“What’s up with you?” Jimmy questions me.
I look up at him, giving him a smile, but I barely acknowledge his words.
“Dude, what’s wrong? Why are you so distracted?” he asks as he stands next to me.
“I’m meeting with Blaine Davis at seven.”
“Oh shit! No way. That’s tonight?”
“Yeah, Frankie put the pressure on me this morning. Frankie said Blaine would probably pay for my entry fees for the fight and buy me some new gear.”
“That’d be huge!” Jimmy says in awe.
“I know, right? One less thing I gotta worry about.”
“You think he’s gonna bring the Gingah?”
“Who knows,” I smile, “but that would be nice. I’m gonna go grab something to eat before he gets here. You wanna come?”
“No, Steph is picking me up in ten minutes,” Jimmy walks toward the locker room door. “Oh, don’t forget your Axe body spray. Bitches love that shit,” Jimmy jokes.
“Fuck you, man!” I shout at him as the door shuts behind him.
I open my locker, grab the clothes that are balled up at the bottom, and put them on. As I walk past the mirror, I stop and run my fingers through my hair. I stare at my reflection and at what I’m wearing; a pair of worn, ripped jeans and an Affliction shirt. Shit, I wish I’d known Blaine was coming. I would’ve brought nicer clothes with me. Fuck it. He’s the one that needs to sell himself to me, not the other way around.
“Frankie!” I yell as I walk back into the gym.
“I’m in my office.”
“I’m gonna go grab some food before our meeting,” I mention from his office doorway.
“Okay, kid,” he answers, but I see that he’s distracted.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, everything is fine. Nothin’ you gotta worry about,” he sighs. I notice that his eyes are fixated on his accounting ledger.
“You know they make computer programs that will do that shit for you?”
“A computer program?” he scoffs at my words.
“Yeah, you know, a computer. It kinda looks like a TV… you type stuff into it,” I can’t help but tease him. He’s so dead set against technology.
Frankie takes off his glasses; finally looking up at me. “Are you kiddin’ me, kid? What do I need a computer for? I got everything I need right here,” he says, pointing to his temple and tapping on his old school adding machine.
I laugh at him, shaking my head. “Do you want me to get you anything to eat at Luigi’s?”
“Nah, I’m good. I’ll eat when I get home.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll be back in twenty.”
I head down the street to Luigi’s, a hole in the wall pizza joint. They serve the best pizza in town, but since I’m fighting soon, there’s no pizza on the menu for me.
“Hey, Saint! Long time, no see,” Nico greets me in his thick Italian accent. He smiles from behind the counter as he wipes his hands on his apron.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, Nico. I’ve been training. You know I can’t have pizza when I train.”
“No pizza? Not even a slice?”
“Nope, not even a little slice,” I say, with disappointment in my voice as I pat my stomach.
“What can I get for you then?” he asks, confused.
“Any chance you can make me a chicken breast with some steamed broccoli?”
“Chicken breast and steamed broccoli? Are you kidding?”
“No, I’m not kidding.”
“Let me see what I can do,” he calls out as he walks into the kitchen.
“Thanks, Nico.”
I sit down in one of the booths near the front window and look around Luigi’s. Not much has changed in this place. I’ve been coming here since I started in Frankie’s program, and it still has the same four small tables with red and white checked tablecloths you’d find in any Italian restaurant. Pictures of Italy cover the walls; they’re old and faded from the sun now. The menu is displayed above the counter were Nico had stood. It mainly consists of pizza and sandwiches.
While I wait for him to return, I stare out the window and notice that with summer approaching, the days are getting longer. It’s almost six fifteen, and the sun is still high in the sky. Tonight would’ve been the perfect night for a ride on the bike.
“Saint, you are in luck my friend,” Nico says loudly, from across the restaurant. “I can make what you want, but it’s going to take about twenty-five to thirty minutes.”
