The expo center was dark, the shadows of bodies mulling around the floor flickering on the bare concrete walls. Everything was dim except for the punishing spotlights that rained down on the octagon in the middle of the cavernous room. Seven fights had already occurred there. The ash gray mat peppered with sponsors’ logos was already smeared with someone’s blood.
The whole scene made Max’s stomach churn. He was certain he was going to hurl, which would be difficult. He had hardly eaten anything in the last week so that he could be certain to make weight. He took a deep breath and blew it out to steady his nerves. It didn’t help one bit.
He turned as a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. He met his coach’s warm brown eyes.
“How are you doing, Max?”
Max sighed heavily. “Nervous as hell, Chuck.”
Chuck laughed as he patted Max on the back. “Understandable. But you’ve got this. You’re more than ready.”
Max looked down at his taped hands, glancing briefly at his brand-new fight shorts. “I hope you’re right, Chuck.”
“Of course, I’m right. Once you get done in there, you’ll want to go back. You won’t ever want to stop fighting. Trust me. Just relax. You’re up, right after this bout. You’d better get your gear on.”
Max nodded then stooped over his bag. He pulled free a pair of fingerless MMA gloves lying on top and tugged them on. He examined them briefly, silently grateful the athletic commission approved them. Any little thing was making him anxious at this point. Chuck gave him one more proud smile as he wrapped red tape around the wrist of each glove.
Rustling through the rest of his belongings, he scooped out his mouth guard case and popped it open. Max slipped the chunk of rubber indented with his teeth marks into his mouth and nudged it into place with his tongue. Following Chuck, he approached the curtain and held his breath.
The thudding beat of Saliva’s “Ladies and Gentlemen” echoed off the walls of the building. Max’s heart thundered along with the bass. He’d always loved this song. And now, he was walking into the cage to it. Shaking each limb loose, Max was certain the anticipation was going to do him in. He didn’t turn as he heard the rustling of his teammates gathering behind him to escort him to his fight. Knowing they were there was enough.
The quick trip from backstage to the octagon seemed to take an eternity. The officials patted Max down from head to toe then asked to see his mouth guard. He popped it between his teeth obediently then sucked it back into his mouth. Once they were satisfied, Max turned to Chuck and closed his eyes.
He shivered a bit as his coach rubbed the cool petroleum jelly on his face while barking final instructions over the loud music. “Keep your hands up! Don’t stop moving! Fight smart!” Max hardly heard a word Chuck said over the pounding of his pulse. His thoughts were focused solely on what was about to happen.
His stomach lurched once more. Max opened his eyes, shooting one last glance at his teammates before stepping into the metal structure. The smile from his best friend, Quinn, boosted his confidence a little. He bounced from one foot to the other as he hurried to his corner and then turned to face the official and his opponent. It’s time. Here we go.
The announcer drew out the introductions a little longer than Max liked. The crowd cheered louder for his opponent than him. It didn’t surprise Max. The guy had a 3 and 0 record. Max wasn’t supposed to win.
Finally, the fighters were called from their respective corners to go over the rules with the referee. Max listened intently. He ignored the fact that the bald, heavily tattooed guy he was about to go to war against was staring him down, trying to psych him out. Let him try. I’m not falling for it.
The ref sent the fighters back to their corners. Max hopped from the ball of one foot to the other. Let’s do this. His heart leaped in his throat as the official shouted out, “Fight!”
Max approached the center of the mat hesitantly, scanning his opponent as he did. The steel-gray eyes that met his glared as the bald fighter threw a jab. Max blocked it, readying himself for the following cross. It never came. Max frowned for a split second as the other fighter danced around. This is how he wants to do it? I don’t think so.
Launching off the balls of his feet Max charged after the bald man with his fists flying. He threw jabs and crosses with lightning speed, catching the retaliation shots on his cheek and temple. None of them were enough to daze him.
As his opponent raised his hands to block the blows to his face, Max dropped to one knee and lunged, wrapping his arms around the other man’s waist and burrowing his head into the other fighter’s stomach. Lifting, Max dropped him onto the mat, instantly scrambling into side control. The bald man struggled for all he was worth, bucking his hips to throw Max off.
It was all Max needed.
