‘Are we actually going to hit each other?’
He grinned. ‘No. That’s what we’ve got pads for.’ He handed me a wedge of blue Styrofoam. It looked like a book-shaped flotation device, the kind we had at school when we were learning to swim.
Next, he handed me a pair of red gloves. ‘These look like the right size for you.’
I tried to take the gloves from him, but he stopped me.
‘I know you’re angry with me, and you’d like nothing better than to knock my lights out, but you do know how to do this, right?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Do you know how to put on a boxing glove?’ He didn’t wait for me to answer. ‘Make sure you tuck your thumb under your fingers, otherwise you’ll break it.’
Christ, that would be just my luck.
He dropped the gloves to the floor, then took my hand, startling me.
‘What are you doing?’
His hand was cool against mine. Without saying a word, he folded my thumb against my palm and then curled my fingers over my thumb joint.
‘That’s how to make a fist.’ He picked up a glove and held it out for me, his eyes fixed on what he was doing. I slipped my hand in and then he tightened the Velcro strap.
‘How does that feel?’
‘Tight,’ I said.
‘Good. It’s supposed to.’ He handed me the left glove. ‘Can you manage?’
Of course I could—
Wait.How was I supposed to put the other glove on with no opposable thumb? Come to think of it, why did boxing gloves even have a separate bit for the thumb – you couldn’t move the damn thing.
‘Are you going to tell me what you’re doing here, Nick?’ I said, buying time.
‘I told you – I swung by your office and your receptionist told me Tuesday was your gym night,’ he said. ‘Lucky for me you’re a creature of habit.’
He made it sound like such an insult, and I nearly told him as much, but I suddenly had a eureka moment about getting the other glove on. I jammed it between my knees and triumphantly slid my hand in.
‘So, you’ve used your amazing powers of deduction to track me down, because, you know, God forbid you email or phone.’
‘I’ve left messages – you’re the one choosing to ignore me.’
Oops. I’d walked straight into that one.
‘Okay, we’re here now. What do you want?’
He kept his gaze locked on my left hand and gestured for me to give him my hand, which I dutifully did. He pulled the glove fully up and tightened the strap. Funny, I’d thought I’d feel powerful with boxing gloves on, but I felt strangely vulnerable.
Nick keeping me in suspense about what he wanted only added to my unease.What the hell was he after?
Carl’s voice sliced through the thumping music. He was standing next to us. ‘You all okay here? Do you need any help?’
The answer to that question was most definitely yes, but I was too concerned with finishing my conversation with Nick.
‘We’re good,’ I said.
‘Great, let’s see some punches.’
