Inside the Ring

Lara

I couldn’t believe it. Kitt Edwards wanted to train me! My heart raced and I launched myself into his arms and kissed him on his cheek.

Yes, I wanted to kiss him on the lips. I wanted him to take me in his arms and pin me up against the wall behind me and do things to me I had only ever dreamed of.

I stood there fighting my emotions, which Kitt had awoken. He was going to be my trainer and mentor. There was no way I could have a relationship with him.

Fighting was my life, this was what I dreamed of, and he had given me an opportunity I didn’t want to wreck.

I squealed and jumped into Bobby’s arms again after Kitt had left. “Can you believe it?” I hugged him tighter before loosening my grip, and Bobby groaned.

“Jeez, you got to remember not to squeeze me so much next time.” He chuckled and ruffled my hair. “Lara, I’m so proud of you. I’ll be there with you at each match—you know that, right?”

“I’ve got to train hard before that happens though.” I let out a satisfied sigh.

This is why I came here, to focus on my fighting.

Bobby glanced over my shoulder. “I’d better get back to work. I’ve got a couple of newbies coming in to use the ring.”

He gave me another hug before heading off to sort out the ring before the next people.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked back toward my place, where I placed everything in for washing.

The card Kitt gave me I thumbed over, debating if it was too soon to call him. Damn, I wanted to.

Tucking the card in my back pocket for now, I made some lunch: a chicken salad baguette and a Greek yogurt over some fresh fruit.

I’m glad Bobby is into healthy foods as much as I am. It makes shopping so much easier.

There’s a boxing match on the TV tonight. Pete will no doubt put it on in the bar for me. He knows how much I love watching any fighting sport.

I check my phone. A missed call from my mom. I wonder what she wants this time. Not wanting to speak to her, I end up dialing Kitt’s number instead.

“Hello?” His sexy voice answers the phone.

“Hey, I hope you don’t mind me calling so soon.” Shit, I hope I don’t sound desperate.

“Lara! I’m just at home, alone. So, you’re eager to get started.” He chuckled at me down the phone.

“Yes, you could say I can’t wait to learn more.” I chewed on my bottom lip and twirled my hair with my free hand.

“How do you fancy lunch tomorrow? It will give me some time to set up a workout plan, and I’ll run through the finer details with you.”

“That would be perfect. I’ve got a late shift at the bar tonight, so I won’t be in the gym first thing, but I’ll time it so I can go for a decent run and be ready for you.”

I didn’t want him to think I was always at the gym because he was.

I was sure he groaned on the other end of the line. “Shall we say 1 p.m. at Harvey’s?” he suggested.

I was surprised. Harvey’s, from what I had heard, was a slightly more upmarket restaurant. “Okay, it’s a date. I mean, I’ll see you there.” I palmed my forehead and cringed.

“I look forward to taking you on, Lara. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He made a few grumbling noises on the other end of the line, but I couldn’t make them out.

“Thank you again. You don’t know how much this means to me. I won’t let you down.” I cursed myself for sounding so stupid.

“I wouldn’t have taken you on if that were the case. See you tomorrow, Lara.”

“Bye.”

I hang up the phone and do a silly dance. “Yes!” I whoop and wave my hands in the air and squeal.

My heart is hammering in my chest from excitement. I want to phone Bobby and tell him the good news, but he will be busy, so I send him a text instead.

I have work later on, so I settle for watching some DVDs of past fights.

My shift starts at 6 p.m. I turn up wearing my black skinny jeans and a vest top with a Guns N’ Roses design on.

Casey and Andy are both in tonight. With the fight being shown, we expect the bar to be busy.

The fight started at 8 p.m., and the bar was rowdy already.

“Lara, are you ready for some manhandling?” Pete shouted across to me from the other side of the bar while he pointed over at a couple of lads.

I give him the thumbs-up and keep an eye on the lads while watching the fight.

“Come on, Fury!” I shout at the TV as Tyson Fury takes a punch. “Whoop! Hell yeah!” I jump up and down with the crowd in the pub.

“Yes!” The group of lads at the back joined in with the celebrations.

One of them knocked into another guy, and soon there was a fight going on in our own bar.

I jumped into action along with Pete. He may be much older, but he has been handling punters for a long time.

A glass smashed as we approached them. Three of them were fighting with one man down on the floor.

Pete grabs the one trying to punch the guy on the floor while I take on his mate. The whole bar erupts into cheers.

My only guess would be one of the fighters went down and I’m missing it because of these jerks.

The guys are drunk, so we haul them outside and throw them down. “You are barred from here.” Pete turns around and heads back in to carry on watching.

“You are lucky you ain’t having the cops called on you.” I shake my head at the two of them as they pick themselves up off the floor and walk off.

I’m glad they weren’t too much hassle.

I entered the bar to catch what was going on with the fight on the TV. The bell went, signifying another round had finished.

The bar became mobbed as everyone ordered drinks in the minute’s break. Tension was high in the bar as we poured out the drinks.

“Two pints here, love,” Jack, one of the regulars, shouted from my left.

Casey and I buzzed off each other. We loved moments like this. Bottles clanged and glasses filled as the money went in the cash register.

I fired two pints over to Jack and took his money in time for the bell ringing again.

“One hundred bucks on Wilder to win,” Jack bellowed at me.

“No way! Fury is gonna win.” I smirked back at him, and he shook his head.

A guy threw his arms up in the air at the same time I threw out a punch, and I’m sure I would have broken his arm if he were any closer.

“Yes!” I screamed out as Fury KO’d Wilder. The whole place erupted.

My heart raced with the excitement, I imagined myself being in the ring and winning a fight. I couldn’t wait to meet Kitt tomorrow and find out what plans he had for me.