He grabbed his opponent’s arm, wrenching it into a Kimura behind the fighter’s back. His opponent struggled to get his arm free. Finally, his free hand tapped to the submission. The ref tugged Max off the man. Max, still crouched a few feet away, rocked back on his heels in disbelief.
His first fight had resulted in his first win. It was amazing. Chuck was right. He already wanted more, and he hadn’t even stepped out of the octagon yet.
Max’s head snapped up as he heard Chuck’s voice calling him back to the corner. He jumped to his feet and returned to the wall, watching the officials make the final decisions. It was only a matter of moments before the ref called him back to the center of the ring and raised his arm in victory. It was an incredible feeling.
The team was behind the curtain, waiting for him with congratulatory slaps on the back when he strode from the cage. Max didn’t think his grin could get wider. Chuck wrapped him in a bear hug once he cut through the crowd of fighters. “I knew you could do it. That was amazing, Max.”
Max hugged him back. “Thanks, Coach. So, when’s my next fight?”
Chuck laughed. “Yeah, take a break a bit. You’ll be back soon enough.”
The group dispersed to watch the battle now in the octagon. Max turned as a palm landed squarely between his shoulder blades. He met a pair of grinning, dark brown eyes. Max wrapped Quinn in a sweaty hug.
“So, how was it?” Quinn questioned.
“A-maz-ing,” Max answered as he let him go. Quinn had been as close as a brother to Max since the first day of college. They had lived next door to each other freshman year. Max had loaned his tool set to Quinn so he could assemble his futon. Then Max jumped in and helped him put it together. It was Quinn who introduced him to mixed martial arts. He had tinkered with it in high school and was excited to do it in college. With Max’s background in wrestling, Quinn insisted they join together. Had Quinn been a little more devoted to practice and a little less to partying, maybe he’d be fighting too by now.
Max motioned for Quinn to follow as he wandered into the restroom. Max weaved his way around other fighters and fans until he gazed at his reflection in the long bank of mirrors mounted on a white painted concrete wall. Running his thumb beneath each of his deep blue eyes before brushing back the dark hair from his face, he examined the after effects of the battle he had just been in. “I’ll be sore in the morning. I can already feel it. But there’s nothing better in the world.”
“Can’t wait for my shot.”
“It’ll be soon. Chuck’s already talking about it.”
“Yeah. Twelve weeks of fight camp. That’s three months from now, if I got my fight tomorrow. And we started at the same time.”
Max winked at him. “Natural talent. What can I say? I better go find Tori before she starts texting and blows up my phone.”
“Or your parents throw her out. They don’t seem to like her.”
Max shrugged. “They’ll get used to her.” He strode from the bathroom with Quinn on his heels, not stopping until he had passed through the curtain that separated the back area from the rest of the arena. He didn’t get far before he saw Tori. Her long blonde hair brushed her shoulders as she fidgeted, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Her tight-fitting T-shirt accentuated every curve, and her snug denim shorts barely covered her long, thin legs.
Tori’s blue eyes lit up at the sight of Max. She near-sprinted across the dark room, not stopping until her arms were wrapped tight around his shoulders and her legs around his waist. Before he could hug her back, she parted his lips in a deep, wet kiss. As they broke free, she purred, “You did amazing, baby.”
Max grinned. “Thank you, beautiful.”
Max nudged her back to stand on her own two feet and then took her hand in his and led her through the mass of fans to find his parents. He and Tori had only been dating for about a month. She was normally never this affectionate with him. All the excitement must have gotten the best of her. Doesn’t bother me one bit. That kiss was icing on the cake of a pretty incredible night.
It didn’t take long for the three of them to find Max’s folks. Max was torn from Tori’s grasp by his mother as she embraced her son in a tight hug. He smiled as he hugged her back. He knew just how much his mom worried about his fighting. However, she would never say a word to stop him. She believed in him no matter what he did. His parents were that cool.
His mother pulled him free long enough to look him in the eye. “You did it!”
“I did, Mom. Not a scratch. I have some of the best coaches around. I was in good hands.”
His father patted him on the shoulder. “Of course, you do. Plus, you’re a natural. We’re both so proud of you.”
Max’s grin grew wider. It was one thing to know they believed in him. However, it was ten times better to hear it from their lips. He felt invincible. “Thanks, Dad, Mom.”
