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“What is your name again?” he asks Austin.
“Austin Moran.”
“Austin, you’ve fought before, but mainly street fighting?”
“Yes, sir. I had a few months of formal training, however, before I moved here.”
“I’m going to tell you right now, and this is the only time I’ll say this because if it happens, you’re out of my gym. I do not allow street fighting of any kind. The only fighting you do is inside the ring. Ask Lance, he’s been through it and he’ll tell you he learned his lesson. The fighting we do here requires intensive training, and it is hard work. You will have to dedicate yourself to learning and training every day. Understand?”
“I understand,” Austin replies.
“What is your name, son?” Howard turns his attention to me.
“Ruston McGregor. Austin is my cousin. He just moved in with me.”
“Nice to meet you, Ruston. What brings you here besides Austin being your cousin?” Howard asks.
“Well, to be quite frank, sir, I’m not sure this was something I would have ever considered until Austin told me about it. I’d like to give it a try.”
“Family is good. Garrett’s sister Whitney used to train here, before we had our first kid. They were able to get along, so I’m assuming you two can do the same thing?”
Austin and I both nod. Howard pulls a stack of papers from his desk and hands them over to us. “Take these home and fill them out. You can bring them back tomorrow and we can get started. Sound good?”
“Yes, sir,” we both reply in unison. Howard stands to shake our hands before we exit the office.
Lance and Garrett are standing barefoot on the mats that cover the floor. They are sparring, throwing hit after hit at each other. They’re completely focused and it’s like they weren’t even joking with one another just moments earlier. Before we walk outside, the last thing I see is Garrett take Lance down to the mat with a thud. Austin is tickled twenty shades of pink and I’m second guessing myself even more than I was before. How the fuck will this help me get Tamilyn back into my arms? I’ll never know.
***
I’m lying in my bed feeling completely sorry for myself. Austin is in the shower getting ready for whatever he’s going to do with Tamilyn. I can’t believe I set myself up for this shit. It’s time to be a man and get what the fuck I want. I want Tamilyn more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
I grab my phone and text her, knowing she’s probably getting ready too, but I don’t care.
You sure you want to go out with him? We could always go see a movie or something.
You are jealous. I knew it Ruston, why didn’t you say something? It’s not like I can just back out last minute.
Why can’t you?
I know I sound desperate, but I’m praying she can read between the lines.
What is it you want from me Rus?
I sigh as I get ready to type my answer. I’m not sure what she’s going to say but I need to say it. I should have said this in person a long time ago.
I want you Tamilyn.
If you hadn’t kissed me last night, I may not believe you. I’ve already made plans though Rus, and you showed no real interest in me until your cousin came to town.
My reply is hurried and honest.
I have been, you just weren’t seeing it.
We need to talk about this later; I’ve got to finish getting ready.
I don’t text her back. The conversation ends on that note. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t just be a man, and tell her last night. Sure, I could stick my tongue down her throat but I couldn’t just say, Tam, I want you. I’m terrified that after what I’ve just told her she may not look at me the same again. If I ruined our friendship, I’ll live, but I admit I don’t want to know what that may be like.
Austin comes walking out of the bathroom smelling clean and looking sharp. His cologne fills the air and in the back of my mind, all I can hope is that she thinks it smells terrible. “Well, I’m out. What are you up to tonight?”
