His words from weeks ago popped up in my head—yet again—after confirming my thoughts on Clyde as my biological father and Finn as my half brother. Both drove the last nail in the coffin.
I have to do something besides drink it away. I don’t want to carry on the Moore addiction lineage, but I also can’t sit still and just work my shifts at Gulliver’s.
The gym is bustling. A couple of guys and a few women are on the ellipticals. Two people are in the ring and a few dudes are around it, training with different boxing equipment. I make my way around, adrenaline pumping through me as if I’m about to jump out of an airplane. And hell, maybe I am, in a figurative sense.
Life certainly has felt that way lately, but I’m almost certain that what I’m about to do is going to help with that. It’ll calm the commotion in my head, giving me the intermittent reprieves I’m so desperate for.
I find Eli in the back corner with his trainer. He’s focused on the bag in front of him, his gloved hands protecting his face. His stance is stellar, and his gaze holds enough weight to set the leather on fire. I get close and nod a chin at him. He lowers his hand and tells his trainer he’s taking five minutes.
“This is a new development,” he comments, tugging his gloves off his meaty hands. Christ, the dude is all muscle. I remember back to what it was like watching him on Gauntlet Sundays. I haven’t been back to one since I paid off Finn. I never planned on needing cash that badly again. Now, it’s not about money but something much harder to attain.Peace.
“I want to take you up on your offer,” I tell him, ignoring the nerves gnawing at me. “I want in the ring.”
He glances over his shoulder at the one in the center of Gulliver’s where the sound of one of the guys taking the other down on his back ricochets through the gym. Eli tucks his gloves under his armpit and crosses his arms. “You want in the ring?”
“Don’t think I stuttered.”
He cracks a grin and levels with me. “You sure about this?”
“Would I be here if I wasn’t?”
“You want inthatring?” he questions, gesturing back at it. “Oranyring?”
“Don’t care where the ring is as long as I can get inside of it and get my hands dirty.”
“I train here,” he tells me as if I don’t already know that. “I get my hands dirty somewhere else.”
“Okay, care to share?” I rest my hands on my hips. So much adrenaline is coursing through my legs it’s like I’m going through a bout of restless leg syndrome as I stand in front of him.
He openly sizes me up, eyes scanning me head to toe. “Not sure if I should.”
“Why?”
“Still trying to get a read on if you can be trusted.”
You know what? I don’t need this shit. Why the hell walk up to me and offer just to let me down by expressing his lack of trust in me when I’m finally ready?
“Forget it.” I twist on my heel, ready to weave my way back outside and leave. I’ll figure something else out. I’ll show for my shifts and stay after to work out every goddamn day if it’s what helps.
“Wait up,” Eli calls out when I make it two boxing bags down. He stares me down as he catches up to me. “All I’m saying is I don’t know you that well.”
“We went to school together,” I remind him, calling him on his bullshit.
“That don’t mean shit.”
“Cool,” I twist on my heel again. If he can’t give me what I want, there’s no point in sticking around. “See you around.”
“Jesus fuck, would you just wait?” He huffs out an annoyed breath. Welcome to the fucking club. I’m annoyed, too. “I got something I think you might be interested in, but it’s exclusive. Can’t go telling your girlfriend what you’re doing.”
That’s easy. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“You got your phone on you?”
I pull it out of my pocket to show him.
“Add my number.” He reads off his digits. “I’m almost done. Wait for me out in the parking lot, and I’ll tell you more about it.”
I make sure to save his contact and double check that it’s there. Whatever I’m about to get into can’t be any worse than what I’m currently enduring.
