because he would be back tomorrow and the next day and the next—until Brick passed. Even if all he could do was offer Lucky comfort in secret, Dray would be there for him, and when the time came and Lucky was ready to resume his career, Dray would step back and allow Lucky the dream he deserved.
* * * *
Lucky glanced at Dray as they jogged side by side on the twelve-mile trail that wound its way along Lake Michigan. It felt nice to have someone to run with for a change, even better because it was a gorgeous day. He’d been surprised when Dray had asked him to get out of the gym for a while. “So why’d you wanna run here?”
“It used to be my favorite place to clear my head before a fight.” Dray returned Lucky’s glance. “And I want to talk to you about Flint.”
“Flint?” Lucky had noticed Dray spending time with Flint that morning, the morning after the best fucking night of Lucky’s life.
“I think he should go with you to the tournament. He can keep an eye on Brick and step in if Brick doesn’t last the entire tournament,” Dray explained, his breathing still even after almost six miles of nonstop running.
Lucky slowed. He didn’t want to think about Brick not lasting through the tournament. Even worse, he didn’t want Flint as a backup trainer. “Why can’t you do it?”
Dray snapped his fingers and motioned for Lucky to catch up. Once Lucky was beside him, Dray spoke. “Bruno knows who I am, and he’s got a big mouth. Even if I wear a hat and try to fly under the radar, word will get out.”
“So? I know you think you being in my corner will somehow paint me as gay, too, in the public eye, but I don’t agree. I know almost nothing about my opponents’ trainers. The focus is always on the fighters, and even if someone had a gay trainer, I don’t think that would be news-worthy.”
“I won’t take that chance,” Dray replied.
“But you’re the best fighter I’ve ever known, and if something happens to Brick, I’ll need you there.” A muscle clenched in Dray’s jaw, and Lucky knew he was getting to him. “Without you there, I’ll likely withdraw from the match because I’ll be too worried about Brick. You’re the only one who’d be able to verbally kick my ass enough to get me to go on.”
They ran in silence for several moments before Dray spoke. “Flint’s in your corner with Brick, but I’ll be in the building. If I feel I’m really needed, I’ll step in. Otherwise, I’ll stay in the shadows.”
Lucky didn’t like it, but he knew it was the best he was going to get out of Dray. “Fine.” They still hadn’t talked about their night, and the thought that it would never happen again worried him. “You coming by tonight after Brick goes to bed?”
Dray nodded.
Lucky grinned to himself. He ran the next six miles thinking about having sex with Dray again.
Once they reached the end of the trail, Lucky stopped and retrieved a water bottle out of his backpack. He continued to walk beside Dray, keeping his muscles warm while he rehydrated. A soft mewing caught his attention. “Did you hear that?”
Dray lowered his bottle. “Huh?”
The sound came again and Lucky realized it was coming from a tall patch of weeds. He walked over to investigate. “Oh, shit.” He stared down at the emaciated black and white kitten. The poor fella looked like he could barely raise his head. Without a thought, he bent over and picked up the tiny body. He turned toward Dray and held it out. “You think someone just dumped it?”
“I don’t know, but be careful handling it. Might have some kind of disease,” Dray replied, stepping closer. He stared at the kitten stretched out in Lucky’s palms. “I don’t think it’s going to make it.”
The kitten lifted his head and mewed.
“He’ll make it,” Lucky said, smiling down at the helpless creature. “He’s a fighter.”
* * * *
With a towel wrapped around the kitten, Lucky curled up in the corner of
* * * *
Lucky glanced at Dray as they jogged side by side on the twelve-mile trail that wound its way along Lake Michigan. It felt nice to have someone to run with for a change, even better because it was a gorgeous day. He’d been surprised when Dray had asked him to get out of the gym for a while. “So why’d you wanna run here?”
“It used to be my favorite place to clear my head before a fight.” Dray returned Lucky’s glance. “And I want to talk to you about Flint.”
“Flint?” Lucky had noticed Dray spending time with Flint that morning, the morning after the best fucking night of Lucky’s life.
“I think he should go with you to the tournament. He can keep an eye on Brick and step in if Brick doesn’t last the entire tournament,” Dray explained, his breathing still even after almost six miles of nonstop running.
Lucky slowed. He didn’t want to think about Brick not lasting through the tournament. Even worse, he didn’t want Flint as a backup trainer. “Why can’t you do it?”
Dray snapped his fingers and motioned for Lucky to catch up. Once Lucky was beside him, Dray spoke. “Bruno knows who I am, and he’s got a big mouth. Even if I wear a hat and try to fly under the radar, word will get out.”
“So? I know you think you being in my corner will somehow paint me as gay, too, in the public eye, but I don’t agree. I know almost nothing about my opponents’ trainers. The focus is always on the fighters, and even if someone had a gay trainer, I don’t think that would be news-worthy.”
“I won’t take that chance,” Dray replied.
“But you’re the best fighter I’ve ever known, and if something happens to Brick, I’ll need you there.” A muscle clenched in Dray’s jaw, and Lucky knew he was getting to him. “Without you there, I’ll likely withdraw from the match because I’ll be too worried about Brick. You’re the only one who’d be able to verbally kick my ass enough to get me to go on.”
They ran in silence for several moments before Dray spoke. “Flint’s in your corner with Brick, but I’ll be in the building. If I feel I’m really needed, I’ll step in. Otherwise, I’ll stay in the shadows.”
Lucky didn’t like it, but he knew it was the best he was going to get out of Dray. “Fine.” They still hadn’t talked about their night, and the thought that it would never happen again worried him. “You coming by tonight after Brick goes to bed?”
Dray nodded.
Lucky grinned to himself. He ran the next six miles thinking about having sex with Dray again.
Once they reached the end of the trail, Lucky stopped and retrieved a water bottle out of his backpack. He continued to walk beside Dray, keeping his muscles warm while he rehydrated. A soft mewing caught his attention. “Did you hear that?”
Dray lowered his bottle. “Huh?”
The sound came again and Lucky realized it was coming from a tall patch of weeds. He walked over to investigate. “Oh, shit.” He stared down at the emaciated black and white kitten. The poor fella looked like he could barely raise his head. Without a thought, he bent over and picked up the tiny body. He turned toward Dray and held it out. “You think someone just dumped it?”
“I don’t know, but be careful handling it. Might have some kind of disease,” Dray replied, stepping closer. He stared at the kitten stretched out in Lucky’s palms. “I don’t think it’s going to make it.”
The kitten lifted his head and mewed.
“He’ll make it,” Lucky said, smiling down at the helpless creature. “He’s a fighter.”
* * * *
With a towel wrapped around the kitten, Lucky curled up in the corner of
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