I look up at the map of Italy clock on the wall. “Yeah, that’s fine, Nico. I can wait.”
I’ll definitely be cutting it close to my meeting with Frankie and Blaine, but I need to eat. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch, and my stomach is already growling from the aroma of pizza that fills the air.
My phone vibrates where it sits on the table. Glancing down, I see that it’s a text message from Jimmy. Good luck tonight. I hope things go well.
Me – Thanks, man. I’ll let you know.
I stare out the window, watching the neighborhood kids ride their bikes up and down the street and begin to think back to Jase and me. The two of us wanted bikes so badly.
I remember one Christmas, both of us wrote letters to Santa, begging and pleading for matching BMX bikes. We woke up at five a.m. on Christmas morning and tiptoed from our bedroom to the living room, only to find that there were no bicycles under the tree for us, or anything else. I’ll never forget poor Jase’s face when he’d realized we’d gotten nothing from Santa. I didn’t believe in Santa by then, but I played along for Jase’s benefit. “It’s okay, Jase. I’m sure Santa just got lost. He does have to deliver a lot of presents, you know,” I said, trying to cheer him up. “Come on, let’s go back to bed. He’s not gonna come if we’re awake.” I led him back into our bedroom and we crawled back into bed; with Jase curling up into a little ball. I heard him start to whimper. Why did our parents have to be such assholes?
“Here you go, Saint. Grilled chicken breast and steamed broccoli,” Nico says, as he places my dinner onto the table in front of me.
“Thanks, Nico. You’re the best.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah… just remember me when you are rich and famous,” he smiles.
“I’ll never forget where I came from, Nico. I can promise you that.”
He swats his hand at me, “That is what they all say.”
He’s probably right. But in my case, I’ll never forget Frankie and Patsy. The two of them have always been there for me. If I ever make it in boxing, those two are coming with me. I glance down at my phone and realize it’s already ten of six. I quickly eat the rest of my broccoli and leave a twenty on the table for Nico.
“Nico, I gotta run. Thanks for dinner,” I say, waving to him as I rush out the door.
I quickly make my way back to the gym, knowing Frankie’s probably pacing the floor by now; waiting for me. As I get closer, I see a crowd of neighborhood kids standing around, and I realize they’re staring at a car.
“What are you guys staring at?” I ask, pushing my way through the crowd.
“Saint! It’s a Corvette!” Miguel is so excited, he’s nearly jumping up and down for joy. “I’ve never seen a Corvette in real life; only in the movies or on TV.”
A Corvette? Who the hell would be driving a Corvette around here? I feel my mouth drop open. Shit, Blaine is here already.
“Was it a young guy, about my age, dressed all fancy?” I interrogate Miguel.
“Yup,” he nods his head, “and he had some girl who looked like a movie star with him. Do you think they’re movie stars?”
I begin to laugh, “No, they’re not movie stars. They’re just regular people just like you and me.”
Regular people with a shit-ton of money.
“I gotta go, Miguel, I have a meeting with those ‘movie stars,’” I tussle his hair and give him a wink.
“Well, if you find out they really are movie stars can you get me their autographs?”
As I rush through the door, I hear, “There you are, kid. I’d just about given up on you,” Frankie’s voice sounds exasperated.
“I told you I was going out to grab something to eat,” I say in an irritated tone. “It’s not even seven yet,” I look up at the clock on the wall.
“Yeah, well, they’re here early,” Frankie grits his teeth.
“They?”
“Yeah, he brought his broad with him again.”
“Oh, really?” I raise my eyebrows at him as I run my hands through my hair.
“Don’t get any ideas, Gabriel. How many times do I have to tell you? Broads ain’t nothin’ but trouble.”
“You keep sayin’ that, but I find them quite the opposite.”
“Get your ass in my office and act professional,” Frankie scoffs at me, “this meeting is for you and you’re already fuckin’ it up.”
I roll my eyes behind his back as I follow him into his office.
