BAMA TIDE

by Nemechek, Shannon

  “Chickenshit would just about describe it.” Lindsay said as she removed her gloves and grabbed her water bottle, quickly taking a swig and placing it back onto the mat. “Okay, so now you’re here. What gives?”

  “Well, first of all, I am in need of a trainer and it appears you are the best around.”

  “And second?” Lindsay replied half expecting a smartass reply.

  “Okay, Mac you got this just spit it out!” his brain told him but his lips didn’t listen and instead he explained he had been injured and MMA fighting was his way to get back into fighting shape so that he could return back to the Infantry and his Ranger unit and the only way he could get the training time was to volunteer for recruiting

  Lindsay satisfied with his answer turned back to her sparring partner. “Well, I have a fighter coming in anytime now. So, you will have to find someone else to work you out.”

  Mac let out a bit of a laugh, dropping his bag onto the mat. “Well, I’m the fighter your waiting for.”

  Lindsay looked back at him, “naw, the guy I am waiting for is…” he cut her off before she could finish which was a good thing because Max had walked in and right up to the mat, Mac leaned down shaking his hand and turned to Lindsey “I see you met your fighter?”

  Lindsey heart fell into her toes, her face felt hot and she said the only thing she could say “Yep, I was just going to brief him on the training schedule.”

  “Good! Good!” Max replied turning back to Mac “She’s the best in the business, uh. Ya know, Before I forget, I have no idea what your given name is all the paperwork had was Bama Tide.”

  Mac smiled, took a deep breathe here goes nothing. “Oh yeah that’s right! Well, it would be Jamie or most just call me “Mac” MacLoud his words seemed to echo throughout the gym. Lindsey stood in utter silence, trying to gather herself so he wouldn’t realize she had recognized him at Ft. Bragg. She was concentrating so hard her mouth must have hit the floor because she felt faint and her mouth was dry.

  “Lindsey” Max yelled but she just stared off into space “Lindsey, earth to Lindsey, You okay?”

  Lindsey shook herself conscience and finally replied “Mac MacLoud, my Mac?” Pretending to be surprised.

  Max stood confused at first then turned to Lindsey’s partner “Hey Nate, why don’t we give these two a moment.” Nate agreed and Max cleared out the Gym. “Alright, everyone the gym is closing early. Come back bright and early tomorrow morning and breakfast is on me. Sorry everyone.” Max shuffled the fighters from the ring area and into the locker room.

  Lindsey’s eyes burned with anger and it took every cell in her entire body to keep herself from lunging at him then wrapping her hands around his neck, strangling him where he stood but she held off. As soon as the gym was empty Lindsey stepped up to Mac and decked him. Knocking him to the mat. “How dare you come into where I work and pull this shit. What are you tryin’ to pull Mac?”

  Mac knew she would be pissed, and he was right she was madder than an old wet hen and madder than he had ever seen her. Yes, it had been fifteen years, but her temper hadn’t changed.

  “Well, not trying to pull anything Lin, I had no idea you worked here until a few weeks ago. Last I heard you were some hotshot ER doc in Nashville. How was I supposed to know you had hung it all up to be an MMA fight trainer? I am here to get back into fighting shape and not into your pants.” That part was a lie, he did want to get into her pants and get into them often, but he couldn’t tell Lindsey that.

  “So, I am just supposed to believe this was all an accident? Well then, explain to me how you could have the audacity to ask me out on a date four years ago then turn around and stand me up and on top of that not even tell me it was you?” She was not about to admit she knew it was him the whole time.

  Mac also knew he was wrong there, but he wasn’t about to admit that either nor was he going to admit he hadn’t recognized her until he read her card. “Well in my defense, how was I supposed to know you didn’t recognize me?” Lie number two-Mac knew she didn’t recognize him, that was why he stood her up, but he couldn’t say that, could he? Well Lin, to be honest I was afraid. Afraid that once you recognized me you would do just what ya did. Deck me. Not to say I don’t deserve it but what I did back then was for your own good.”