The exhibition hall slowly lit up, signifying the intermission. The crowd around Max grew, everyone wanting to congratulate him on his victory. Max glanced down as he felt his arm lifted and dropped. Tori was snuggled against him again. She shot him a scowl and then beamed to those around them. Max chuckled. She must have been a little upset his attention was diverted from her. He tugged her close and kissed the top of her head.
As the lights descended for the second half of the card, Max settled in at the table with his parents and Tori. As he watched the fighters, he studied their technique, looking for anything he could use in his training. By the time the lights came up again, he had a full arsenal of new things he wanted to try.
Max kissed his parents goodbye after promising to drive home for dinner the next day. He then turned on his toe to go to the back for his bag. He spun as he felt a hand grab his and found himself looking into Tori’s big blue eyes.
“Where are you heading?” she purred.
Max grinned. “To get my bag. Then, probably to the after party.”
Tori slipped her arms around his neck. “Maybe we could go to my apartment after the party. I’ll make you breakfast in the morning.”
Max’s smile grew bigger. “Sounds great. Let me get my stuff.”
“I’ll wait for you here.”
Max pressed a quick kiss to her lips and then made his way through the crowd toward backstage. His first win. His first night with Tori. Could the evening possibly get better?
»»•««
The short drive between Mankato and Max’s hometown of New Ulm, Minnesota, was soothing. The fields alongside the highway were just cleared of the harvest. As his favorite hard rock station blared from the speakers of his Mustang, Max contemplated the night before. His thoughts about sleeping with Tori for the first time didn’t last long. He was more preoccupied with his fight, and with what had gotten him to the octagon.
He had been ecstatic to learn that his freshman year work-study would be at the college’s Fitness Center, especially since he wanted to be a fitness trainer when he graduated. He had loved the place from the first second he had walked in. It had equipment Max had only dreamed of. Chuck had welcomed Max with open arms, quickly initiating him into the center’s routines. Before long, Max had been teaching classes and helping other students with their workouts.
A couple of months into his work-study, Quinn had invited him to give mixed martial arts a try. Max had been apprehensive because he watched it on television. He observed the fighters go at it, trying to tear each other apart. Bones were broken. Blood was shed. Max sure as hell didn’t want to go through that.
What Max found at that first practice had blown his mind. The athletes were closer than family and had welcomed him readily. They had carefully instructed him on strikes and holds. After just two classes, Max was addicted. He had rearranged his work-study to make every session. It had been convenient to have Chuck as both his coach and his work-study supervisor.
Wrestling in high school had helped Max catch on to jiu jitsu quickly. He had learned Muay Thai surprisingly fast. Time flew by, and before he knew it, at the beginning of his junior year, Chuck had offered him his first fight. Nine weeks of intensive training and strict diet had resulted in the previous night’s win.
He was on cloud nine.
Max turned off the highway and wove his way through downtown and up the hill toward his parents’ home. Taking a left at the college, he glanced at the statue that overlooked the town, giving it a polite nod before maneuvering down the street. His father was outside, raking the last of the autumn leaves scattered on the ground. Max parked his car in the large driveway and stepped out.
“Hey, champ!” his dad greeted. “How was the party?”
“Awesome!” Max answered. “A ton of people came up and congratulated me on my win.”
“That’s great. Your mom was going on and on the whole way home. She is so proud of you.” Max’s father craned his neck to look in the Mustang. “Are you alone? No Quinn? No…Tori?”
“Just me. Quinn had to work. And I know what you and Mom think of Tori. I didn’t want to start World War Three.”
His dad frowned. “It’s not that we don’t like her, Max. She just doesn’t seem to have your best interests at heart.”
“She does, Dad. She just comes off a little aggressive. She doesn’t mean to.”
“Yes, she does. All she could talk about was your future in MMA. I think she’s more obsessed with your career than you are.”
Both men turned as the front door opened. Max’s mother grinned at them as she balanced Max’s nephew, Tyson, on her hip. “What are you two fellas talking about?”
Max paused for a moment. If Dad doesn’t like Tori, Mom definitely hates her. He crossed the yard and wrapped both her and Tyson in a hug. “Nothing, Mom. I’m starving. When’s lunch?”
His mom laughed as she handed the toddler to Max. “I’m finishing it now. Watch your nephew, and I’ll get it on the table.”
