THE FIGHTER (Origninally called my UFC FIGHTER)

17. Noah

"Enter!" I called to the person who knocked in my door as I was sitting at my desk drawing. A second later the door opened and I paused for a split second to look over my shoulder to see Dad enter.

"Whatcha working on?" He asked as he walked in and sat on the edge of my bed. I bit my lip as I looked at the sketch in front of me.

"A portrait of Ethan," I replied making him raise a brow as I felt my cheeks heat up with a blush, "I promised him one after he saw my sketch book a couple weeks before school ended."

Dad nodded, "did you need anything?"

"Yes," he said and I tilted my head as I sat my pencil down and turned to give him my undivided attention, "I actually came to give you this. Ezra was going through the mail when he saw this come in for you." I furrowed my brows as I took the envelope from him before biting my cheek when I saw Ethan's familiar hand writing on the front.

"Thank you," I said and he nodded before ruffling my hair, " Dad!"

He grinned before chucking, "finish up wherever you are and come down for lunch, Ezra made your favorite." I grinned and nodded.

"I will," I said and he nodded before walking out of my room and shutting the door behind me. I was confused as to why Ethan would send me a letter instead of texting me but, whatever.

I opened the envelope only to find tickets to his last fight which was next week in San Diego at the Pechanga Arena. I raised a brow as I saw that there were 4 tickets.

I shook my head with a smile as I set the tickets down and picked the card up.

I felt my heart skip a beat as I read the note Ethan wrote under the card's caption.

Happy birthday, to you! I know you didn't think I'd remember your birthday today, but how could I ever forget the birthday of a guy as great as you! I hope you have a wonderful day and know that I'm thinking of you today.

I smiled and shook my head, I suppose a day late is better than nothing.

And just as that thought came, my phone buzzed on the desk making me look towards it to see that Ethan was calling.

"Hello?"

"Hey," he greeted and I coke picture him smiling in the other end of the line making me smile as well. "Did you get my card?"

"Yes," I replied as I re-read the words on the card, "thank you."

"How was your birthday? Did anything fun?" He asked and I could heard him moving around making me raise a brow, "I know your birthday was yesterday but the card wasn't going to arrive until today."

"Papa and Dad took me to dinner at the Coast," I answered and he hummed, I started calling Ezra papa since he and Dad were now

"NOAH!" Dad shouted from downstairs making me jump.

"ON MY WAY!" I called before turning back to my call, "sorry about that,"

"I'm guessing that was your dad?"

"Yup," I replied, "he s calling me down for lunch,"

"Ahh," he said, "we can talk later once your done eating that way I'm not interrupting you."

"Okay, I'll call you back once I'm done?" I replied though it came out as a question.

"I'm actually heading out for training, so why don't we text for now and when I get a chance, I'll call you?"

I smiled, "okay, yeah, that sounds good," I answered as I made it down the hall and sniffing the air as I smelt the familiar scent of Carne en Palito which is similar to the shish kebab. It's literally my favorite. And has been ever since the four of us had gone to Ecuador a few years ago on vacation when Ezra was on break from modeling.