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I follow him inside, and the smell of rubber, sweat, and cool air from the air conditioning greets me. I can hear smacks, hard breathing, and male conversation going on behind the black and red wall with the counter in front. The black and gray speckled floor feels like rubber under my Converse sneakers.
Tyler has his gym bag strung over his shoulder. I follow him behind the wall, and there are three boxing rings in the middle of the massive place. There is also a MMA ring to the right. Boxing equipment is set along both sides of the walls that run parallel. Mats, weights, red punching bags, everything you would need to kickbox.
There is a man instructing a class of younger kids to the left. I notice small bleachers where people can sit if they are here just to watch. I can see some guys working out with the punching bags to the left, and some at various other areas doing their workouts with weights. I can’t believe Tyler also does kickboxing besides football.
“I’m going to change. You have a seat over there. If you’re thirsty, get something from the front and give them my name and they will charge it to my account.”
How nice. It beats the shit out of finding an empty water bottle and getting water for free from the water fountain.
“Okay,” I say instead.
I walk up to the bleachers and spot Abby.
“Oh my God, Rubi. You’re here. This is awesome.”
I nod. “Yeah, Tyler asked me if I would come.”
Her mouth breaks into a smile. “Chris likes when I come. We get to hang out and eat after.”
I sit next to her, adjusting my hoodie and sliding my two long braids out and over the front of my chest. “You come and watch all the time?”
Her eyes light up when Tyler walks out of the locker room with shorts minus the shirt. I bet she does with the way her eyes are following Tyler to the punching bags.
I follow her line of sight and my chest tightens. Crap. He is here.
I didn’t know he trained with Tyler. He doesn’t have a shirt on, and I have better view of all the random tattoos placed all over his body. A tattoo that looks like a big Band-Aid over his heart catches my attention, and then I stare at his ab muscles as they flex with each punch and kick he lands on the bag. His body is perfect. Ky can also fight. I have seen plenty of kids get into fights, and I have never seen them close their fist and land a punch that perfect.
It makes sense why the students at Westlake Prep respect him. None of the bigger guys mess with Ky.
My eyes continue to scroll down his perfect body. His arms are bulging with a sheen of sweat, and his dark hair looks like a raven’s wings. His hair is so black, it is almost blue, and is now shiny and wet. I remember feeling his solid body behind me on the couch. Now I know why people fear him when he gets in their face. Ky can kick someone’s ass.
“Yeah. I think it makes me feel safe that my brother can protect me.”
I know how you feel, Abby. I wish I had one of those when I was younger. The closest I had was Cesar.
I secretly wanted it to be with the boy who has turned into a man. The same one I’m looking at hit the bag like it is the enemy.
Ky stops hitting the bag and is breathing hard, his body is dripping in sweat, making him look like a girl’s wet dream. His black eyes look around the gym, and then they land on me like he could feel me watching him. His eyes don’t widen like he is surprised. He doesn’t smile. He just watches me.
My eyes lock on his like we are waiting to see who blinks first. Who pulls away from the challenge? But the spell is broken when Abby shouts.
“Hey, Ky. Look who’s here.”
His mouth breaks in a small grin when his eyes flick to Abby. A grin I’m jealous of because it is not meant for me. I get a stare, but she gets a grin, and for a spit second, I hate Abby.
She has been really nice to me since I met her, so I’ll do her a solid.
“Abby.”
“Yeah?”
I look around to make sure no one is directly around us so they won’t hear what I’m about to tell her. She eyes me curiously as she waits for me to speak.
“Spill. I know you like him.”
She looks down at her hands. “Of course, I have known him since I was in sixth grade. He is my brother’s best friend.”
Nice try, Abbi. She keeps fidgeting like a shoplifter when they get caught. “Relax, Abby. I’m not gonna stand up and shout it to everyone. Especially in front of Tyler and your brother.”