“Look who I found,” Frankie says, as he walks through the door. Frankie’s office is no bigger than a closet, and there’s barely enough room for two people, let alone the four that are going to be sitting in there. As you enter, his desk is immediately in front of you. Along the left wall, there is a big window overlooking the gym so that Frankie can see what’s going on at all times. Even when you least expect it, Frankie’s eyes are on you.
Blaine rises quickly to his feet. “Saint, it’s great to see you again. I was thrilled when Frankie called me this morning.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” I say with a smile, looking directly at his girlfriend.
“Salem, don’t be rude,” he reprimands when she doesn’t acknowledge me.
“Yes, it’s great to see you again,” she replies, sarcastically.
“I apologize for my girlfriend. She’s apparently lost her manners.”
Salem huffs and crosses her arms.
“I was admiring all of your pictures,” Blaine looks to the wall directly behind Frankie’s desk.
“Ah yes, my wall of fame,” Frankie beams.
The pictures on the walls are images of Frankie with various fighters over the years. He has pictures of himself with Holyfield, Tyson, Sugar Ray, and even Ali.
“I especially like this one,” Blaine points to a picture of Frankie and me.
A smile spreads over Frankie’s face. “That’s when Gabriel won his first Golden Gloves. He wasn’t the favorite to win, but he fights from the heart, and it showed in the ring. That was really the beginning of his boxing career.”
“Oh Lord,” I shake my head in embarrassment. I don’t need him getting all nostalgic on me. “Ahem,” I interrupt him.
“That’s some car you got out there,” I change the subject.
“You like it?”
“You don’t really see cars like that around here. It’s a ‘Vette, right?”
“Yes, a 1961. It was my father’s and he gave it to me as my high school graduation present.”
“Wow, must be nice,” I mutter under my breath.
“Please Blaine, have a seat,” Frankie instructs, as he sits behind his desk. “Why don’t you explain to Gabriel what you were telling me on the phone?”
“Oh sure, of course,” Blaine says, as he inches toward the edge of his seat. “I was telling Frankie this morning that I’m opening a new gym in Spencer, and I’d love for you to be ‘the face’ of it.”
“‘The face’ of it?” I ask, confused.
“Yeah… I want you to be the spokesman for it.”
“But I don’t train there… I train here.”
“Well…” Blaine draws out his word.
“Kid, you’d stop training here and start training there,” Frankie butts in.
“What?” I turn quickly towards Frankie. This is the only place I’ve ever trained and Frankie is the only person I’ve ever trained with.
“Relax, kid. I’ll still be training you. We’ll just be training there instead of here.”
“We have everything you need for training, Saint. Top of the line equipment, a brand new ring, physical and massage therapists on site if you need them, we even have a sauna for you to relax in after training,” Blaine is now doing his best sales pitch.
I look at Frankie with doubt, “And you’re okay with this?”
“What difference does it make if you train here or there?” Frankie shrugs.
“Because this is the place you built,” I can feel myself getting defensive.
“It’s just a building, Gabriel.”
I can’t believe Frankie’s just gonna let me go train somewhere else; like it’s nothing. This place is his pride and joy. Now he’s acting like he could close the doors tomorrow and it wouldn’t mean a thing to him.
I look over at Salem and see that she’s busy texting, completely ignoring the conversation we’re having around her. “What do you think about all this, Salem?” I ask, pulling her into our conversation.
She seems startled by my question. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention, what exactly were you discussing?”
“Blaine just asked me to be ‘the face’ of his gym and train there.”
“Oh, well, you’re asking the wrong person about that. I know nothing about wrestling.”
I laugh. “Well that’s good to know, because I know nothing about wrestling either.”
She gives me a confused look.
“I don’t wrestle, I box.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize there’s a difference,” she says, clueless.