“Will do.” Max gently tossed the little boy into the air and caught him, chuckling at Tyson’s ecstatic giggles. He loved being an uncle. He couldn’t wait to be a father someday. Max cooed at Tyson a bit more then shot his father a puzzled look. “Where are Jenny and Tami?”
“Jenny is in her room on the computer. Tami should be finishing her shift soon,” his father answered.
“You’ve opened the hardware store on Sundays?”
“No. Tami took a couple hours at the sports bar across the street from the store. Being a single mom, she wanted a little more cash.”
Max bit back a growl. The creep his sister had been dating had skipped out on her when he’d heard she was pregnant. Not that Max would change a thing. He loved Tyson more than anything. But he’d still like to get his hands on the bastard.
A butterfly kiss on his cheek distracted him from his thoughts. He chuckled as he strode into the house to set the little boy in his high chair for lunch. Before he could turn to help his mom he found her at his hip, a heaping bowl of potato salad cradled in her hands. She nodded at the seat next to Tyson’s high chair. “Sit,” she commanded.
“Mom, let me help,” Max objected.
“Nope. Sit. I was so terrified last night for you but you proved me wrong. Let me spoil you a bit.”
“Spoil him a bit?” Jenny smirked at her brother as she rounded the corner of the kitchen. “He’s been spoiled since birth.”
“Nice to see you too, brat.” Max laughed as he settled in beside Tyson. Jenny stuck her tongue out at him as she sashayed across the room to help carry the food to the table.
Max’s dad shuffled in followed by the sound of the door to the garage closing behind him. “Is lunch ready?”
His wife kissed his cheek with a huge smile. “Yes. Have a seat so we can get started.”
Max watched his family sit around the table, an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude filling his heart. Life really couldn’t get better than this. How’d I get so lucky?
Once a quick blessing was said, each member of the family dug into the bowl or platter closest to them. Once their plates were filled, the conversation slowed. Max fought back a moan as he bit into a piece of fried chicken. No one made it better than his mom. He turned to find Tyson in a fit of giggles, his bowl of mashed potatoes now adorning his head like a hat. “You silly boy,” Max chided as he chuckled. Tyson laughed with him.
Max scooped his plate off the table once it was empty and strode to the garbage to shake the chicken bones into the container. Turning on the sink, he squirted dish soap into the hot stream of water and then sunk his plate into it.
“What are you doing, Max?” his mother questioned.
“Dishes. Are you done?”
She stood and hurried to the sink, brushing him away. “I wasn’t kidding. You rest. We’ll take care of this.”
“Mom, let me help?”
“You want to help? Clean up Tyson and go play cars with him.”
Max shot a glance over at his muck-covered nephew squirming in the seat. “I’d rather have the dishes. They’d be easier to clean.”
His mom laughed as she nudged him away. “Go.”
He tossed the wash cloth onto the counter and then walked back to the table. Unfastening the tray, he picked up the squirmy toddler and held him at a distance. “Let’s go take a layer or two of lunch off you.”
Tyson squealed as they rushed down the hallway to the bathroom, not stopping until they reached the bathtub.
The sun was already starting to set when Max said his goodbyes and hopped in his car. Before he left New Ulm, however, he drove to the state park not far from his home.
He coasted down the thin lanes past a couple of parking lots, finally pulling his Mustang into the lot that was deepest in the park. He wandered amongst the towering trees as he made his way down the trails. A smile spread across his face once the old wooden bridge came into sight. He climbed the steps then leaned against the railing, watching the ripples of the small stream trickle beneath the planks. This was his favorite place to think, and there was a lot on his mind.
His thoughts wandered to his win the night before. Do I have a career in mixed martial arts? I hope so, but it’ll be a long road. And I’m perfectly content with being a fitness trainer. Whatever happens, I have a lot of great options ahead of me.
He paused for a moment as he remembered his father’s words from earlier. Tori was a puzzle to figure out. At times, she was cold, pushing him away and demanding to be alone. But when it came to MMA, she couldn’t get enough of him.
He glanced around the bridge, his gaze taking in the towering trees surrounding him. This place was perfect, peaceful. It had been his sanctuary since he had found it when he was a kid. It was where he came when the chaos of life scrambled him. He wanted to bring the love of his life here for a romantic evening of deep, slow kisses. Was he ready to share this place with her? He sighed. Not yet. Not while she’s the source of a lot of the craziness.
