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here. How close am I?
Pushing to his feet, Reid dragged his still-taped hands over his face then hooked them behind his
neck. Dead on.
I thought as much, Butch said, rising from his chair. So what s your plan?
Reid dropped his arms and narrowed an eye at his coach. What makes you think I have a plan?
You never go up against a fight or a problem without a plan. Butch eased a hip onto his desk and
popped one of the peppermint candies he d replaced cigarettes with into his mouth. But if the way
you ve been acting is any indication, your plan sucks.
What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Just what I said. When you have faith in your plans you re no different than you are any other day.
Our plan for the fight is solid. But you re still messed up. Ergo
Reid lifted an eyebrow. Did you really just say ergo ?
Yeah, I did, smartass ergo, your plan sucks.
Reid couldn t argue with the man s logic. He was right. When Reid had a good plan, nothing fazed
him. Not the head games his opponent flung at him through the media, not an injury he knew could be
dealt with after the fight, nothing.
My plan sucks because I don t have one. No matter how I try, I can t find a solution that makes us
happy together.
Butch rubbed his jaw as he thought about& well, whatever it was he was thinking about. Hmm.
Yeah, I can see how that would trouble you.
Reid stepped to the interior office window and looked out at all the things that had been a part of
his life for as long as he could remember. A ring for sparring, mats for grappling, padded dummies,
punching bags, weights, and cardio machines. A feeling of indifference settled in the center of his
chest like a crushing weight. He d noticed that a lot lately upon entering the gym. Not even the
familiar smells and sounds brought on the usual excitement.
He shrugged, feeling the tension knots in his shoulders. It is what it is, Butch. Lucie isn t cut out
for this life. If I bring her into it, she ll only end up leaving. She deserves someone better than me.
Better than a fighter.
Ah, Christ. Butch returned to his chair from earlier and gestured to the one Reid had first
occupied. Have a seat. Too tired to argue, Reid did as he was told. Now I want you to listen and
listen good. I m sure you know this already, but I ve never said it outright, so here it is: You know me
and Martha couldn t have any kids of our own. Hell, it s why she s a schoolteacher and I decided to
take on young men like yourself.
Now I care for all my fighters if I didn t, they d be out on their asses looking for a new coach
but you ve been with me a long time, and you re like a son to me. And no son of mine would have
such a fucked up self-image. That s your old man talkin through you, is what that is, and it s a bunch
of bullshit.
Butch, before I showed up she was half in love with an orthopedic surgeon. The guy took her on a
date and wanted to take her on more. He s got money, good looks, and has a shitload of things in
common with her.
So?
So I m already going in as the underdog! In the grand scheme of what women look for in a guy, Dr.
Douchebag wins hands down.
On paper. He only wins on paper, kid. Butch leaned forward and smiled. What have I always
told you the trump card is in any fight?
Reid met the steady gaze of his coach and started to see a glimmer of light at the end of that long,
dark tunnel he d been in for weeks. Heart. Any fighter can win against any odds if he has more heart
than his opponent.
Butch slapped him on the shoulder and sat back with a satisfied smirk. Exactly. And not only do
you have heart, son, I d wager you ve got hers, too, if you want it. But that s up to you. Now, go home
and get some rest. No matter what you decide you still have a fight tomorrow and I need your head on
straight or you re gonna get it knocked off. Understand?
Yes, sir, he replied as he got up to leave. Just as he opened the office door his coach called his
name.
No matter what happens, I m here for you. Good luck, son.
It seemed like such a normal sentiment. One that a person would hear any number of times in their
life. And yet, that had been the first time Reid had ever heard those words.
He tried to speak even a muttered thanks would ve been acceptable but his throat had
completely closed up, not to mention his eyes were starting to water. Before he completely broke
down he gave his coach a curt nod and closed the door behind him.
&
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