The Last Round (18 page)

She nods once, and then turns back to wipe down the counter. I help finish up and we do so in silence. It only takes about a little over an hour to get it all done.

“Thank you, Julian,” Luz says, after we finish.

“No problem. You need help with anything else?”

She shakes her head and waves me off. “No, go ahead and get some rest. I know you guys have to fly back home tomorrow morning.”

I smile as she stretches her arms and wraps me into a hug. “Thank you for everything,” I say.

“Of course, son. You’re family. Just remember what I said.”

“I will.”

I walk into Natalia’s old bedroom and find her lying on the bed. Her back flush against the mattress as she stares at the ceiling. I join and lie beside her. “What’re you thinking about?” I ask. I stare at the ceiling as well, my fingers reach for the strands of her hair.

“Nothing. I’m just tired.” She yawns.

“Me too, but I had fun these past few days.”

She tilts her head to look at me. “Me too.” A small smile stretches on her lips.

Something feels off. I run my fingers down her jawline and under her chin. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

She presses her lips together, then blurts out, “Do you think we will be okay?”

And it’s like deja-vu. This reminds me of so many years ago, when Natalia and I laid in this very bed and she asked the same question.

It was late, but I had to see her. I lifted the window and sneaked into her bedroom. I found Natalia laying on her bed, her eyes glued to the ceiling. She usually heard when I snuck in, but she was so lost in thought. I glanced at her door to make sure it was locked.

I stepped closer and finally she looked up, a small gasp escaped her lips. “You scared me,” she said.

“Sorry. I thought you knew I would come.”

She sighed, then slammed her head back down on the pillow. I treaded over and lied down beside her. “What’s wrong? You should be happy. In just a few hours, you’ll be graduating and you’ll have the entire summer before you’re off to college.” I smiled. “And, you’re finally going to do something you love. I know your parents are not happy that your major is performing arts, but they’re happy you’re happy, and that’s all that matters.”

“I know.” She sighed again. “But I just can’t help but wonder what our future holds. You know? Being an adult doesn’t seem like it’s all cracked up to be. I’m nervous about everything.”

I lifted her hand and brought it to my lips. I kissed her knuckles before speaking. “I know what our future will hold.” She stared at me with wonder. “You are going to be an amazingly talented A-list actress and I’m going to be a world champ. We’ll be married and happier than ever.”

Natalia’s lips brighten into a smile. “And where will we live?” she asked, staring at me with admiration, as if I had all the answers for our future.

“In Los Angeles.”

She giggled. “Why Los Angeles?”

“Because that’s where all the big stars live and you’ll be traveling there a lot for movie auditions. It will be best.”

“And what about all the fortune and fame? Will it tear us apart, like other Hollywood stars? Will the love we have for each other be enough to face it?”

I placed a finger under her chin and gently lifted her face. “Of course, Natalia. It’s you and me against the world. No matter how much money we have or how famous we are, we will never let it to get in the way.”

“Promise?”

“I will quit boxing before I ever allow that. I promise. Remember, I loved you then.”

Her smile brightened as she recited the next line. “I love you now.”

“I will love you always.” I finished off.

She breathed out a sigh of relief. She knew how much boxing was my life, but Natalia was so much more. I would never allow anything to come between us.

“We’re going to be okay.” I promised again.

She leaned in and nestled against my chest.

I stare blankly at the ceiling as the memory drifts away. I made so many promises to Natalia when we were younger and now that I think of it, there was no way at the age of eighteen I would have known what life would throw our way. I still don’t know what our life will be like in the future, but I know one thing is more than certain. I will never let her down again.

“Natalia,” I whisper as I grab her hand in mine.

“Yeah?” She looks up, hope lingers in her eyes.

“I remember being in this very room over ten years ago, promising you that fortune and fame will never get in the way of our relationship. I’m sorry I didn’t keep that promise.” She blinks, shock registers in her stare. It’s as if she can’t believe I remembered the promise. “I was young and at the time I was naïve to the poison this lifestyle can bring. But, I’m before you as a man now, and with all of the struggles I’ve been through, what we have been through; I will never fall down that trap again. For the first time in a very long time, I truly feel we are going to be okay.”

She swallows and then nods. “I love you, Julian.”

“Then, now, and always.” I press my lips to her forehead and bring her in to rest on my chest.

We lay there until we are fast asleep and in each other’s arms, where we belong.

Natalia

AS SOON AS
Julian and I exit our terminal, we are surrounded by paparazzi. They are asking questions about our relationship, and why we have been seen together more often. We don’t answer any questions; instead we hurry out and quickly rush into the car that Viviana had sent for us.

Viviana scrolls through her phone, “Oh wow.” She gasps.

“What?” I rush out.

“There are a bunch of photos of the both of you together. Some in a food store shopping in the aisle. Others landing in Philly and some are actually of you guys dancing together at Julian’s uncle’s gym on the night before Thanksgiving.”

“Let me see!” I snatch her phone and scroll through the photos. “Oh my God.” I breathe out. Julian leans in beside me and takes a look for himself.

“At least we look good.” He jokes.