Max’s head shot up at the hoot of an owl. It was time to hit the road.
»»•««
The cafeteria buzzed like a beehive on a summer day. It was surprising this early in the morning. But it was like this every morning since Max started meeting Quinn for breakfast. They started this morning ritual their second week of freshman year. He had a feeling they would keep doing it until the morning they graduated.
He stepped into the serving line and helped himself to a heaping scoop of fluffy scrambled eggs and several pieces of crispy bacon. After setting a glass of orange juice on his tray, he turned and searched the sea of tables for Quinn.
Quinn was hovered over a text book munching on a piece of toast when Max found him. Max laughed as he set his tray on the table. “Study more at night. Or were you caught up in the game last night?”
Quinn glanced up at him. “Nah. Started playing that new battle zone game I bought against some kid in Austria. Naturally I won. About three o’clock this morning.”
Max slumped in his chair as he shook his head. “Quinn, not good.”
Quinn glared at him. “Don’t want to hear it. Especially from you. Or do I need to remind you what you were doing twenty minutes before your last chemistry test?”
Max laughed. “The fate of the free world was in my hands.”
“What free world was that?”
“That alien planet in my game. Still can’t pronounce it. You know the one.”
Quinn chuckled. “I do. I can’t either. Who names a planet in a video game that no one else can say?”
They were still laughing as they each settled into their breakfast. They chatted between bites. As usual, they ate quickly. Quinn had class and Max needed to be in the Fitness Center for his work study. But this little time together with his best friend without any interference, including Tori, meant the world. They said a quick goodbye as they picked up their trays and backpacks and headed off in different directions.
The fitness center was also alive and bouncing when Max stepped inside Monday morning. He waved to members of the staff as he walked past, noticing several of the girls giggle in response. He barely got his stuff in his locker before he heard Chuck’s voice.
“I gave you the next few days off,” the coach objected.
Max shrugged. “I feel fine, Chuck. There’s no point to take downtime if I don’t need it, right?”
Chuck chuckled as he shook his head. “I suppose you’re right. Just take it easy, Champ. All right?”
“Of course, Coach.”
“Then while you’re here, can you take the boot camp cardio class this morning?”
“Absolutely.”
“Excellent. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Max quickly changed his shoes and then jogged out to the weight area. He wasn’t about to slow down. He’d already gotten a taste of being inside the octagon. He was ready for more. He slipped under the first deadlift rack to pick up plates for the bar. Looking around the room, he smiled. He could easily get some lifting in before he had to teach.
»»•««
After his morning class, he hurried across campus to the bookstore. His gaze scanned the campus landscape. A sly smirk spread across his lips when he spotted his target. Just as he had planned, Tori was walking into work. She seemed to be glancing around looking for someone. He jogged quietly across the grass so he could sneak up behind her. Grasping her hips in his hands, he tugged her to him, his mouth dipping to the curve of her neck.
She squirmed out of his embrace and spun around, her teeth gritted together and her breath escaping in a venomous hiss. Her hands gripped her hips angrily as she faced him.
Max held his hands up in the air. “Hey, it’s just me.”
The smile that replaced the frown on her face was clearly forced. “I know.”
Max pulled her to him, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Once again, she twisted out of his embrace. He stared at her puzzled. “What’s up?”
“What do you mean?” Tori questioned.
“At the fight the other night, you had no problem with me kissing you in public. You kissed me, actually. Several times. While wrapped around me and climbing me like a tree. But now, when we’re not surrounded by a bunch of MMA fans, you want nothing to do with me.”
“We’re standing in front of my work,” she protested as she motioned toward the bookstore.
“The door is over a hundred feet down the sidewalk, and there are no windows this direction. No one you work with can see us, unless that chain-smoking monkey Ernie slips out the back to get a fix. Who were you looking for?”
“I wasn’t looking for anyone.”
“That’s not what it looked like to me.”
“I was looking for you.”
“Right.” Max crossed his arms over his broad chest. A sneer curled his mouth as with brow creased in anger. “I get it.”
Tori’s eyes widened. By the sudden “o” of her lips she seemed alarmed. She snaked her arms around his waist and then kissed his cheek. “You know I love you.”
“You’re ashamed to be seen with me. Explain how that’s love?”
