Yeah, sure. Wednesday?
Emma
That sounds great
Okay. I have another date.
But now I’m thinking about Ayla again and her ridiculous plan to pretend we’re still married for her family.
She has a great family. I love her parents—I still talk to her dad occasionally—and hernonna, Gia, and Uncle Ernie, who’s actually Grandpa to Ayla.
It’s good that I said no.
6
AYLA
I joined a gym a few months ago, but I haven’t gone very often. Shame on me. Last week, when I was there, one of the trainers suggested I try boxing. I laughed.
But then I saw Carson with another woman. I think boxing might be good.
So here I am, in the gym in leggings and sports bra, ready to punch things.
Tim starts by teaching me about stance. I’m right-handed so I stand with my left foot forward and my right foot back. “Shoulder here, pointing parallel with your front foot.” He adjusts my shoulders. “Hands up by your face.”
I feel tough.
I learn basic movements, and then punches. First the jab.
“Don’t I get to wear gloves?” I ask.
“You don’t need them just yet. Exhale when you jab.”
I practice a few times. Then I learn the cross, turning my hip.
“This is fun.”
Tim grins. “Keep your chin down.” He shows me the hook, then we put them all together. “One, two, hook…”
I probably look ridiculous and feel a little awkward, but I don’t care.
Then it’s one, two, hook, two, a four-punch combination. I feel like I’m flailing.
“Keep practicing,” he says. “When you practice, it’ll get easier and smoother.”
He makes me bounce around and punch the air for two straight minutes and I’m a sweaty, rubber-legged mess. I push damp hair off my face and pant. “This is a good workout.”
We move on to defensive moves.
“One, two… slip. Weight on your back foot. You’re avoiding a punch.”
“I don’t really want to fight with someone,” I tell him. “I just want to punch things.”
He laughs. “Okay, I get it. Let’s try another combination… one, two, slip… one, two, two.”
I press my lips together and focus. I can do this.
I’m happy when he shows me how to tape my hands and put on gloves. I hold them up in front of my face to admire them, bright red and white. I do a couple of moves.
