap. “I believe I’m good. I’m sure one burger and a beer won’t ruin my good shape.” She rolled her eyes at me but I caught her checking me out and I didn’t know how to react. I dropped my shirt thinking she is going to come up with an excuse not to join me.

             “Where is this place you are talking about?” I felt stunned when she agreed to join me.

“How do you feel about walking, it’s not very far.” I pointed towards the beachside. I found it years ago during my break and I have been going there since.  And I have been dying to ask her to join me.

           “Just know if this is a way of killing people, I can and will kick your butt.” She warned with a tone of playfulness. I smiled at her and motioned for her to follow me. “Come on.”

           She followed me alongside the shore towards the bar I was talking about. “Why did you stop training with your father?” Her question caught me off guard. Small talk? I couldn’t force myself to look away from her. “Are you some undercover media reporter that is trying to act friendly just so you can get behind my past?” I joked. I loved the fact that she was at ease around me.

             “My answer might surprise you but no, I’m not. I’m actually the owner of a Patisserie.” I answered. Okay, that actually amazed me. With a body like hers, I’m quite curious to know how she does it. “A chef who bakes cakes and every nice, looking like she could give my ass a good beating.” Her mouth curved into a smile.

        “Correction. I already did.” She pointed out making me laugh. I can’t remember when last, I could be myself around someone, especially in the company of a beautiful woman. “A pub?” I heard her ask. “Pub/bar,” I answered pushing the door open motioning for her to enter first and then I followed. A few of the staff waved at me but carried on with their work. I spotted Richie behind the bar and headed over to greet him. “Hey, Richie!” I shook his hand. “Ryder, my man. What’s up?” He asked. “I’m good. How’re things going around here?” I asked. “I won’t say as I want but we are still open, aren’t we?” I chuckled at him. “I would die of hunger if you guys close up on me.” Richie laughed but he sobered up when he noticed that I have someone with me. “So, who is your friend?” He gave me a humorous-questioning look.

         “Alex.” She introduced herself shaking his hand.

“What can I get you guys?” Richie inquired. “Two burgers with a side of sweet potato wedges. A beer for me and…” I looked at Alex. “Also, a beer, please.” I tried not to look awed but she was a woman close to my heart. Richie grabbed two beers from the fridge and placed them in front of us before handing our order over to the kitchen.

             “You come here often,” Alex asked me, after taking the seat next to me at the bar.

“It’s a place where I can be comfortable, not get attacked by the media and the company is superb,” I explained.

           “And here I was expecting a crowd of people ready to ask for autographs or selfies with you.” I smiled at her. “Maybe because I’m actually wearing a shirt.” She snickered at my half-attempt of a joke. She smiled at me, her eyes dancing with amusement. “You kind of do look like a human being and not some cage-fighter ready to rip someone’s face off.” Momentarily I looked at the way her mouth curved around the tip of the beer bottle and I had to force myself to think of something else or I’ll be in a very awkward position soon.

              “I always come here when I return from my fights and have to train for my next fight,” I told her. “My dad couldn’t give up the gym, young and new fighters needed him. He always pushed me to climb higher walls to find the best.” I decided to answer her question which she asked me back on the beach. “My dad helps fighters with the jump start of their career.”

           “But Tony never mentioned once that you are his kid.” I couldn’t help to smile at her. “My pops believe that it is my time to shine, it’s not his place to take that away from me or steal the shine,” I explained. “Ever since my parent’s divorce, my father tried harder to be there for me. If he could’ve, he would’ve given me the world and that’s why I share my success with him. Whenever I have a break to return home, I help him out at the gym either fixing stuff or help out with training.”

           “You draw people to your father’s gym?” She sounded astonished.

“You are a saint Ryder Cane.” I couldn’t help but feel pleased with her comment. “I try to be, what about you?”

               A line appeared between her brows. “What about me?”

“I know so little about you, only that you love working out at my dad’s gym and I get the feeling you are hiding something. And that you are a chef.” I pointed out, showing her that I was paying close attention to her. The way she stifled a smile got me thinking that she realized it.

           “I’m no saint.” She admitted. “My mother and I don’t’ along at all. She wants a life for me that I have no interest in. I have five siblings. My dad is my favorite parent because he has always been there for me with every decision I’ve made in my life, even if it was the wrong one. Unlike my mom who likes throwing it in my face and makes me feel like I’m a disappointment to her.” She explained and I felt her despair in every word.

              “Don’t worry,” I assured her. “My mother only visits me when she wants something and leaves me when she got what she wanted. She likes flaunting my success around as if she helped me where I am today. But she left after the divorce and never tried to connect with me.” Until recently.

          “You are good at hiding your past. Normally when you research celebrities you learn everything you need to know about their past.” I just chuckled because I don’t want to create a buzz and have people pity me. I want them to treat me fairly. “The world doesn’t need to know about my past. They just need to know who I am now and what my plans are for the further.”

            “And that’s to keep the title for as long as possible?” She observed. I nodded because she was right. “Well, then. Let’s cheers to that and to you being a saint.”

We finished up our food once it was brought over and our beers before saying our goodbyes and made our way back over to the gym where we left our vehicles.

         Alex on the other hand had other plans when she started to take off her shoes and walked along the shore with the small waves washing out over her feet. I’ve never met anyone like her before in my life. She carried the world on her shoulders but she had a fire burning in her soul and I was like the moth being attracted to that flame. “You are certainly one of a kind,” I noted. “Why fit in when I’m meant to stand out?”

           We continued to make our way until we reached the gym. I watched her with big round eyes as she walked up to a bike. “Yours?” I questioned, trying to keep my jaw attached.

          “Yup, Ducati Panigale V4.” I watched her brushing her hand alongside the body of the bike. “I got it a few years ago.” She said. “You are definitely one of a kind,” I muttered while taking a look at this beauty. “Thanks for dinner and the superb company.” I gazed up at her from the bike. “It’s not always fun to return to a big, cold and lonely house,” I confessed.

          “Drive safe. I’ll see you in a couple of days.” I said watching her frown. “You have a fight I don’t know about?” She asked. I shook my head.

          “Some TV host is interested in having me on their show. According to my manager, it will be good for my status.” I wasn’t thrilled about it.

          “You don’t like the spotlight.” I’m still amazed by her observing skills. “Not always, no,” I admitted. “Talk to me about my profession, not my personal life. It’s got nothing to do with them.” I answered. “It’s like the tv hostess wants to pull you apart limb by limb just to see what makes your heart tick because no one believes that you can be a good guy.”

         “So, the saying is true then, smile and wave.” She teased. “Kind of yeah.” I drawled.

  “At least you have people who know that you are a saint without asking for anything.” She was referring to herself and I kind of liked it that she was a down-to-earth girl. “It’s kind of true. The whole world might be against you but if you just have that one person who believes in you and it makes you believe in yourself and you ignore the rest of the world.” I explained.

          “Well then, I think you have your answer. Go and kick ass. Well, not literally.” She said.

“Thanks,” I said nodding at her.

           “You are talking to your biggest fan over here. And I know what it feels like to have the world against you and that one face in the crowd can change everything.”

       I know what she meant and I also know that feeling.  “It’s like inhaling a fresh breath of air.”