“I’m not ashamed of you. I’m just not comfortable with public displays of affection.”
Unless you’re within fifty feet of an octagon. Then I can’t pry you off with a crowbar. Max forced a smile at her as he pulled from her embrace. “It’s all right. I gotta grab something for lunch and get to practice.”
“Come over tonight?”
“Sure.”
Tori giggled and then quickly pecked him on the mouth. He watched as she scampered into the building. With a sigh, he trudged his way back to the fitness center. Even though he was sore, a long, hard roll of jiu jitsu would do him good. Maybe it would help him forget what had just happened with Tori.
»»•««
Max’s schedule fell back into the normal routine that it was before the fight. That was, except for Quinn’s now constant griping about not having one of his own yet. Chuck conveniently tuned out every complaint. Max was torn. Yes, Quinn only got to practice once or twice a week, missing his training time to watch movies or hang out with friends. Yes, he wasn’t nearly as good as Max. But didn’t he deserve a shot?
Three weeks after the fight, Max found an email from the promoter in his inbox, asking him to take another in ten weeks. He stared at the screen as a smile crept across his face. He quickly typed.
Sure. But could you find one for my friend Quinn too?
Max waited anxiously for a reply, barely breathing. A couple minutes later, a new message popped up.
Absolutely. I’ll talk to Chuck. He’ll have both of your contracts.
Max’s fingers flew across the keyboard.
Thanks!
»»•««
The next morning Quinn was called into Chuck’s office. The older man shot a cold look at Max before shutting the door. Max’s heart thundered in his chest. He had never defied his coach before. Crap. How bad did I screw this up? Minutes later, Quinn threw it open, beaming from ear to ear. Chuck followed him out with a frown. “Max.”
With a sigh, Max strode into the room at the summons. Chuck said nothing, but just glared at him with a never-go-over-my-head-again stare. The coach slid the contract across the desk. Max quickly scribbled his name, and with a nod, walked out.
He knew he’d angered Chuck. Max hated the idea. But the smile on his best friend’s face at getting his first fight was completely worth it. He glanced over to see Quinn laughing it up with the other guys. He would have to hound Quinn and keep him training. Getting Quinn into the octagon was his responsibility. Max couldn’t put him in danger.
He strode across the gym to where the group of guys gathered. Clearing his throat, he laid a hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “Hey, man. We need to start fight camp.”
Quinn shot a look over his shoulder. “Yeah, yeah. I know.”
“I mean tonight. Kickboxing and jitz. Do you have your gear here?”
“No, it’s at home. And I can’t tonight.” Quinn motioned to the men surrounding them. “The guys and I are hitting the bars to celebrate.”
“You’ll be here tomorrow night.”
“Can’t then, either. I work the next three days.”
“Come during the day. I’ll work with you.”
Quinn shrugged Max’s hand off his shoulder. “Max, relax. I’ll be ready. Trust me.”
“You’d better. I stuck my neck out for you. I pissed off Chuck for you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Come on guys. I’m looking forward to a few beers and a greasy burger.”
Max watched as Quinn and the others sauntered out of the fitness center. He sighed. This is going to be tougher than I thought.
»»•««
For the next few weeks, Max stayed on Quinn, dragging him to practice every chance he got. He woke Quinn up at sunrise for a run through the sub-zero Minnesota winter. He took his best friend’s phone away when texting became more important than training. Max stole burgers and fries off Quinn’s tray in the cafeteria and replaced them with salads and fruit.
Eight weeks crawled by with the thought of having to deal with his best friend’s laziness ruining Max’s day before the sun came up. Tossing the covers off, he rolled to the edge of his dorm bed and picked up his cell. He hit the speed dial and listened to it ring. It went to voice mail. He dialed once more. Nothing. Finally on the third try it was answered.
“What the hell do you want?” Quinn demanded.
“It’s six thirty. Rise and shine. Let’s go get our run in,” Max encouraged.
“Hell, no.”
“Quinn, when are you going to take this seriously?”
“I am.”
“That’s crap. I have to drag you out of bed to go for a run. You missed the last three practices.”
“I have a job, Max. I’m sorry if my employment is more important than your stupid schedule.”
“Really? I went to the computer center last night. They told me you were off both Tuesday and last night.”
“Max, you need to get off my ass. I’m exhausted. I’m starving all the time. And I’m not spending every waking moment in the gym!”
