Kevin

 

 

Eve and I have been in Denver for almost three weeks now. I’m at the gym this morning while she is still asleep at the hotel. My fight is in two days and I’m feeling antsy. This isn’t that big of a fight, so I’m unsure why I’m feeling this way. My coach has yelled at me a few times to get my head in the cage and I’m just not feeling it today.

I leave the ring, tossing my head gear off and removing my gloves. I start to walk to the locker room, when my coach grips me by the elbow. I yank my arm out of his grip and keep walking. He’s a persistent shit and follows me. I want to turn around and knock him on his ass. Gee, can’t I have a minute to myself?

“This how you are going to fight Chip Washington in two days? You fight like today and you will get your ass kicked. What is wrong with you, Kevin?”

“I don’t know. Can you give me a God damn minute to myself? You are always up my ass.”

“Ever since you got that hot little piece of ass, you have been off. She’s going to ruin your career.”

I stop my walk to the locker room and turn around and punch him square in the mouth. “We are done here. I don’t need you anymore.”

“You think you can find a new coach? You have a fight in two days, Kevin. You need me.”

“If it wasn’t for me, you would still be in the gutter, drinking your life away because you couldn’t make it as a fighter. You had skills, but the bottle was your best friend. Now you think you can tell me who I need in my life? I warned you about the way you talk about Eve. You think I don’t hear you when you whisper under your breath about her. Like she’s to blame for a jab or kick I missed; she isn’t to blame. I’m the one in the cage fighting, not her. She’s been good for me and I’m fed up with you and how you treat people.”

“I call it how I see it, she will destroy your career. All you can think about is getting your dick wet. Fuck, I’d put my dick in her too then dump her ass instead of what you are doing.”

I land a punch to his jaw and lay his ass out. Before I can do any more damage to his face, my sparring partner is on me, pulling me off.

“You’re no longer my Coach. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

I walk off and when I get to the locker rooms, I check my hand. I’m glad to see I didn’t bust it open on his face. I sit down on the bench and wonder what I’m going to do now. Every fighter needs a coach. Every one of us need that person in our corner during a fight. Fuck, why did he turn into such an asshole?

I lay down on the bench and stare up into the lights. He has been getting on my nerves ever since he found out about Eve, like he is a jealous bitch. I really had it today when I overheard him talking. He didn’t think I could hear him since I was sparring, but I heard him call her a gold-digging slut. I tried my hardest to ignore it, today was the last straw. I won’t stand for someone disrespecting her and I’ll never let it get this far again either.

I rub my hands down my face; I have no one to coach me. Maybe I should cancel my fight until I find someone new. I have never canceled a fight before and I really don’t want to now, but I don’t see another option.

“Kevin?”

I turn to see my sparring partner, Clint. “Hey.”

“I’m open, ya know? I can be in your corner at the fight. I know more about you than that dick does anyways.”

“What do you mean?”

“I do all his work. He only shows up for practice, and barking out orders. Once he leaves the gym, he goes to the bar and drinks till he’s ready to pass out then he calls me for a ride home. It’s been like this for the last year. I find video’s, study your moves and your opponent’s moves. I give this information to him, so he can act like your coach. When really, it’s me.”

“Why haven’t you told me this before?”

“Is it my place? How many fighter’s do you know that don’t trust their coaches? So, would you have believed me?”

“I found him drinking his life away, so yeah I might have. Are you looking to replace him, to be my coach?”

“Let’s get you through this fight and we can talk about it after. How does that sound?”

“Sounds like the best plan yet. I want to make this clear, don’t treat my girlfriend like shit and if you don’t like her, keep it to yourself because your ass will be gone.”

“Dude, I have no beef with your girl. I actually think she is a nice lady. How about I send the masseuse in to get you loosened up and get you back to practice?”

I’ve been in the locker room for a good half hour trying to clear my head. I can’t say I feel relieved because I don’t. My coach has been with me for so long and to hear he is back on the bottle tears me up inside. I thought he had stopped drinking a long time ago. It was one of the conditions of him being my coach. He could have been a great fighter, if he wasn’t a drunk. He has taught me things over the years that I don’t think anyone else could have taught me. If I had known he was back to drinking, maybe I could have helped him, and he’d still be my coach.

“Kevin, Clint had asked me to come see you.”

“Amanda, thanks for coming, but I think I am okay.”

“I have a few minutes. Just let me work your back and arms and then I’ll leave you alone.”

I take my tank top off and lean forward resting my head on my arms. Amanda pours some oil on my back and arms, rubbing her fingers into my muscles. I close my eyes as it feels good. I’ve been tense today and maybe this is what I need.

I open my eyes and sit up straight. I know my girl is here because I can smell her perfume. When I turn my head, I see her standing at the other end of the row lockers. Her arms are crossed over her chest and she looks pissed. I get to my feet and go to her.

“Hi, Sweetheart. This is Amanda Mountjoy, she is the massage therapist for the gym. Amanda, my girlfriend, Eve.”

Thank goodness she dropped her arms and smiles to Amanda. A fight with her is the last thing I need today. We watch as Amanda gathers up her things and leaves the locker room and afterward I take my girl in my arms and just hold her.

“Are you alright, Kevin?”

I loosen my hold on her and take her by the hand and we take a seat on the bench. I tell her all about firing my coach and how I had hit him. I tell her about what Clint had told me and that he’ll be in my corner for the fight.

“I’m sorry. I feel like this is all my fault.”

“This isn’t your fault, Eve. Never feel like that, okay? This is all on him, the jealousy and his drinking. I don’t need him, but I do need you.”

“Thanks for saying that, it means a lot to me. Now get your ass out there and finish your practice. We have a meeting in four hours with Elizabeth Gardner.”

“Refresh my memory, who is Elizabeth?”

“Elizabeth does ad campaigns online. She will be doing your short commercial for the internet. I still have to run over to Erica’s and get your photos from the photo shoot. I can come back here and meet you or we can meet at the hotel.”

I walk Eve out to her car and once she drives away, I go back inside to find Clint. I still feel a little off, but I need this time today in the cage. I’m hoping with a few rounds of kicking Clint’s ass I’ll feel back to normal.