“Yeah, it is. Really grateful.” Tyler waves a hand around the room. “This is the main area where people work out,” he explains before leading me to a secluded area.
“This is what I couldn’t wait to show you.” There’s a boxing ring and kickboxing bags with gloves and powder sitting against the wall. For the first time in years, I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.
I’m speechless as I take it all in.
“Incredible, isn’t it?”
“Hell yeah, it is! I can’t believe you have a full-sized ring in here.” I move forward, running my hand across the posts and ropes.
“Want to put on some gloves?” He walks over and grabs two pairs. “You have to put your weight on the floor and feel the bounce.”
I slip the gloves over my hands and swallow down my emotions. Boxing was one of the only things that saved me when I felt like I had nothing else in life. When we were cellmates, Tyler taught me everything he knew, and considering I wasn’t as experienced, it gave me something to look forward to. Throwing punches the correct way and learning how to read my opponent helped me so damn much.
There was a lot of internal anger I had to work through, and boxing helped with that.
Tyler puts on his gloves, and we step into the ring.
“Go easy on me. I haven’t boxed with someone else in a while,” I admit as he positions himself.
We throw a few jabs, and duck then punch, connecting with his cheek. The motion of it feels incredible. After a few staggered steps, Tyler laughs and connects with my jaw. After we’ve both taken a few hits, we come to a truce and call it quits.
“You’ve gotten faster on your feet, and your posture was perfect,” Tyler compliments.
“Thanks. I kept training after you left. Gave me something to focus on,” I admit.
“Which is exactly why I’d like you to start training others. We have a long-ass waiting list right now, and we can barely keep up with it. Of course, I’d start you off with some beginners who have no clue what they’re doing, but pretty soon, you’ll have more experience than me.”
“Really? You think I’m ready for that?”
“More than ready, Archer. You’ve been working on this for years.”
“Wow, I’m honored. I honestly would’ve cleaned the toilets if that’s what you needed.”
He pats my back. “And let all that talent go to waste? Hell no. This will be good for both of us. I’m glad you’re here.”
I nod with a grin. “Me too.”
“I was thinking next week you could start shadowing one of our other boxing coaches, Matt. He’ll be here in about thirty minutes.”
“Sounds like a solid plan,” I say as Tyler leads me to the locker room that has a steam room and hot tub. After the tour, a muscular guy with broad shoulders enters.
“Matt,” Tyler calls out. “This is Archer.”
“Hey, man. Nice to meet you.” He shakes my hand with a firm grip. “You’re the boxer, right?”
I give him a curt nod. “Yep, that’s me.”
“Heard good things about ya.” His client walks in, and Matt excuses himself.
After I fill out my employment paperwork, Tyler answers a few membership questions from some locals. Once we’re both finished, he turns to me. “Wanna go out for lunch?”
“Sure,” I tell him, and we walk outside. After a few minutes, we cross an intersection and arrive at a building that looks like it was built in the 1950s.
“This is downtown in all its glory,” Tyler says.
I chuckle. “This is it? You said small town, but this is tiny.”
As soon as we enter, a bell dings above the door, and we’re quickly greeted by an older woman.
“Hey, Tyler,” she says, squeezing him tightly. “And Archer!”
She pulls me in next as if she’s known me my whole life. “We’re huggers ’round here. It’s nice to meet ya. I’m Belinda.”
“Oh yeah, Tyler told me about you. Nice to meet you too.”
“Hopefully all good things.” She winks and grabs two menus.
“It was!” Tyler confirms as she leads us over to a booth by the window.
“Today’s special is cowboy chili. Since the temperatures are startin’ to drop, it’s the perfect dish for fall,” she says. “Coffee?”
Tyler nods.
“Same for me.”
“Got it.” Belinda walks away with a hop in her step.
“She’s pretty awesome. You’ll probably see a lot of her since she’s dating Gemma’s dad,” he tells me, just before she returns with two steaming mugs.
“You’re comin’ to Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, right?” Belinda asks and notices my reaction, then turns to Tyler. “You haven’t invited him yet?”
He chuckles. “I was gettin’ to it. Gemma reminded me before I left this morning too.”
I speak up. “I’d like that. Thanks.”
Belinda instantly smiles again. “Good. You’re too cute to be sittin’ at home alone. Plus, I love to cook. Speakin’ of, do ya what you’re havin’ today?”