“You’re going to get your ass kicked.”
“Whatever.” Quinn loudly grumbled a long line of curse words before the call ended. Max growled as he tossed his phone on his desk and then slumped back on his bed. He sighed. He wasn’t working today and had no classes. Practice wasn’t until later that afternoon. Hopping up, he tugged a pair of blue jeans and a sweatshirt from his dresser. Dressing in the dark, he grabbed the keys to his Mustang and hurried from the dorm.
His dad was unlocking the door to the family’s hardware store as Max pulled into a spot. The look of surprise on the older man’s face made him chuckle as he stepped out of the car.
“What brings you here?” his father asked as he pushed the door open, giving an extra shove when it stuck. “This is the third middle of the week visit this month.”
“Can’t I just come spend time with my favorite dad?” Max objected.
“Nice. I’m your only dad.” He held the door open for Max to pass through. “Quinn lashing out again?”
“How did you guess?”
“Same reason you came here the other times.”
“He isn’t taking this seriously, Dad. I stuck my neck out for him and he acts like it’s no big deal.”
“He may not have the same passion as you.”
“This isn’t basketball. If he doesn’t prepare he could get hurt,” Max said. “I just need to keep my distance for the day.”
“Well you’re in luck. I’m moving some displays around today. I could really use some help.”
Max laughed as he shrugged his sweatshirt off, leaving him in the T-shirt he was wearing underneath. “Guess I’m your man.”
The day raced by as Max hauled boxes and equipment from one part of the store to the other. They stopped long enough to eat the lunch his mother dropped off for them. Spending time with his parents helped tremendously. It lifted his spirits. After hugging them both, he hurried to his car, tucking the money his dad gave him for working into his pocket before climbing in.
Max kept to himself when he returned to the fitness center. He grinned as he watched Tori sneak into the exercise room where they held their practices and settle into the corner to watch. He blew her a kiss before facing off against his partner for the evening. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her return his kiss with one of her own.
Three long, sweaty hours later, he staggered to her. She sat up from her little nest on the floor. “Hungry?” she asked.
“Starving,” Max answered. “And sore. And exhausted.”
“Maybe we should feed you and put you to bed.”
“My bed or yours?” Max winked at her before wiping the sweat from his face with his T-shirt.
“Probably yours. You need sleep, baby.”
“I need you. It’s been a week.”
“I know. The last time you came over you fell asleep ten minutes into the movie. You didn’t crawl into bed until three in the morning and you were sound asleep again.”
Max felt his cheeks burn hot in embarrassment. “Guilty.”
Tori wrapped her hand around his. “I’ve got an idea. Come over to my place and take a shower. Maybe I’ll sneak in and join you. Then we can find something to eat.”
He grinned at her. “Deal.”
He helped her to her feet and then bent over to stick his equipment in his bag. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he turned, nearly colliding with Quinn. Max’s eyes narrowed. “Nice to see you at practice.”
“Sorry, man,” Quinn apologized. “I just don’t need you on my ass.”
“Someone needs to be.”
“I’m free now. Let’s go run.”
Max glanced at Tori, seeing her nod encouragingly at him to go. He forced a smile on his face. He understood but didn’t like it. He was training for his next fight. Knowing he was going to fight made her excited. He certainly didn’t want to disappoint her, even though he wished she saw him for more than his MMA skills.
He turned back to Quinn. “Tomorrow. We’ll go tomorrow. Tori and I have plans tonight.” Without another word he took his arm from her waist to hold her hand. Silently he led her out the door, leaving a stunned Quinn behind.
»»•««
Max and Quinn crawled through a blizzard to a bar an hour from Mankato for the weigh-ins the night before the fight. The raucous laughter from the patrons inside echoed through the closed windows to greet them. Max glanced through the falling snowflakes to the venue where the fights would be the following night. Nerves let loose in his stomach as he followed Quinn inside.
They both weighed in on the dot. Not that Quinn had any words of thanks for Max’s continuous hounding. Max frowned as he thought a bit. Tonight was the first time he had seen Quinn other than in practice. He waited for an hour each morning in the cafeteria. They had eaten breakfast every morning together since they started freshman year. They had grown distant in the past few weeks. Hopefully that would be over after the fights.
