Holden
I’m in the ring, running drills with Caleb when I see the most beautiful woman walk into the gym and head to King’s office. She was walking behind a boy, he can’t be older than eighteen. They looked alike, maybe brother and sister. I want to know her, hopefully I’ll get a chance to meet her. I haven’t dated in a while, no one has sparked an interest, until this mystery woman walked in.
Briar
I walk across the street with Kingston to a little coffee shop. I love the smell of cafes. Thorn and I spent a lot of time in them since coffee is usually cheap and we could sit all day, until I found a job. The diner was one of the first places to offer me a job and I’ve been there for a year or so. Thorn could sit in the back and do his homework until I got off shift.
This place is empty and quiet right now and we’re served right away.
“What would you like?” he asks me as I study the menu.
“I’ll try a mint chocolate latte.” Sounds good, might as well try something new.
“One mint chocolate latte and a black coffee,” he tells the girl behind the counter.
I sit at a nearby table and wait for him to bring the drinks.
“Here you go,” he hands me my drink, and upon first tasting it, I am in love with this latte.
He grins when I realize I moaned as I took a sip.
I smile, a little embarrassed, but he doesn’t say anything.
“I hope I can ease your mind about Thorn fighting MMA,” he says.
“It has always been his dream and I don’t want to take it from him. I just feel it’s dangerous at times,” I admit truthfully.
“I’m not all about winning. If I think it’s unsafe at any time or I see something in the cage that will cause damage to my fighter, I will tell them to tap out,” he says.
“That’s something different. Most people are all about winning,” I reply.
“I’m not like other coaches or people,” he smirks.
“I guess not. Do you think he will ever be good enough to go pro?”
“He has a lot of work to do if he wants to go pro. But he will get there if he sticks with it,” he says.
“If he’s happy, I’m happy,” is all I say.
“How long have you guys lived here?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee.
“We moved here about a year ago,” I tell him honestly. That’s how long I’ve been at the diner.
It’s weird that I’ve never ran into him before. He must eat at the diner, just not on my shift.
“Family?”
“No,” I lie, “Just Thorn.” I don’t know him well enough to word vomit my story to him. Better he doesn’t know.
“You and Thorn should come over for dinner,” he suggests.
“Ummm, why?” Why would he invite us to dinner?
“Because I like you guys and I’d like to get to know you both and I’m cooking,” he says.
“You can cook?” I laugh. I don’t mean to, it just comes out.
He smirks at me, “Yeah, I can cook.”