Hooked (TKO 2)

“In the office. Now.” His voice is edged with anger.

Once we’re inside and he shuts the door, he just crosses his arms over his burly chest and stares at me. I’m trying to relax, but his sudden tenseness is beginning to make me nervous.

“Where the hell is your head, Lance? You told me you were ready to get back into the swing of things, and then this morning I hear you were in a fight down at Joe’s last night. What the hell is going on? Please tell me if it’s worth losing everything you’ve worked for, because the two of you should have been arrested. If I’d been there, I’d have called the cops. You know I don’t tolerate fighting like that.”

“How do you know what happened last night?” I ask, trying to hide my anxiety.

“Don’t worry about that. I have friends who go to that bar, Lance. I have friends who know who you are.”

I scramble to find the right words to fix this. “I fucked up, okay? I’m sorry. It was over a girl, and I wasn’t thinking straight. Travis was pushing my fucking buttons. Ask Raegan, she came up and tried to stop the fight.”

Howard’s eyes narrow, his face reddening. “You let Raegan try to stop your fight with Travis? Where the hell was Garrett? Christ, I’m not even running a gym, am I? I’m running a damn circus.”

“He got her out of the way. If it makes a difference, Travis didn’t even get a chance to hit me.”

Wrong answer.

“You do not fight outside of these walls, do you understand? You and Garrett are the best in here, and if you screw that up and get hurt, you’re done. Then what? You have to think, Lance. Your actions have consequences. Is this girl worth it?”

“I thought she was, but I guess not.”

“Then get your head out of your ass and straighten up, or get the hell out of my gym.”

My eyes widen at his words. “Are you serious?”

“I’m very serious, Lance. I will not tolerate this horseplay shit. You have a reputation to uphold, and what you pulled last night will destroy it.”

I can’t lose the one thing I love doing the most. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am, and it’s the only thing that keeps me out of trouble. I won’t let this happen.

“I’ll straighten up, Howard. I can’t lose this gym. It means too much to me.” My gaze drops to the floor along with my heart.

“I believe you, Lance, and I also believe in you. Don’t let me down. Think with your head, not your heart. Be the fighter I know you are. Make your mom proud.”

A lump forms in my throat. Make my mom proud? Damn right I will make her proud. She never got the chance to see me doing what I love, but I know

she was damn proud of me.

“I will, Howard.”

“Good, now get out there and practice. You’ve got a match coming up.”

I almost hug him, I’m so happy to hear about the match. He opens the door, and I walk out feeling a little better about everything. He sure put me in my place, which is something he does well. It’s game time, and nothing can keep me from that.

I spot Garrett standing on the mat in the same place I left him. He looks like he’s overwhelmed but astonished at the same time. Raegan is nowhere to be seen.

“Hey, man, you okay?” I ask him.

“Yeah, I mean…I guess so. I think this is the happiest day of my life.”

A smirk spreads across my face. “Is Raegan taking you to Disneyworld? Can I come?”

“Dude, shut the fuck up.” He laughs. “She’s pregnant.”

“Well, fuck me silly, are you serious? But she was at Joe’s last night with us drinking.”

“She didn’t know. She took the test today. Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Not really.”