you.”
“You training with anyone?” I ask as the three of us start to walk together.
“Not really. I’ve mainly been helping Ethan.”
“You?”
“Nah, you know I wouldn’t do that.”
As we round the corner, the gym comes into view and it brings a smile to my face. I have so many good memories here. This was my home away from home. This place has made some great fighters and I’m proud to say that I’m one of them.
“How long did you guys train for?” Ivy asks.
Logan stops walking and looks between the two of us. “Almost four years.”
We continue on as I say, “It was a great ride. I was training for the fight of my life when we last were together, but…” I trail off. “I never made the fight.”
Logan opens the door for me and the noises invade my senses. My eyes bounce everywhere, scanning all of the faces, some I recognize, while others I don’t. Logan whistles, like he used to when I would slack off on training and my ears ring along with everyone else’s. All eyes are pulled in my direction, and when the guys I trained with for so long recognize me, I am bombarded.
“Holy shit, Hensley’s back,” Ethan, the owner, yells, and the next hour is spent reminiscing. I never realized how much I missed this place, or these guys, but I do.
“A hundred bucks says not one of you pussies can stand one round in the ring with Hensley,” Ethan challenges, and then looks at Ivy and apologizes for the pussy reference.
“I’ll have him tapping in half a round,” a guy about my size says from across the gym.
“Don’t do it, Brock,” one of the guys says.
Ivy’s hand is still in mine and typically I’m not egged on by anyone, but this asshole has kept quiet my entire visit, like I am sand in his underwear, and every time I’ve looked at him, his eyes are on Ivy.
I squeeze her hand once before letting go and then step forward. A low roar of cheers erupts in the room and the douchebag hops off the weight bench like he’s tough. Pulling my shirt over my head, I toss it to Ivy and step to him.
Ethan jumps between us holding us apart. “We’re not bare knuckle fighting. Suit up.”
“Nah, fuck that shit!” I shout and move around Ethan pushing the guy backwards.
“You think you’re tough?” he asks.
“Yeah, and you’re about to find out how tough I am.” I push him out of my way and hop into the makeshift ring that I have grappled and sparred in so many times. Leaning down I stretch my back and legs and then raise my fists.
“Lock the door,” Ethan shouts and jumps into the ring, holding us apart “If I let you fight like this, when I call it, you’re done, understand?”
I nod once and catch sight of Ivy watching me as I pound my fists together. Having her close to me again while I fight feels good. Especially because this time I know that she is safe. Ethan steps back and says, “Bring it on.”
The ten guys in the room erupt in cheers, but through it all, Logan’s voice is loud and clear. I hear him better than anyone; hell, I trust him the most. As we size each other up and land a few jabs here and there, I get my feet in a good flow, but he wants to take me to the ground to try and end it quickly, and I’m not having that weak ass shit. I’d rather beat the shit out of him for four and a half minutes and then make him tap.
Swinging in for a left hook, he ducks and catches me with an uppercut. Blood pools in my mouth and I smile at him, taking things up a notch. I keep him close to the ropes as I work him around the ring, landing shot after shot. He grunts from every punch, tiring out quickly, and the satisfaction of quickly having the advantage only ramps up my adrenaline.
Stepping back, I look at him and can see the pain in his face as he heaves for air. Clearly he’s not well trained in endurance. Kicking his feet out from underneath him, I contemplate my next move, then Logan sees an opportunity that I don’t and shouts, “Arm bar.” And I grab his arm,
“You training with anyone?” I ask as the three of us start to walk together.
“Not really. I’ve mainly been helping Ethan.”
“You?”
“Nah, you know I wouldn’t do that.”
As we round the corner, the gym comes into view and it brings a smile to my face. I have so many good memories here. This was my home away from home. This place has made some great fighters and I’m proud to say that I’m one of them.
“How long did you guys train for?” Ivy asks.
Logan stops walking and looks between the two of us. “Almost four years.”
We continue on as I say, “It was a great ride. I was training for the fight of my life when we last were together, but…” I trail off. “I never made the fight.”
Logan opens the door for me and the noises invade my senses. My eyes bounce everywhere, scanning all of the faces, some I recognize, while others I don’t. Logan whistles, like he used to when I would slack off on training and my ears ring along with everyone else’s. All eyes are pulled in my direction, and when the guys I trained with for so long recognize me, I am bombarded.
“Holy shit, Hensley’s back,” Ethan, the owner, yells, and the next hour is spent reminiscing. I never realized how much I missed this place, or these guys, but I do.
“A hundred bucks says not one of you pussies can stand one round in the ring with Hensley,” Ethan challenges, and then looks at Ivy and apologizes for the pussy reference.
“I’ll have him tapping in half a round,” a guy about my size says from across the gym.
“Don’t do it, Brock,” one of the guys says.
Ivy’s hand is still in mine and typically I’m not egged on by anyone, but this asshole has kept quiet my entire visit, like I am sand in his underwear, and every time I’ve looked at him, his eyes are on Ivy.
I squeeze her hand once before letting go and then step forward. A low roar of cheers erupts in the room and the douchebag hops off the weight bench like he’s tough. Pulling my shirt over my head, I toss it to Ivy and step to him.
Ethan jumps between us holding us apart. “We’re not bare knuckle fighting. Suit up.”
“Nah, fuck that shit!” I shout and move around Ethan pushing the guy backwards.
“You think you’re tough?” he asks.
“Yeah, and you’re about to find out how tough I am.” I push him out of my way and hop into the makeshift ring that I have grappled and sparred in so many times. Leaning down I stretch my back and legs and then raise my fists.
“Lock the door,” Ethan shouts and jumps into the ring, holding us apart “If I let you fight like this, when I call it, you’re done, understand?”
I nod once and catch sight of Ivy watching me as I pound my fists together. Having her close to me again while I fight feels good. Especially because this time I know that she is safe. Ethan steps back and says, “Bring it on.”
The ten guys in the room erupt in cheers, but through it all, Logan’s voice is loud and clear. I hear him better than anyone; hell, I trust him the most. As we size each other up and land a few jabs here and there, I get my feet in a good flow, but he wants to take me to the ground to try and end it quickly, and I’m not having that weak ass shit. I’d rather beat the shit out of him for four and a half minutes and then make him tap.
Swinging in for a left hook, he ducks and catches me with an uppercut. Blood pools in my mouth and I smile at him, taking things up a notch. I keep him close to the ropes as I work him around the ring, landing shot after shot. He grunts from every punch, tiring out quickly, and the satisfaction of quickly having the advantage only ramps up my adrenaline.
Stepping back, I look at him and can see the pain in his face as he heaves for air. Clearly he’s not well trained in endurance. Kicking his feet out from underneath him, I contemplate my next move, then Logan sees an opportunity that I don’t and shouts, “Arm bar.” And I grab his arm,
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