Page 102 of After Indigo Irish Nights
Everyone knew. He didn’t know how he would hold his head up.
He had to win this fight and hope it would buffer his pride.
When Eoghan finally came for him, he stood and tapped his gloves together. He lifted the hood of his green robe to cover his head, pretending he was invisible. No one could see him. No one could think anything of him.
He didn’t look at anyone as he followed Eoghan to the ring. Donal was waiting for him in the corner, a grim set to his jaw. Eoghan gripped his shoulder. Just like last time, he slipped a stone into his pocket. “Imagine Jimmy’s a stone. Catch him and throw him aside.”
After Donal helped him remove his robe, Declan took out the stone and laid it on the ring floor, for all to see. A murmur went through the crowd.
“Good move,” Eoghan said, patting his shoulder. “I’d say Jimmy Slavin is spoiling for a fight, don’t you? I believe he’s going to have one. Isn’t he?”
Declan nodded, loosening up, keeping his eyes down. The announcer started to introduce the two fighters, saying how they’d been facing each other since they were eleven years old.
He wasn’t a boy anymore. Neither was Jimmy.
The crowd started cheering. He imagined it was for him. Moments later, there was a chorus of boos. That would be for Jimmy.
He tuned out the crowd and went inside himself. When Donal nudged him to the center of the ring, he walked over. Now he would lift his gaze and look Jimmy straight in the eyes. Let him know he was more than ready for him.
The referee started droning on, but Declan tuned him out as well.
Jimmy’s thin lips sported a cocky grin. He hadn’t put in his mouthpiece as was customary.
“Everyone knows I’m the bigger man now,” Jimmy said as the referee talked about having a good clean fight. “Get ready for me to wipe the floor with you.”
He touched gloves with Jimmy when the referee finished. That Jimmy didn’t touch back with good sportsmanship, only cockiness laced with dark intent, didn’t surprise him. He’d never change.
He returned to his corner again. Donal shouted encouragement to him. He touched his gloves together, focusing on nothing else. Cracked his neck.
The bell rang.
He came out with his gloves up and went for Jimmy. He got in a left and a right before Jimmy danced back.
He wanted to play, did he? Draw out the humiliation?
Declan was having none of it.
Jimmy circled him. Stopped. Snarled. Took his stance and bobbed from the waist. Dashed off some punches in the air. More delays.
Declan went in with a quick jab and followed through with a punishing right. He punched at Jimmy’s body repeatedly, his muscles already burning with sweat.
He drove drive him back into the corner, right where he wanted him.
When Jimmy’s back hit the ropes, Declan went for the uppercut. It landed hard, enough so that he felt the reverberation through his hands.
Jimmy tried to block him as he followed through with more body punches.
Declan shoved him back. He hit him with another hard right and then went in with another punishing uppercut, knocking him senseless.
Jimmy was falling.
Declan kept punching until the man was down on the floor. The referee stepped between them, and Declan gave him space.
He heard the count.One. Two. Three…
Declan watched his nemesis lying on the floor, his heart pumping as the count continued. Jimmy wasn’t getting up.
The referee called the fight and raised his arm.
