Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Nico

“You give any more thought to taking on Kravitz?” Preach stands on the other side of the bag, struggling to hold it in place as I alternate between kicking and punching. He’s been bugging the shit out of me for four months now. It’s been thirteen months since I stepped out of the cage and today was the first day that I didn’t wake up in a cold sweat reliving it since it happened. Nope. Instead I woke up with a hard-on and a picture of Elle smirking at me, daring me to question what had made her change her mind about going out with me. I took a cold shower. It didn’t fucking help. So instead I came down to the gym and started earlier than usual.

“Are we going to have this conversation again, Preach?” I hit the bag with a series of quick strikes and catch Preach off guard, he takes a step back to steady himself. He knows damn well I meant to knock him on his ass.

“We’re going to have the conversation until you get your head out of your ass and get back in the damn cage.”

I switch to leg attacks. My legs are stronger and I know I have a better chance of taking him down behind the bag with the power of my legs. But fucking Preach is ready for me and his stance didn’t even falter. He probably knew what I was going to do before I did. That’s what happens when you stay with the same trainer for ten years. They get into your head and know you better than you know yourself. They have to. Otherwise how would they break a fighter of their bad habits.

“I’m not ready.” I stop and double over with my hands on my knees to catch my breath. I’ve been at it for almost eight hours, but Preach doesn’t know that. He gets pissed if I do anything over six in a day. Says a man’s body has to rest if he wants it to renew, or some shit like that. He came in at his usual time and assumed I’d just come down.

I see a glimmer of hope in Preach’s eyes when I stand to face him. I know what he thinks, I didn’t say no today. He sees it as progress. I’m sure he’d take anything at this point. I know I’m a stubborn shit and haven’t budged from not wanting to get back in the cage for thirteen months. But Preach knows me. I still workout six hours a day, six days a week. Fighters don’t put in that kind of time unless they’re training for a fight. Even then, some who are training put in less.

I didn’t lie to Preach, I’m not ready yet. But today I woke up and saw a glimmer of sun breaking in from under the cloud I’ve carried around with me for the past year. I don’t know if it will lead anywhere, but I’ll be ready if it does.