After the weigh in, Quinn showed off to the rest of the team and then led them away into the snow to get something to eat, leaving Max behind. Several of the team turned toward Max confused. Max huffed then cleared his throat. “Forget something, Quinn?”
Quinn spun toward him. “No, I haven’t.”
“I’m your ride back, dumbass. Maybe you should set your plans with your chauffeur?”
“I’m sure one of the guys can give me a lift back.”
Max glanced at the eyes trained to him. Were they waiting for a reaction? Did they think there would be a fight tonight? He shrugged. “That’s an awful big assumption. But whatever. Tori is waiting back in Mankato for me. See you all tomorrow.” Without a word he stormed past them out the door of the bar. He trudged through the snow to his car.
Tori had spent the whole week making plans to pamper Max all night. Once he braved the elements back to Mankato, she made him burgers for supper and then snuggled with him as they watched his favorite comedy movies. He woke up at the crack of dawn for a jog to settle his already churning nerves, returning to Tori’s for a breakfast of eggs and bacon. Then, giving her a quick peck on the lips, Max hurried off to join the team at the fitness center to warm up before the fight.
Even though Max had a record and Quinn didn’t, Max was first on the card. His stomach erupted with butterflies. Glancing over at Quinn, Max growled. Quinn was laughing and joking it up with the other guys like he didn’t have a care in the world. Max huffed as Chuck shooed him toward the curtain. It was show time.
Like before, Chuck attempted to shout to Max over the thundering music. It was the same message. “Keep your hands up! Keep moving!” And once again, Max barely heard a thing the coach said. He glanced warily into the octagon. At least this guy was smaller than the last. He quickly hugged Chuck and jogged into the cage.
The other fighter stared Max down as the referee barked out instructions. Max fought to roll his eyes. Not again. He hopped back to his corner as he waited for the word he was dying to hear.
“Fight!”
Max slowly circled his opponent, waiting for the moment to strike. Suddenly, the other fighter charged with a few blinding combos. One jab connected squarely with Max’s chin. He shook it off, ducking another cross. Sinking to his knee, he lunged for the man, wrapping his arms around the guy’s waist and dropping him to the mat.
Max quickly hopped on top of his opponent. He punched at the guy, watching as the fighter covered up and rolled to his side to protect himself. Max wasted no time, catching the other fighter’s arm and hugging it tight to him. He threw his legs over the man’s side, and holding tight to the arm, lay back on the mat. Max had barely arched his back before the other fighter tapped out to the armbar.
The referee separated the two men and sent them back to their corners. After a brief deliberation among the officials, Max’s arm was raised in victory.
Max hurried to the back to free his hands from his gloves and the tape. Quinn’s fight was up next, and he didn’t want to miss it. After throwing his hooded sweatshirt over his head and tugging it into place, he raced to join the rest to walk Quinn in. As heavy metal music blared through the exhibition center, they followed Quinn to the octagon.
Watching from the curtain, Max cringed through the fight. It didn’t go well. Quinn took heavy strikes to the face and body. He was nearly choked out at the end of the first round, only surviving by the mercy of the bell.
In the second round, Quinn got his lucky break when he kicked out as his opponent escaped his guard, catching the guy under the chin. The blow somehow knocked the fighter out, his body dropping unconscious to the mat long enough for the referee to call it.
Max breathed a sigh of relief. His best friend had won, but Quinn looked like he had been through hell.
Once they returned to the back, Max packed his bag and slipped out into the exhibition center. It didn’t take long to find Tori. She nearly jumped into his arms the second he stepped past the security guard. He melted into her embrace. “You won!” she gushed.
“I shouldn’t have pushed Quinn’s fight,” Max muttered.
“What? Why do you care? You’re the superstar, not Quinn.”
“Because Quinn is my best friend.” Max pulled from Tori’s arms and crossed his over his chest.
“Max, what is it?”
“For once, Tori, I wish you would see me. Not the fighter. Me.”
She stared at him for a long, hard moment. Then she wrapped her arms around him again. For the first time since they had started dating, he could see a soft gaze of love in her eyes. “I’m sorry. He’s going to be all right. You were just trying to help. You know he appreciates you sticking up for him.”
Max hugged her right this time. Smiling, he kissed her on the forehead. Maybe she finally understood. Maybe he misread her intentions. He sighed to himself. Somehow, though, I doubt it.