All in iggys story, p.23
All In: Iggy's Story, page 23
"Welcome to the neighborhood," Violet says after introductions are made.
"Is this a housewarming party I didn't get an invitation for?" I ask.
"It's a glad-you-didn't-end-up-dead-and-happy-you’re-in-town get-together. Get used to it, the women do this kinda shit a lot," Travis explains.
"No offense, but what’s up with your dog?" Jessica asks.
"Lily picked it out."
"It's broken," Cain says, which elicits laughs from everyone.
"We’re pretty sure the dog reminds Lily of Iggy, which is why she chose it,” Abby explains.
They all look at the dog who is limping merrily to the couch. He tries to hop up onto the couch but misses and falls. He does this a few more times. At least he’s determined. Not very bright, but definitely determined. I grab him and lift him up, and he settles in a corner right next to me. "You got a smart girl there, Abby. That dog is exactly like Iggy," Slade says, and we all burst into laughter.
"You guys brought so much food. I’m going to get plates," Abby announces, and the women follow her to the kitchen. I look around the room. I’m lying on my couch, my foot on the coffee table, my body still aching, but I’m in my home, with my family, entertaining my friends, who were kind enough to come check in on me.
I feel loved.
As corny as it sounds, it’s something I never had and never want to lose.
After we all eat and hang out for a bit, Cain and Violet leave, followed by Travis and his crew who say goodbye with a promise of a play date soon for the girls. I'm sitting with Slade on the couch while Jessica and Abby are in the kitchen. Jessica's trying to convince Abby to take some of her yoga classes while they finish off a bottle of wine.
"So, about Worth the Fight," Slade begins.
"Yeah, about that," I reply.
"Looks like you ain’t going back to Miami any time soon, brother.”
I look around my freshly painted and decorated home. "Probably not. I'll sell you my shares cheap."
"Well maybe you’ll want to buy more shares. We're opening up another location here in town. Not a gym though. This one is only for professional fighters. We want to recruit a team and build that side of the business. I need someone to help me with that. Tony doesn't want to keep coming up here. He wants to make Miami permanent."
"What are you saying?"
"I need someone I trust to help run the operations for the new location. I can't fight, and run two WtFs, and open a new place. I’m already stretched thin as it is. There’s not many people I trust more. So, what do you say?"
"You offering me a job?"
"Fuck no, I'm offering you a partnership."
"I don’t have words, brother.”
"Well, that’s a first." He chuckles. "So that's a yes?"
"Gotta talk to Abby first."
"’Course you do. Think about it. Discuss it. Get back to me."
He stands up and extends his hand. "I’m really glad you found some happy, brother."
So am I. So am I.
Epilogue
A YEAR LATER
IGGY
“Honey, you’re going to embarrass Oscar,” Abby says as I open the third delivery box that has arrived in as many days.
“You don’t know what’s in here.”
“I do. It’s more crap with the number sixty-three on it.”
“We need to support him, babe.” I take out the matching t-shirts I had made for Lily, Abby, Claire, Tim, and me that say, MVP 63.
“Support him, not humiliate him,” she laughs. “We have hats, foam fingers, shirts, water bottles, pins.”
Oscar enters the room, Wafer following behind him. “What’s that?”
“More stuff for your game tomorrow.”
“Oh no!” Oscar groans. “You are so embarrassing.”
“You're starting tomorrow. That’s a big deal. Oh, and I have good news, some of the guys from WtF are going to come watch."
"They're so loud!" he complains with a roll of his eyes.
"They love you, kid. Let us cheer you on."
He blows out a breath and plops down on the couch.
“Daddy!” Lily yells from outside. She started calling me Daddy about six months ago, right after the wedding. Every time she says it, my heart melts. The first time she said it, I cried. It wasn’t a pretty cry either. It was an emotional, sobbing, from-the-heart happiness I’ve never experienced.
“What’s up, princess?”
She runs downstairs with my iPad. “Can we get this for Flash? Please, pretty please.”
Abby takes the tablet from her hand, and I see her holding in a chuckle. “I don’t think so, baby. It’s a lot of money and Flash is fine just the way he is.”
I grab the tablet from Abby. It’s a little prosthetic doggie leg. Apparently, in Switzerland, you can get a prosthetic leg for a dog, and it’s insanely expensive.
“But Daddy has one, and he really doesn’t need it but it makes him be able to do all this stuff and don’t you want Flash to be able to do all the stuff too?” she says all in one breath.
“We may have to go to Switzerland,” I tell Abby who shakes her head and rolls her eyes at me. “Babe, I said I was all-in.”
She eyes my new—and only—tattoo. It’s small and right above where my prosthetic connects to my stump. It’s a tattoo of Iron Man because what else could it be. Except this Iron Man is shooting out a light from the heart with the names of my family: Oscar, Lily, and Abby.
* * *
Other titles Sidney Halston
Acknowledgments
I've been wanting to write Iggy's story for years but I hadn't been able to find the time between other projects. Iggy's book has so many cameos from so many loved characters, I think you'll find this book is extra special and I'm so glad it's finally in your hands! Thank you for your patience and I hope he lives up to all your expectations.
I first want to thank Loveswept for all they did to get Worth the Fight and Panic into so many e-readers. I want to thank Junessa for all that she's taught me over the years; so much love to you JV! A big huge special thanks to my favorite person in the book world—Sarah, my agent. Thank you for making this into a reality.
My family—thank you doesn't seem like the right word to describe how much I appreciate and love you for allowing me the time to do what I love.
And finally to all my readers who have followed me, even when I've gone M.I.A. on social media. It's tough to have a private life, a writing life, and a social media life. I'm trying to get better on the social media world, but I think you'd rather me just write!
Stay tuned because something special is brewing….
Also by Sidney Halston
If you're want to know more about Jack, Slade, Cain, or any other character from All In, pick up one of these titles…
* * *
Contemporary Romance
* * *
All In: Iggy’s Story
* * *
Worth the Fight Series
Against the Cage
Full Contact
Below the Belt
Laid Out
Fighting Dirty
Stacked Up
* * *
Panic Series
Pull Me Close
Make Me Stay
Kiss Me Back
What About Us
* * *
Romantic Suspense
* * *
Iron-Clad Security Series
Kiss Marry Kill
Last First Kiss
Kiss Kiss Bang
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It”
And that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote the successful New Adult series, Seeing Red and Seeing Black. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing. Currently on sale is the bestselling contemporary romance series, Worth the Fight and Panic Series, as well as Romantic Suspense series, Iron Clad Security.
Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She’s a reader first and foremost.
When she’s not writing or reading her life is complete and utter chaos trying to balance family life with work, and writing (and reading). But she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sidney Halston, All In: Iggy's Story
