Page 15 of Falling for the Knockout

“He’s also said that about four or five times now,” Tony said.

“What kind of news?” Aurora asked. She was so much more patient than he was. It was one of the things that he loved most about her.

“Good news,” Jonesy said.

“Dear God, just say what it is, or I’m going back to bed,” Tony shouted.

“I guess that explains your good mood. How about you tell us what, exactly, the good news is so that Tony’s head doesn’t explode,” she teased.

“My head isn’t going to fucking explode,” he insisted. “I’m tired and Jonesy is playing games.”

“I’m not playing games,” Jonesy said, “I’m trying to savor the moment.”

“Well, savor it faster,” Tony grumbled. He grabbed one of the mugs that he had pulled out and filled it with coffee, handing it to Aurora. She thanked him and sat down at the kitchen table. He filled a cup for himself and joined her. Tony had a feeling that it was going to be a long morning, and sitting felt like a good decision.

Jonesy sat down next to Aurora and sighed, “I got you a fight,” he proudly said.

“Okay, but I don’t see how that is news at all. You’re my promoter and trainer. Getting me fights is your job, right?” Tony sipped his coffee and took some pleasure in watching Jonesy go from happy-go-lucky to grumpy in just a matter of seconds. Yeah, that worked for him because he could handle Jonesy when he was grumpy. Tony was used to him being that way.

“Yeah, but this fight is a career changer.” Tony sat forward in his chair, suddenly interested in what Jonesy had to say.

“How so?” Tony asked.

“You’re going to be fighting the current middleweight champ for the title and belt. If you win, your career is set.”

“And if he loses?” Aurora asked.

He shrugged, “He can’t really lose,” Jonesy said. “He’ll still get more recognition from just being in the fight. If he can hold his own, other fighters will see that and want to fight him. If he loses, he can work his way back up to the top by fighting them one at a time.”

“Can I win the fight?” Tony asked.

“You’re in the best shape that you’ve ever been in. I know that you’re a bit older than the other fighters in this weight class, but that only gives you more experience. Will you take the fight?” Jonesy asked.

He looked over at Aurora and she nodded her head, “I vote yes, but it’s your decision.”

“I have a feeling that it isn’t really my decision,” Tony breathed. “You’ve already put my name in, haven’t you?”

Jonesy chuckled, “You know me well, kid,” he said. “The fight is in a month. We’ll start training a little harder. Will you both be able to come to the gym for a few hours every day to train? Your basement gym is great, but we need the full facilities that the gym offers.” Jonesy was right, but if they went to the gym to train, it would mean that they would have to close down the bakery for half a day, and Aurora wouldn’t go for that. Since Elio announced that he had cancer, she had been very protective of both him and the bakery. And there was no way that he’d leave her alone at the bakery to take care of things on her own. Joe could go back there and finish what he had started, and Tony wouldn’t allow that to happen.

“We’d have to close the bakery,” he said.

“I would be fine there for a few hours alone. As long as the place is open, customers will be around, and Joe won’t try anything,” Aurora insisted.

“And what if you have a slow day and you’re all alone in the bakery until the next customer comes in?” Tony asked. “Joe will have his chance to do what he wanted to do with you. I can’t let that happen, honey.”

“What if I have either Luca or Rocco hang out with Aurora while you’re training? You three can spar here in your basement. We can work on all the other stuff at the gym.”

“They’ll stay with her the whole time?” Tony asked, mulling the idea over.

“They would,” Jonesy assured.

He looked over at Aurora and she smiled back at him. “I’m good with everything,” she said. “I just want you to be able to concentrate on your fight, not worry about me.”

“It’s settled then,” Jonesy said, standing from the kitchen chair. “I’ll see you at the gym later today.”

“Today,” Tony said, “it’s our day off.”

“Right, and you only have a month to get your shit together. I’m assuming that you’ll be able to come with him today,” he said to Aurora.

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