MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat-Chapter 632: What We Build

Joey leaned back in the chair, letting out a relaxed laugh as he looked toward the house, where the soft glow of lights poured out onto the lawn. "Haha, haa… this is a great party, man. I'm glad I get to be part of your family."

Damon gave him a side glance, smiling. "Wouldn't be the same without you."

But Joey's tone shifted slightly, more thoughtful now.

"But I gotta say… I envy you."

Damon raised an eyebrow, confused. He didn't see much Joey could envy. Their lives, while different in detail, ran a similar rhythm.

Damon fought, he lived in the spotlight, chased titles, handled the pressure. Joey, on the other hand, never wanted to fight.

He found his place managing and marketing, handling logistics and opportunities, steering the machine around Damon's name.

And more than anything, Joey loved MMA. He loved being around it, part of it.

They both had carved lives doing what they loved.

So Damon wasn't sure what he meant. "What's there to envy?" he asked.

Joey exhaled slowly, his voice quieter now. "Well, you know Theo's growing up, and he's a talkative little fella. I'm just waiting for the moment he starts asking real questions."

Damon didn't interrupt. He let him speak.

"You know your daughter's blessed. She's got your mom, and Lana's parents. It's not just the love, it's the presence. The structure."

Joey looked out toward the dim lawn where only shadows remained. "You know my situation, man. I don't have my parents. Ashley's parents... they don't really want to be in our lives. I just don't want Theo to grow up feeling like something's missing when he starts noticing what other kids have."

Damon understood now. It wasn't about envy, it was fear.

Fear of his son growing up feeling less supported, less rooted. Fear of absence. Damon sat back for a moment before reaching over and placing a hand on Joey's shoulder.

"Look, man... I get where you're coming from. I really do," he said, steady and sure. "But listen, you're my brother. That means my mom is your mom. Ashley's parents might not want to step up, but you've got people here who'd be thrilled to be part of Theo's life."

Joey stayed quiet, but Damon could see the tension in his jaw relax a little.

"You can't stress over people who don't care," Damon added. "You build with the ones who do. And I promise you, Theo's not lacking anything. He's surrounded by love. Real love. That's what counts."

Joey gave a faint nod, eyes glossed but steady. "Thanks, man. Really."

They sat in silence for a while longer, not needing to say anything more.

The stars above blinked quietly, the sounds from the house faint in the distance.

For all the chaos their lives had seen, this moment was still.

Family wasn't always blood. Sometimes, it was just showing up.

Damon stood up and glanced down at the half-empty beer bottle lying near his foot.

He kicked it lightly, shaking his head. "Damn… and here I was thinking you were busy dealing with something serious, turns out you were just out here thinking bullshit."

Joey laughed from behind him, bending down to pick the bottle up and tossing it into the trash bag hanging from the side table. "Man, it felt serious in the moment."

Damon smirked, clapping his shoulder. "Yeah, well… next time come think your bullshit where there's food."

Joey grinned and dusted his hands. "Alright. Let's get back inside. Ash and Ty already dipped."

Damon gave a short nod, and the two walked back toward the house, the soft hum of conversation and laughter still trailing from within.

They stepped inside, the quiet buzz of conversation wrapping around them.

The warm lighting in the living room cast a calm glow over the space.

Ashley and Svetlana were seated on the couch, chatting quietly with soft smiles, each holding a small glass of juice.

Theo was nowhere to be seen, which likely meant he'd finally been tucked into bed after running around all afternoon.

Victor sat nearby in one of the armchairs, gesturing as he spoke, clearly in the middle of a story or opinion that had the women listening closely.

Aoife and Macey appeared from the kitchen just then, drying their hands with kitchen towels, likely finishing the last of the cleanup.

The house had settled into the peaceful hum that only came after a long, full day, laughter exchanged meals shared, memories added.

Damon and Joey stepped further in, welcomed by the quiet familiarity of home and the presence of people who mattered.

The rest of the gathering eased into quiet conversation and soft laughter as the evening wore on.

Plates had long been cleared, drinks set aside, and most of the house had dimmed into a warm, sleepy calm.

Joey stood first, stretching with a satisfied groan. "Alright, we better get going."

Ashley nodded beside him, then excused herself to retrieve Theo. She disappeared into the guest room where he had been laid down earlier. A few moments later, she returned gently cradling the sleeping boy, his arms limp around her neck, mouth slightly open in deep sleep.

They said their goodbyes with soft voices and warm hugs. Damon opened the door for them, watching the small family walk down the driveway and into the night, disappearing behind the glow of their car's headlights.

Not long after, Victor stood up as well, finishing the last sip from his cup. "We should be going too. Macey's got an early morning."

Damon turned to his mother, already beginning to stand. "I'll take you—"

Victor raised a hand, cutting him off. "Don't worry about it. I've got her. You stay with your girls."

Damon nodded gratefully and walked them out. Macey gave him a hug and a few final motherly words before they stepped outside.

And then it was just two left in the quiet house, Damon and Svetlana.

Svetlana yelped in surprise as Damon scooped her up with ease, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. She laughed as he spun her once before steadying her in his arms.

"That was amazing," she said through a breathless smile, eyes still lit from the joy of the night.

Damon grinned. "You did most of the work."

She shook her head, brushing a hand against his cheek. "We both did. She's one year old, Damon. One."

He glanced toward the quiet hallway where their daughter slept, then looked back at her, his smile softening. "I know. Feels like yesterday we were panicking over diapers."

"Now we're panicking over parties," she teased.

He chuckled, still holding her. "Next year it'll be school. Then—" freёnovelkiss.com

"Nope," she cut him off, putting a finger to his lips. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Damon nodded slowly, then leaned in and kissed her gently. "Fair enough."