“It’s okay, honey,” Blaine chuckles as he rubs her hand. “If it’s not Louis Vuitton or Prado, she couldn’t care less. She’s a pro at shopping and spending her Daddy’s money.”
Her face turns red with embarrassment. She tries to laugh off what Blaine just said about her, but you can see that what he said bothers her.
“So what do you say?” Blaine asks anxiously.
“I dunno,” I look over at Frankie, “I still really don’t understand what you would get out of me training there.”
“Are you kidding? You’re a local celebrity around here. Everyone knows who you are, and if people know you’re training at my gym, we’ll get tons of new clients. It’s a win-win really.”
“And all I have to do is train there?” I question him.
“Pretty much. We’d probably have you do some appearances, be on our print ads, and eventually I’d love to do a television commercial, if you’re game.”
I again look over at Frankie for some reassurance or guidance but, like usual, I get nothing. He just stares back at me. “Do you think I can have some time to think this over?” I direct to Blaine.
“Sure, you can take all the time you’d like, but I’d love to get you to our gym before the big fight,” Blaine slowly stands up.
Frankie rises to his feet then gives me the evil eye for me to “get-up-off-my-ass.”
“Frankie, thanks for setting up this meeting. I really appreciate it,” Blaine extends his hand out to Frankie.
“Any time, Blaine, the pleasure was all ours,” his eyes jolt towards me as he gives me a look.
“Salem? Are you coming?” Blaine shakes his head. “Her and that damn phone.”
She was looking down at her phone again. “Oh… we’re done?” she asks with a smile, happily looking up at us.
Frankie leads them out into the gym, and I follow behind Salem, checking out her backside. She must spend a lot of time at the gym herself.
“We’ll be in touch in the next few days,” Frankie says to Salem and Blaine as they walk out the front door.
He quickly turns to me with a smile on his face, “So? Whatta ya think? Print ads, television commercials… this is it, Gabriel. This is the shot we’ve been waiting for!” Frankie can barely contain his excitement at this point.
I can’t help but smile. I haven’t seen him this excited in a long time; quite possibly ever. He’s
practically jumping up and down.
“Give me the night to think it over, okay?”
“Gabriel, you’re doing this,” his smile disappears from his face. “If you don’t listen to anything else I say in this lifetime, please listen to me on this.”
“Alright, Frankie, I’ll think long and hard about it.”
“Good. Now go home and get some sleep.”
For most of my walk home, the conversation with Blaine plays over and over in my head. I still don’t fully understand how Frankie can give up training at his gym so easily. I mean, if Blaine can use me as the face of his gym, why can’t I be the face of Frankie’s gym? He’s the whole reason I am where I am.
It isn’t long before I’m home. I try the door and it’s locked, so I dig into my pocket for the key. It’s unusual for the door to be locked. Adrian and I have nothing of value, so we rarely lock the door.
As I unlock the door and step through, I hear a gasp.
“Oh my God!” I hear a female voice say as she runs from the living room into the bathroom.
There’s Adrian, lying completely naked on our couch.
“Dude, what the fuck?”
“I didn’t think you’d be home until later,” Adrian laughs.
“Do you fuck girls on our couch often?”
“Well, I’m not gonna fuck them in my bed,” he says quietly, looking over his shoulder towards the bathroom door.
“Why the hell not?”
“’Cause, I don’t know where they’ve been.”
“So you’re gonna fuck them on our couch… where we sit?”
Adrian smiles at me.
“Are you just gonna sit there naked? Can you at least cover yourself up? I really don’t need to see your fuckin’ hard-on.”
“Why the fuck you starin’ at it?” he says as he grabs himself.
“Dude! Oh my God!” I pick up a pillow from the chair and throw it onto his lap. “How many girls have you fucked on our couch?” I try to keep my voice down.
“I dunno,” he shrugs.
“Well fuck, now we need to get a new couch,” I say, while trying to hide my smile. “You better go check on her,” I motion to the bathroom.
On the Ropes Page 7