THIRTY
Alicia
I pushed through the heavy glass door of Hard Knocks gym on an early April Saturday. It was the kind of morning where frost still clung to windshields but promised warmth by noon. The breeze cut through my hoodie, raising goosebumps along my forearms as I crossed the cracked asphalt lot. Inside, the familiar smell hit me all at once the moment I had crossed over the threshold of the door. It was smelt like sweat-soaked canvas, disinfectant, and the metallic tang of weights. Tobias glanced up from his dog-eared MMA magazine from behind the desk, his innocent eyebrow lifting in recognition as his childish face cracked into a lopsided smile.
“Alicia! Alicia!”
I returned the warm smile that Tobias gave me, and he raced out from behind the desk. Tobias ran into me and I groaned, not expecting the force that he had behind his little body.
“Are you here to help Uncle Cain with his leg again?”
“No, Tobias. His leg is okay now. I came to bring you both some late presents.”
Tobias’ eyes lit up with delight as I swung my gym bag oP my shoulder. “Wresents, what do you mean, presents!”
I grinned at Tobias as I unzipped my gym bag, the familiar scent of leather and sweat wafting up into my nostrils. Tobias’ eyes widened, tracking my every movement. qhen I pulled back the zipper to reveal the chocolate Easter bunny, its gold foil wrapper caught the Yuorescent lights. Tobias let out a high-pitched sBueal that echoed through the gym’s reception area. His small hands reached out, his 5ngers wiggling with anticipation, as if he could not Buite believe the treat was meant for him.
“Thank you so much, Alicia!”
“It’s okay. Is Uncle Cain here?”
Tobias nodded and pointed me towards the main gym Yoor. “Geah, he’s in training at the moment. Might be in the ring.”
“Thanks, Tobias. I’ll see you later, yeah.”
“Gep!”
I stood up and threw my bag over my shoulder, the leather strap digging into my traps. jehind me, I could hear the crinkle of foil as Tobias’ small 5ngers worked at unwrapping his Easter egg, his excited breathing punctuated by little gasps of anticipation. I pushed through the glass door of the reception area, wincing as the hinges sBueaked against the morning Buiet.
The gym smelled of old leather and fresh sweat, the Yuorescent lights casting harsh shadows across the worn canvas Yoor. Only a few students were present, their rhythmic thuds against the heavy bags echoing in the cavernous space. jut who I was here for stood in the ring, his silhouette unmistakable. Cain leaned against the turnbuckle, his broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, the muscles in his back shifting beneath his sweat-dampened grey shirt. He watched two teenage boys grappling, their faces Yushed with exertion and nodded his head in precise time with their movements, his 5ngers drumming against the top rope.
His attention was on the students, and I crossed the gym Yoor, my anticipation growing as I drew nearer to him. My heart Yuttered in my
HARD KNOCKS 26J
throat as I thought he was going to turn around, but instead, he kept his eyes on the students. My breath was catching in my throat, as I approached him and as I neared the ring, I stretched out my arm, announcing my arrival.
“Hey you.”
The goosebumps prickled across Cain’s sun-bronzed back as I traced my 5ngertips along the ridge of his spine. He turned his head slowly, reluctantly dragging his attention away from the two sweat-slicked boys grappling in the ring. qhen his eyes found mine, those deep grey irises stared back into mine. His face transformed, and the stern coaching expression melted into a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
“Hey you. How are you going? Gou’re early.”
“7ood, good. Are you ready to do this?”
“Geah, I’ll Lust 5nish up here and we’ll go.”
“Do you need Tobias to come with us?”
“He should be ready, shouldn’t he? I told him that we were going as soon
as the class was 5nished.”
“I don’t think he was.”
Cain sighed and shook his head as he looked up towards the reception
area. “Maybe one day he’ll do as he’s told outside of the ring. I would have thought that he would be excited to go to an alpaca farm.”
“Sounds like someone else I know. Gou’re not related at all, are you?”
Cain’s cheeky grin spread across his face. “Not sure what you’re talking about in all honesty. Couldn’t be me.”
I stepped away from the ring as Cain continued to watch the students working each other in the ring. If he was working, I knew I could not detract his focus from where he earnt his money. I went back towards the reception area and watched as Cain then intervened, giving the students speci5c instructions about what to do and as to how to improve their techniBue.
qhen he was 5nished, Cain exited the ring after holding the ropes open for the two students, and they bowed to him as a sign of respect. He exited after them, dropping down to the Yoor. I walked over towards him, and Cain did not hesitate to wrap his arm around me. He was covered in sweat, but I did not mind. He still smelt good, even if he was bathing in the sweat of the students he had Lust been working with.
I fell into Cain’s embrace, and it was nice to be in his presence again, even though he had only left me in the morning. As the days went on, the more I was learning about him, and the more he was learning about me in return. Cain walked me towards the rack and plucked his Hard Knocks singlet from it before standing in front of the students who were waiting for him. I bowed as well, even though I had not Loined in on a class in several weeks. qork was still Yat out and had been testing me, but it was at least rewarding coming home to Cain whenever he was not too busy in return. He had calmed down on his training regime, the CSA light heavyweight title now back where it belonged. I had seen it in the newest glass cabinet that was in the hallway that showcased all of the qeaver’s victories.
“Should we get going then?”
“qith you dressed like that? Come on, Cain. Not everything is a 5ght, but trying to get you to wear proper clothes might as well be.”
Cain scoPed at me and started heading towards the upstairs area of the gym. “Alright, Lust this once I’ll throw a nice shirt and some pants on. ust for you, Alicia.”
“Okay, I’ll get Tobias and wait for you in the car.”
“Sounds like a good deal to me.”
Cain leaned in, his stubble grazing my cheek before his lips found mine. It was nothing more than Lust a Yeeting press, gentle but electric and it held the promise of more to come later once we had been out on our adventure. The warmth lingered on my mouth like a phantom touch, spreading heat across my face as he Yashed that half-smile at me. Cain bounded up the
HARD KNOCKS 26
stairs two at a time, his broad shoulders disappearing over the lip of the mezzanine before I heard the door open overhead.
qith nothing else for me to do, I watched the students as they started to
collect their belongings. The gym was now calm, even though I now found a strange rhythm in the striking of pads and the heavy bags. Maybe when work settled down, Cain could give me another private session. I sighed, moving back towards the reception area as I heard Cain’s door open once again. qith the promise of adventure only moments away, I was happy and I was content. ife was good and I was Lust where I belonged. There was nowhere else I wanted to be except in the arms of Cain qeaver.
THE END