Page 12 of Hear Me Roar

“Nothing…”

“Tell me what happened…” Luisdemanded.

“Nothing fucking happened, okay? I never went on a date! There wasn't even a guy to begin with,” Reyna blurted out, jerking her brother’s head back inincredulity.

“Then whylie?”

“Because...because I was withLiv.”

“Who's Liv?” I asked, because shit, now I was reallycurious.

“My…” She paused, gauging our reactions. “Mygirlfriend.”

Annndsilence.

We all glanced around at one another, unsure of what to say. Had my childhood friend, the girl who'd been like a sister to me, really just come out of the closet on awhim?

“Are you saying you're…” Hazel trailed off in minorshock.

“Gay? A rug muncher? A lesbian? Yes,” Reyna said, bowing her head. “I'msorry…”

Luis’ face contorted in anger at her apology and before she could blink, he was taking her hand. “What the hell are you apologizing for? If this is you, Rey, then it's you. I'd never love you differently because of yoursexuality.”

“You really didn't know,” she questioned him, and he shook hishead.

“Not even a thought in the back of yourmind?”

“I never would've guessed” – he shrugged – “but that doesn'tmatter.”

“It really doesn't, Rey,” my girladded.

Reyna stole a peek at me, the only person who hadn't spoken his thoughts, and I silently agreed with a nod of my head. It didn't matter to me that Reyna was gay, but what did matter to me was how ashamed she felt. She shouldn't feel that way about her sexual orientation, no one should, and it angered me that our close-minded society had done this toher.

“Don't ever be ashamed, Rey,” I said, my voice hushed. “Fuck what society thinks and just be happy,okay?”

Her brown eyes swung to mine once more, but all she offered was a small smile. “Easier said thandone.”

“I'm serious. Fuck ’em. If Liv makes you happy, be with her. Their opinions are insignificant to yourlife.”

“But we get weird looks if we’re out holding hands,and-”

“He's right, Rey,” Hazel interjected. “Let them look. They're the ones withissues.”

“You know if Mom were here, she wouldn't care either, right?” Luis assuredher.

Reyna glanced back at her brother. “You thinkso?”

He tipped his head. “Mami just wanted us to be happy. Knowing you've found yourself, along with finding happiness, would've been all sheneeded.”

Luis was right. I could still so vividly remember Mayra. She had a smile that could light up a room, and the personality to match. Everyone loved her and she loved her kids to the ends of the earth. Everything she did was for them. All she wanted was for them to be happy and healthy, and I think if she were still around today, she'd be proud of the people her children had grown into, whether they were gay ornot.

About two weeks later,Knox and I strolled into the gym hand in hand for our first extensive session together in months. We’d been coming in at least bi-weekly, but it was nothing in comparison to those in-depth sessions from my days with The Underground. He’d been so busy with an influx in clients, I often found myself wandering around here alone, just to get a basic workout in. I hadn’t been sparring either, only shadowboxing with the bag, so when the ring came into view, I was suddenly worried I’d be more than a little rusty. The bag was starkly different from a warm body. Anyone could beat the shit out of a lifeless, stuffed heap. But it took skill, stamina, and speed to take down a beating heart. From the start of my career with The Underground and every year that followed, I'd always trained like a madwoman. Breaks between seasons just wasn't an option I cared to entertain, and luckily, Bernie saw eye to eye in that respect. He stayed on top of my regimen, constantly adjusting it where needed and switching it up to prevent my body from growing accustomed to a certain routine. The difference was, I was Bernie’s sole client, so he had hours upon hours to focus on me. With Knox as my coach, that unfortunately wasn’t the case. Didn't make him any less of a coach, though. He was justbusier.

“Ready?” he asked, after signing usin.

“As I'll ever be. Let's do this.” I grinned, stuffing my Gatorade into mybag.

Yes, blue Gatorade was still my jam. Always wouldbe.

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