Page 62 of Not Fooling Anyone

“Two weeks.”

That’s it? “Who will I fight?”

“We won’t know until the day of, but they’ll do their best to match you to someone on the same level. It’s amateur level only, no pros.”

Okay, that’s not so bad, I guess.

“If you can hold your own against this maniac,” he says, gesturing to Austin, who’s now entering the ring from the other side, “you’ll do fine.”

I nod, swallowing heavily as Austin removes his shirt. How does he seem so much bigger without it?

Normally, I’d take mine off too, but since I started injecting my daytime insulin shots in my stomach, I have some bruising I’d rather not explain to others. Then again, I could always just tell people I got punched.

“All right, Ethan. You’re with me for the next two weeks until your fight. We don’t want to overtrain in the week leading up to it, but I’ll prepare you for everything you need to know.”

It’s good that I’m finally a priority for Lawrence, but the circumstances… Am I really ready for this?

“Let’s work on offense tonight. Austin, you’re defending.”

An hour later, I’m sore as hell, my arms about to fall off, but I don’t let on, determined not to give him a reason to doubt me. This is what I’ve been training for. Why I started going here with Tyler in the first place.

Lawrence checks his watch. “All right guys, I’m out of here. I’ll see you Sunday, Ethan. Work on the stuff I told you to until then.”

He exits the ring, walking over to Marty’s office to poke his head in and speak to Lexie, but I’m too far away to hear what they’re saying.

I turn around to find Austin wiping off his front with a towel. I look down at myself, my sweat-stained shirt cooling now, sticking to my torso. Great.

“Any pointers for me?” I ask. “I’m sure you were studying.”

One corner of his mouth lifts in a grin. “You really want to know? A lot of guys don’t do well with criticism.”

“Hit me with it.” I can take whatever he has to say.

He nods, slinging the towel over one shoulder. “You’re too hesitant. You need to take more chances. Otherwise, you’ll never make contact.”

“Fair enough.”

Maybe I should take more chances elsewhere, too.

Like with Lexie.

Or is slow and steady the way to go? She’s so skittish. But nothing will ever happen if I don’t try something.

Hmm. I need to think about this some more.

Austin continues on with a few other nitpicky things that Lawrence had previously mentioned too, and I make a mental note to work on those until they’re second nature.

“Did you want to spar?” he asks when he’s finished telling me his laundry list of improvements I could make. I asked for it, though.

“Uh…” I glance toward the office, Lawrence already gone from the doorway, but there’s movement inside. Is Lexie packing up? “No, I have to get going.”

“All right. Hit me up if you ever want to practice.”

“Thanks, man.”

I slip between the ropes and remove my gloves, unwinding the tape around my hands. The office door opens, Lexie’s backpack on her back like she’s about to leave, and I rush to finish, wanting to at least say goodbye to her.

I head in her direction, her steps slowing as she catches my eye.

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