“He is showering and changing. We called it a day and yes, he did,” he says, and something doesn’t feel right.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, now on edge. He won’t even look at me, directly.
“Yeah, yeah,” he waves my question off.
“Are you sure?” And then I notice his eye and the bruise on his jaw.
“King, what happened?”
I reach out to touch him as he replies, “Nothing, just a misunderstanding.”
“Does it hurt?” I ask as I gently caress his face.
“Not really. I’m used to it,” he shrugs.
“I’ll get you some ice,” I go to the counter and ask the girl for a cup of ice. Her name is Noelle. I’ve talked to her a couple times.
“Hope he’s all right,” she nods at King.
“Thanks.”
I sit down next to him and take a piece of ice and rub it lightly on his eye. I can see some of the swelling go down a bit. He leans his head on my shoulder making it easier to take care of him and so I don’t have to reach so far.
At first I tense at his closeness and then I relax. It’s King. He won’t hurt me.
“Kingston?” I whisper.
“Hmmm?”
“Who did this to you?” I ask. I think I know the answer.
“Lane,” he confirms my suspicions.
“Why?”
“I really don’t know. He said something about seeing you and I told him to leave you alone and grow up, and then this. He’s been a real dick ever since his last win. To everyone, even me and I’m his coach.”
“I’m sorry he did this,” I say as I take another piece out to rub on his jaw.
“It’s not your fault, sweetheart,” he takes my hand and wraps it around him, and I just hold him for a bit.
I use my free hand to drink my latte and wait for Thorn.
He bounds in a few minutes later.
“Man, you okay, coach?” Thorn flops down in the seat across from me.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he says as he sits up.
“If you say so,” Thorn shrugs.
I finish my latte and listen to them talk, Lane forgotten for now.
When I throw my cup away, he ushers us out the door.
“To the mall we go,” Kingston says as he helps me in his SUV.
“To the mall?”