Page 94 of Off Balance

I take my eyes off him for a second, cutting my eyes to Cam to see if he noticed the punch. I don’t want him to worry too much or be afraid. It's the briefest glance, but Hoyt sees me distracted and gets in my space, pushing me back towards the ropes. A rough uppercut makes me fall backwards a bit, but I manage to right myself.

"You've got it in you, kid. Just remember, if you get knocked down, you get back up. No matter what, you get back up."

"I love you."

All the sounds of the crowd, of Hoyt's gloves hitting against my flesh, of the countdown clock marking the seconds until another round ends, it all converges on me at once. Like I'm snapping out of a trance, I push forward, forcing Hoyt to back up. Then I'm on my toes, dancing back and forth, stepping left, and then right, then left again. I duck under Hoyt's punches that are getting sloppier, and pop back up, a little closer to pushing him back the way he had me.

The bell rings.

More water, a fresh towel. Dwayne spreads Vaseline on a cut above my eyebrow.

"You're getting in your head," Dwayne he says. "You let him wear you down, but then you got the upper hand. Whatever you were thinking of when you snapped out of it and started punching back, I want you to keep that."

"I'm just playing with him," I assure him in my cockiest tone. Then I look over my shoulder at Cameron and wink. "You having fun yet?"

He laughs and bends through the ropes, his mouth on the shell of my ear. "You know, other than the you getting hit part, I think I'm starting to like watching you dance as well."

"Is that right?" I say before I put my mouth guard back in and roll my shoulders, ready to enter the ring again.

"Yeah, but I'd rather watch you put him on the ground so we can go back to the hotel. You promised me a switch, and I have never wanted to be fucked as much as I do right now."

Well, fuck.

No more toying around, no more zoning out. No more second guessing that I am and always have been, a better boxer and a better man than Bo Hoyt.

I just have to believe.

Like my father believed in me. Like Dwayne still does. Like the guys from the gym.

Like my tiny dancer believes in me.

Hoyt has gotten used to my dancing around, so this time, as soon as the bell rings, I come in hot with an old favorite.

I take three long steps directly into his body, jab with my left, and when Hoyt's gloves move to accommodate a punch from my non-dominant side, I lift up on my toes as I swing wide and bring my fist down and across his face like I'm swinging Thor's hammer.

Hoyt hits the mat. The ref bends down. Counts. Calls it.

It's over.

Everything after the moment Hoyt hits the ground takes way too long. The cheering, the questions, the celebrations, the post-fight interviews. I just want to get the hell out of here.

"Is it true that you used some rather unconventional training methods to prepare for tonight's fight? And how much do you feel that training came into play tonight?"A reporter from a major sports network asks.

"I trained with a professional ballet dancer, who is an excellent teacher. And I think that training absolutely changed the way I was able to move and maintain my stamina tonight."

"Are you talking about Cameron Stevens?" someone shouts from the back. From the way everyone stares at me, waiting for the answer instead of clamoring to ask their own, I don't think I can get away with pretending not to hear it.

"Yes, that's him. He's incredibly talented and has supported me through training for this fight. I attribute this win to the trainingand support he provided me, as a professional, and as my boyfriend."

Well, that certainly riled them up. I look over at the press manager, indicating that I'm about done. He calms the rabid press and calls for one more question.

"What's next for you?" A man from a national sports publication asks.

"I'm moving back home permanently. I'll be going into business with my brother and focusing on supporting Cameron's career."

I nod to the press manager and stand. "Thank you all for your time. And for your support."

Dwayne isn't surprised when I don't want to go for dinner or go celebrate the win. I never used to party much after a fight, win or lose. I prefer to use the time to decompress.

---