Page 48 of Alex
Ifollow him back to the locker room. “Well, he got married, had a kid, you knowhow it goes.”
“Suredo,” the bearded mountain agrees. “Make yourself at home. I have a couple ofguys coming in to run drills in about an hour if you’d like a sparringpartner.”
“That’dbe great.”
“Workoutroom is to your right,” he says as I store my gear in a locker. “I’ll come findyou when my guys are ready.”
“Thanksagain.”
Iget a few curious glances while I’m lifting weights, but it isn’t until I’mrunning on the treadmill that a guy approaches me. “Hi, there’s a rumor goingaround you’re Mason Reed’s brother.”
“Andyou’ve been elected to find out if it’s true?” I smile, slowing down themachine into cool down mode.
“Everyone’scurious…you know, with him being the former middleweight champ.”
“Yeah,Mason’s my brother. I’m Alex.”
Hegazes doubtfully at my hand for a moment before shaking it. What the fuck wasthat? “Dave.”
“Niceto meet you.”
“Youtoo. I’ll let you get back to it.”
Hewalks away leaving me to try to figure out what made that so uncomfortable. Thereason smacks me in the face when I go to grab my gear from the locker room,hoping to find a sparring partner.
“It’shim.”
“Noshit? What the hell is he doing here? I can’t believe Mike let him in.”
Irecognize the first voice as Dave’s. They’re talking about me. “He doesn’t looklike a homo.”
“Youdon’t know. He might have lacy panties on under those sweatpants,” a thirdvoice joins in. Laughter fills the small space and I feel my face heat, notwith shame or embarrassment, but anger. They’re on the other side of the row oflockers, clueless that I can hear them. I’d like to see them say that shit tomy face.
BeforeI can confront them, Mike joins them. “Dave, you want to fight a few rounds?Alex is looking for a sparring partner.”
“Fuckno, Mike. Like I want him sweating AIDS all over me. Why the hell did you lethim in here?”
Anyhope of Mike setting them straight dies with his response. “I know, I know, buthis brother is Mason Reed. He has friends in high places we don’t want to pissoff. So somebody is going to fight with him. You decide who.”
“Noway I’m fighting a fag,” the second voice counters.
I’vehad enough. Stepping around the corner, I glare at the gathering of ignorantrednecks. Mike curses under his breath. “How about you, Dave? You scared tofight a fag? I promise to keep my AIDS to myself. Although, judging by thatcold sore on your mouth it looks like I should be the one who’s worried.”
“Fuckyou, homo.” He takes a step toward me, but I stand my ground, and Mike grabshis arm.
“Don’tworry about it, Mike. Herpes can affect your brain, make you say stupid shit.Maybe you all need to be tested. Now, I’ll ask again, is everyone too afraid toget their ass whipped by a panty wearing homo?”
“Hedidn’t mean nothing by it, just guys bullshitting, you know,” Mike defends.
“Saywhatever you want. I’ve been called worse by better. Maybe you want to go a fewrounds, Mike?”
Theguys snort and laugh. “Do it, Mike,” Dave taunts. “Trample him. Teach him alesson.”
“Giveme a few minutes to gear up,” he agrees reluctantly.
Theirlaughter follows me as I make my way out to the ring. It doesn’t escape myattention that I’m being watched by a group of men, especially once I enter thering and begin stretching out. Guess word got around who I am. I’m pissed abouthow I’ve been treated, but I’m not surprised. Sometimes it does catch me offguard. Overall, people have become more accepting, and days like this havebecome few and far between, but the bigotry still lives just under the surface,waiting to pounce when I least expect it.
Mikeapproaches, his hands wrapped, and everyone’s attention turns to us. I could’veleft. Just told them to go fuck themselves and found another gym, but that’snot how I deal with shit like this. He’s twice my size, but I’m ten times aspissed. This time, just this once, I’ll let my anger take over.
