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CHAPTER TWO
LUKE
December
I’m goingto the gym early this morning to get back into my regular routine after overstuffing myself with Thanksgiving turkey and all the fixings. The moment I walk in, Mack sets his sights on me as he makes a beeline in my direction. It’s now or never time. By the look on his face and the narrowing of his eyes, he expects an answer right now.
I haven’t even talked to Andi about it yet. I was supposed to do that yesterday while we were alone but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Now I’m out of time because Mack won’t wait another day. The best boxing trainer in the country has a question for me, and he expects an answer.
“Luke, what’s your answer?” Mack asks, getting straight to the point.
“Yes. I want to do it,” I reply without thinking twice about it. It’s my gut reaction, and I’ve always been told that’s usually the one that’s the most honest.
“Andi okay with it?” Mack narrows his eyes.
“She supports whatever I want to do, Mack. You know Andi.”
“Yes, I do know her, Luke. I know her well enough to know that she would’ve called me if you’d told her about it.”
“I couldn’t do it on Thanksgiving, Mack,” I admit with a resigned shake of my head. “It was the first one she’s had with everyone in her life who loves her surrounding her. I’ll tell her soon, I promise.”
“See that you do, Luke. She’s like my daughter, and I don’t want to see her hurt anymore.”
Giving him a single nod, I quickly walk to the locker room and prepare for a grueling morning of jogging and sprinting intervals, followed by a grueling evening of sparring with one of Mack’s other heavyweight guys. It’s still dark when my feet hit the pavement. Setting my watch, I time my intervals to reach my maximum potential. My body is strong and my mind is stronger. This is what I’ve wanted for a long time, what I’ve worked for, and what I’ve bled for.
But a spunky little blonde keeps invading my thoughts as I start my first mile. Seeing her face when I tell her I’ll be away for six months at the same intensive training gym that Shane attended in Vegas isn’t going to be easy. Being apart won’t be easy on either of us. I don’t doubt our relationship or our love—only my ability to be without her touch for that long. She will definitely have to fly out and stay with me as frequently as they’ll allow.
The specialized gym takes a good fighter and makes him great. I’m fortunate that Mack is actually going with me instead of staying here at his gym. Since he’s agreed to take me on as his next protégé, Mack’s decided he wants to be there to make sure his friend sticks to the best regimen. Because he has Shane essentially lined up for the light-heavyweight championship fight next summer in Vegas, Shane will be joining us for the last half of the training. This is my chance, once and for all, to prove that I’ve got what it takes to be the best boxer around. This is my one shot at realizing my dream while I’m still young enough to make a name for myself.
“All right, Luke, hit the showers and go eat a big breakfast. Carbs, water, and fruits. Come back in a few hours after you’ve rested, and we’ll start the sparring rounds,” Mack instructs.
“Yes, sir,” I give a mock salute with a smile.
“Get used to saying that,” Mack deadpans. Although, I know he’s not joking.
As I walkinto the house, Andi is on the phone but scurrying around hurriedly and excitedly. She’s talking very animatedly with someone, and she hasn’t noticed that I’m here yet. I lean against the doorframe and listen to the one-sided conversation. There’s a smile plastered on my face from just watching the nervous excitement bubble up in her.
“No, I haven’t had a chance to even tell him about it yet. I’ll talk to him tonight when he gets home,” Andi says.
“Um, I don’t think he’ll like it at all. But he loves me and he trusts me. He knows I love him more than anything.”
“Well, of course, if he wants to, he’s welcome to. I want him to, and I’m going to ask him.”
“It’s not like that, Chris,” she says seriously to Christina, her best friend.
Andi turns and her eyes float up to mine as she releases a loud shriek. “No, I’m fine,” she says as she exhales loudly into the phone. “Luke is home and scared the shit out of me. I’ll talk to you later, Chris. Bye.”
“What haven’t you had a chance to tell me about? That I won’t like but I’ll love you and trust you anyway?”
“Hello to you, too. Yes, I did miss waking up with you this morning. Would you like some breakfast now?” Andi replies, daring me with her eyes.
“I missed you, too. I’d love some breakfast now,” I say, wrapping my arms around her waist. As I pull her to me, her body becomes pliable as her arms wrap around my neck.
“Hello, my beautiful lover,” I say, my lips hovering just above hers.
“Hello, my handsome man,” she replies huskily.
