Everything inside me became terribly still.
I stood slowly, watching Ryan wipe his mouth while the backyard fell into shocked silence.
Derek pointed at my face and ordered me to sit down because the argument supposedly had nothing to do with me.
I looked at my husband’s trembling hands and understood that this was no longer about a ruined dress.
When I moved toward Ryan, Derek stepped into my path and grabbed my wrist.
His fingers tightened painfully as he leaned close enough for me to smell the beer on his breath.
“What’s wrong, princess, are you finally going to cry?”
Before I could answer, Marissa suddenly screamed from beside the patio door.
“DEREK, LET HER GO!”
Everyone turned toward her as she held up a trembling phone displaying an old championship video.
On the screen stood a younger version of me with tightly braided hair, a gold championship belt, and my opponent sitting defeated against the cage.