I narrow my eyes. “We can’t even have privacy anymore. It’s just annoying.”

He reaches for my hand. “It’s fine, Natalia.”

He’s right. It is fine. I’m okay with this. I’ll allow the media to say whatever the hell they want. As long as Julian and I are happy, that it is all that matters. I allow a grin to settle on my lips.

“OH MY GOD!!!”

Both Julian and I turn to Viviana with wide eyes.

“NATALIA! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!” she yells out, her entire body jumping up and down on the seat, truly ecstatic. She has her phone plugged to her ear.

“What?!”

“THE Matthew Connely left a voice message on my phone while we were on our flight.”

My heart literally sinks then comes back in full speed. Matthew Connely is one of the top directors right now. His last ten films were all Oscar award nominated and winners. “And?” I urge, my tone shaky.

“He thinks YOU will be perfect as the lead female protagonist in his next film. It’s a romantic suspense thriller. He’s going to send over the script and would like you to read it over and give him a call if this is something you’d be interested in. He’s going to email me all of the detail as well. Some of the movie will be filmed in Russia!”

I think everyone in the car, and even the driver’s ear drums, combust with the sounds of my scream. I’m shaking. I’m overjoyed. I’m in extreme panic mode. “What if I’m not good enough? What if he changes his mind? What if?”

“Hey.” Julian interrupts my doubt. “See, that’s where you need to stop it.
He
called
you
. He said that
you
are perfect for the role. Don’t ever doubt your talent, Natalia.”

I smile at him and mouth, “Thank you.”

“Okay,” Julian yells out with a clap of his hands. “I think this is worthy of some celebration. Let’s go to dinner. Anywhere you want Natalia; you name it I’ll make it happen.”

I practically jump on top him, my arms embracing him in a tight hold.

I love him.

After an amazing dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, we are finally home. The restaurant was booked for the night with previous reservations, but once Julian made the call in, he magically made it happened. Just like he promised. We enter the foyer and Julian removes his cell phone from his back pocket. “Jonathan has been blowing up my phone. I’m sure it’s because he’s seen all of the photos of us. I’m going to go return his call now.”

“Okay, I’m going to go upstairs and lay down for a bit.”

“I’ll be up soon.”

I hop in the shower as quickly as possible, throw on pajamas and sit in bed with my back pressed against the headboard. Grabbing the laptop, I quickly turn it on. I’m super eager to read this script as soon as possible. While we were at dinner, Viviana had returned Matthew Connely’s call and he immediately emailed her all of the information, which she forward to me.

My fingers tremble as I download the script, which is titled
CONCEALED.
The synopsis already has me excited. It’s so different than what I have ever done. It’s more dark, and sexy, and thrilling. I’m used to the emotional contemporary romance or romantic comedy. But a role like this will be great to push myself as an actress, to take me outside the box, and prove what I can bring.

I lowered the television volume so I can concentrate on the script. I’m completely immersed into the storyline as it grips me from the very first page, but in the background I hear “Julian Rios”. My head snaps up and I see my husband on the screen. There’s a photo that was taken from his last fight with Merit. I turn up the volume and listen to ESPN. A group of commentators are talking about their previous fight.

“It was just announced that Julian Rios has agreed to a rematch with Trevor Merit. Nothing is confirmed, but there is a live conference scheduled tomorrow morning with Rios. I must say, if there is a rematch, this will for sure be a huge event. Probably
the
fight of the new year,”
one of the critics says.

Another one cuts in.
“That’s a fight I’ll definitely pay again to tune in to. But I’m hoping Rios steps up his game this time. He wasn’t slagging, but he wasn’t using his usual multiple combinations that he’s known for. His mind wasn’t in it this time around.”

“Well, what others fail to realize was months before this fight, Rios was released from rehab, then he had to begin training for this fight while struggling with sobriety and going through a tough separation from his wife. Who wouldn’t be off their game?”

Julian walks into the room, his phone glued to his ear as the commentators continue to discuss this so-called
rematch
. He is completely concentrated on his phone call, so he doesn’t even hear the television in the background, which I have turned up the volume on by this time.

He ends his call with Jonathan, then tosses his phone on the bed. I watch him as he strips down into his boxer briefs and slides into bed beside me. So many thoughts run through my mind—some positive, more negative.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

He huffs out a deep breath, then leans against the headboard. “Yeah. Jonathan said the rematch is a go. So, I basically have about a month break then I’ll be back in training.”

My heart rate spikes. “When are they expecting the match?”

“We’re looking at an early May fight. Jonathan scheduled a live press conference for me tomorrow morning, and I have a few interviews in the afternoon. It was so much information to take over the phone. He’s going to give me all the details tomorrow.” He rubs a hand over his face.

“How do you feel about all of this?”

Julian tilts his head, he raises a brow. “What do you mean?” He shrugs. “It’s my job, my career. I don’t have any feelings about it. I have to do what I have to do.”

I press my lips together, and adjust my body to fully face him, placing the laptop aside. “I meant about
us
. How will this work out for us?”

He cocks his head aside and stares at me. “I don’t understand, Natalia. We’ll be doing what we’re doing now,” he states with conviction.