In with the New Baby

Whenever the media cover me for a weigh-in or as the fight is about to start and I’m just in my tight briefs, it’s always about how “Lincoln Drake is packing!”

I start to get into my truck.

“Lincoln!” I hear a little sweet voice behind me. I turn around. It’s Amanda.

“Lincoln,” she says, as she runs up to me, a bit breathless.

“Yeah,” I say and cross my arms.

I’m wondering what she has for me now.

She grabs onto my elbows.

“I just want to know if you think it’s still a good idea about going to Odessa. Maybe I blurted out that suggestion a little quickly and I know you weren’t okay with the idea at first, so I don’t want anything to be awkward between us.”

I look away and rub the stubble on my chin. I know she’s waiting for an answer and I don’t want to disappoint her, but I don’t feel so comfortable about saying yes. Fucking Texas. My fucking hometown. My less than stellar mom. All of it feels me with dread.

“Do you not want to go?” she asks.

“No, it ain’t that,” I say and clear my throat.

I want to go with her. And I certainly don’t want to have to have the douchebag Troy as my temporary physical therapist.

I’m struggling for something to say.

“What is it then?” she asks.

I clear my throat again and shove my hands in my pockets.

“It’s just that…” I say.

I don’t know how to continue.

“Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” she asks and pouts.

“No, not at all!”

“Then what is it?” she asks and crosses her arms.

I look her directly in the eyes.

“It’s just that I’m afraid I would embarrass you.”

Or that where I come from would embarrass you, I think to myself. My mom. The house. All of it.

“What?” she says and places her hands on my shoulders. “Of course you wouldn’t.”

I draw her toward me.

“I ain’t as close to my parents as you are. And they’re pretty… different.”

“Is that all?” she asks and smiles.

I peck her on the cheek.

“No one has perfect parents,” she says. “Everyone has issues in their families.”

“Listen,” I say. “Let me take you out and we can talk about it later.”

Her eyes brighten.

“Sure! What did you have in mind?”

“I want to hang out with you and Rexie again somewhere that allows dogs.”

“How’s he doing?” she asks and places her hand on my left bicep, a move that does not go unnoticed by yours truly.

“He’s doing fine but I think he misses you.”

“So, do you want to come over for dinner with him or….” She twirls her hair.

“No way,” I say. “You had me over so I’m taking you and Rexie out to the park for a picnic so we can all be together.”

She puts both hands to her mouth.

“Oh, that is just so romantic!” she says.

“I thought you would like that.”

“I do.”

“Amanda!” a voice in the distance calls her.

She turns around.

“Are you working your shift or what?” some guy asks her.

“Be right there!” she says. She turns back to me. “Gotta go.”

“OK,” I say. “Don’t get into trouble.”

“Seems I can’t avoid that. So, will you let me know when?” she asks as she walks away.

“Sure thing,” I say.

She jogs back to the front door of the clinic. I can see her squabbling with the guy who called her back.

I don’t want her to get into any trouble.

But I think I may have gotten myself into a heap of trouble.

I need to figure what I’m going to do, but I like the idea of a picnic. I’ll figure it out.

And it will be nice to have Amanda, Rexie, and me hang out for a while again.

Plus, this will be our third date. Maybe I’ll get to score.

Chapter 13

Amanda

Lincoln shows up at my apartment today as he had promised.

I can’t wait to tell Catharine that things are progressing between us quite well, just as she’d hoped.

I hear the doorbell ring and I know it’s him, so I linger for more than a few moments. I check out my hair and makeup in the mirror beside the door. (Margie insisted on putting it there for, as she says, “one can never lose a moment looking good where a man is concerned.”)

And that’s a funny thing for her to say, given how independent she is.

I guess her good influence is beginning to rub off on me.

I open the door and see Lincoln standing there. He has his right arm up with his hand holding the top of the door jam. His left foot is crossed over his right. He’s wearing a wife beater, tight jeans, and worker boots.

He looks hot. I can’t help but stare at his chest hair tufting over his wife beater and his underarm hair as it juts out.

I feel myself getting excited, but I need to appear calm.