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“That’s fine. I’ll Venmo the money to you.”
“So why are you early?”
I shrug, not wanting to admit how stupid I’d been to get distracted by Tessa in the first place. “I finished at the gym ahead of schedule.”
“You ready for Dad’s weekly interrogation?”
“Sure,” I mutter, bracing myself as she slides her key in the lock.
“Danielle?” Dad calls out as the front door squeaks open. “That you?”
“Yeah. Austin’s here with me, too.”
“You’re not training?”
And it’s started already.
He’s in the kitchen stirring an oversized pot of chili on the stove, the smell of ancho peppers thick in the air, and I pass by him to stick my bags in the fridge until it’s time to leave. “I just came from the gym.”
“How’s Marty?”
“Fine.” Not that I talked to him today.
“I asked him about getting you another fight soon.”
Of course he did. “He didn’t mention anything to me about it.”
“Why aren’t you being proactive? You need to go after more opportunities.”
I sigh, making eye contact with Danielle in the doorway to the kitchen. She narrows her eyes, shaking her head slightly.
Got it.Don’t piss him off.
“I’ll talk to him.” Not about more fights, but he doesn’t have to know that.
“Good. Grab some bowls.”
I move over to the cabinet that houses the dishes and pull out three bowls, then to the drawer with silverware.
“He said you’re ready to go pro, too.”
I still, my hand hovering over the spoons. How many times will we have this conversation?
“I’d like to get some more fights in first.” Anything to get him off my back.
“Why? You’ve been training for years. This is what you’ve been working toward.”
No, what he’s been pushing me toward.
I make a noncommittal noise, bringing everything over to the kitchen table.
“I came down there last week and watched you in the ring,” he continues.
He did? When was this?
“You were dominating in there. As good as Marty in his heyday.”
I glance over my shoulder, finding him smiling to himself.
