Page 21 of The Breaking Pointe
“You have the skills of a pro boxer, Colton.That last fight? You got people talking. You need to take advantage of it.” I groan, sarcastically mouthing Trey’s words in the process.
He smiles.
“Am I wrong? If you say yes, you’re lying, and you and I both know it. How long are you gonna keep this denial up before you get tired of it?” he asks, watching me chug the water in anguish.
Finally, I finish trying to hydrate myself in time to respond, “I’m not in denial.I just think I’m not ready for that.The pros are challenging. I just wanna keep things light. Keep ‘em fun. Why is that so bad?” I ask, shrugging.
“Um…the problem is that you’re beyond all the other fuck- ing rookies now,” he laughs, “and pretty soon, someone’s gonna make you an offer. Now I know damn well you won’t passthatup.”Heraiseshiseyebrows,drivinghomehis point.
I sigh, shaking my head as I walk over to my bag, picking up a face towel I’d set down earlier. Trey starts to follow me as I do so.
“Don’t sigh at me.I know what that means.Boss up, Colton.You gotta either get serious or figure something out.I can’t keep putting you in fights where you outrank everyone. I promise you, you’d be more satisfied if you were fighting in the ring with a team, and worthier opponents,” he implores, relaxing his tone.
I cover my face with my towel, drying the sweat, but also hiding from the truth.
He isn’t wrong, and I hate that most of the time he never is.I just like living in my fantasy.And this fantasyentails
pretending to be something I’m not. It comes with people who claim to be fans and want me to sign outrageous things. Or nerve-racking press conferences and interviews that put me on the spot—and I don’t even want to think about a person shoving a camera in my face in public. I’m afraid to admit that shit scares me.
Letting out a deep sigh once more, I toss the towel around my neck and slowly turn around.
“Are we done?You’re starting to sound like my mother. And not the side I like.” I let out a warm chuckle to lighten the mood.
Trey stares at me for a moment, a disappointed expression plastered across his face.He nods slowly, walking over to me before patting my back.
“Yeah.We’re done.I wish you could see your potential, Cole. You’re crazy good.”
“I hear you.It’s just something I need to consider more.” I look at him.
“Just wait for me, I’m gonna run with you.I gotta grab some dinner before heading back home tonight,” he says as we both walk toward his office.
I nod. “Maybe I’ll grab something, too. For once, I’m not eating at my goddamn mother’s house.” I shake my head, thinking of how lame that sounds out loud, following him as I grab my t-shirt that was hanging from a rope around the huge ring nearby.
“Days like today can seem like such a pain in the ass to have to make my own food.But I can’t keep expecting my mother to go out of her way to feed me.” I snicker as I lean in the doorway. He walks in and starts to collect his things, taking glances at me every so often as he talks.
“Oh, come on, you love dinner at Janice’s. She’s a beast in the kitchen.” He cackles.
I laugh along in agreement. That was one thing I couldn’t deny about my mother.She could cook rounds around anyone who challenged her if she wanted to.
“You know, Colton, I hate to keep bringing it up, but I’m serious.”
I furrow my eyebrows as I cross my arms, watching him walk toward me, causing me to back out of the way.
“Janice is like your biggest supporter, man.I guarantee you she would be happier to watch you from a box office than anyone else,” he says in a sincere tone, looking at me. “You’re not gonna let this go, are you?” I ask, tapping my
legwithacoupleoffingers,slightlysmiling.
Looking at me dead in the eyes, he says, “Not until you change your mind.I see more for you.I want you to see more for yourself.”
There wasn’t any response or excuse I could think ofto disagree with him.He was right, and I’m just a pussy. If I weren’t doing this, I’d be an architectural, corporate chum with everything at his fingertips. Exactly what I never wanted to become in the first place.
The life of a loser is the life of someone who has everything and nothing in the same breath. Materials matter.But only if you start from the bottom, and still, that could never amount to morals. Always knowing and easily obtaining knowledge is boring.And that’s just the truth of the matter.I like having to work for things, and being bigger than I am now seems like a privileged lifestyle that can consume some men. I couldn’t imagine my father having the wealth that I do. It would’ve beenashit-show.Iwouldneedtoupmyweightclassat
least three times to meet with some of the men in the pros. It’s intimidating, but mostly, I just think I’m not a good influence.I can’t even convince my little brother to come home on time. Boxing is huge in the young male community, and I’m nobody that anybody’s son should want to become. I’d rather not have screaming fans who don’t know me from a can of paint, wailing on someone in a random location to defend my honor. Trey closes the door, locking it.
* * *
I think it might just be me, but there’s something about those foggy, damp, yet humid days that always remind me of being a kid again. It’s like waking up extra early when you know there’s a field trip you’re going on.