  Mac watched as Lindsey’s face began to turn red with anger but before he could say anything he leaned down and picked up his bag. “Look I know this isn’t the best of situations, but I do know this- I need to get back into fighting shape and Max needs a winner. I am that winner. I am gonna go shower and give you a chance to cool off.”

  Lindsey wanted to deck him again but agreed with Mac. Max did need this win and she is a professional and can separate business and personal. Well she hoped.

  ***

  Mac quickly jumped into the shower and cleaned up. Just as he was wrapping the towel around himself, he heard the door open, and a woman’s voice calls out “Hey Mac. Okay you win. I will train you but only until the fight then you will have to work with Nate. Deal?”

  Mac stepped out from around the corner, smiling as he was standing in front of the mirror. Mac pulled his towel tighter around his waist and walked out into the dressing area- water still dripping down his chest he leaned against the wall.

  “Deal, on one condition.” Mac said.

  “Alright, and what’s that?”

  “Have dinner with me so we can work this out in private and not for the entire gym.” He replied as he held his towel in place.

  Lindsey almost fainted at the sight of her ex-high school boyfriend standing in just a towel dripping wet. She tried to speak but all the came out was a sigh and a grunt.

  “Well, aren’t you gonna say something?” Mac asked smiling from ear to ear.

  “Ah, yeah! Get some damn clothes on.” Lindsey spat.

  “What you don’t like this look?”

  “Ah, yeah. Ah I mean no. I will be outside. Come out when you got some clothes on.” Lindsey started for the door and bumped into a folding chair losing her balance and falling face first onto the floor.

  Mac attempted to make it to her in time, but he failed miserably and instead walked over to her holding out his right hand to hers. “Here, let me help you up?” Lindsey took his hand in hers, when she realized that his arms, legs and chest were riddled with scars. She tried not to look and almost didn’t say anything, but Mac felt her eyes on the scars.

  “Wha… What happened?”

  “Oh, these, these are just flesh wounds. I got into a fight with a lawnmower, and the lawnmower won.”

  “Wait, what?” Lindsey replied.

  “Naw, I got shot up pretty bad in the Battle of Fallujah. Almost lost my life but that’s a whole other story. Why don’t you sit here, and I’ll get dressed? Then I’ll tell ya what happened. Alright?”

  Still stunned and almost tongue-tied her only reply was “Uh huh.”

  Mac went back to the locker room, pulling his jeans on “Well, I do have to say, Lindsey, you have changed quite a bit. You look amazing.”

  “Well, that tends to happen when you haven’t seen nor spoke to a person in over well, I guess thirteen years if you count the time you stood me up at Bragg.” Lindsey spat back with irritation in her voice.

  Mac smiled as he stood in front of the bathroom mirror smoothing his hand over his hair then peeking around the corner shirtless. “Yeah, I supposed your right Lin. But in my defense, I was serving my country.” Mac grabbed his shirt off the door handle, throwing it over his shoulder and stepped around the corner, his jeans partially zipped.

  “I thought you were getting dressed?”

  Mac grinned as he walked towards her “Well, I was but this seemed more fun.”

  Lin tried not to look and definitely made an attempt not to stare but she couldn’t help herself. Mac’s muscles had muscles and despite the scars the bullets had left, his body were exceptionally cut. He does look damned good and if I didn’t know any better, I would suspect he was do
ing all of this for my benefit. I’m not gonna argue. Besides the vision of Mac MacLoud has gotten me through many dry spells. When was the last time I got laid? Oh yeah, three very long years ago. The night before my wedding, the same night I found Bryant in his office with Caroline his law partner. What I would do to Mac MacLoud right now would roll his eyes to the back of his head. A smile now crept across Lin’s face as Mac watched her.

  Mac watched for at least four minutes as he watched Lin undress him with her eyes. “Lin…. Lin…” Mac couldn’t break through Lin’s trance and began to laugh “Earth to Lin. You there Lin?” Tossing his shirt at her and walked towards Lin. “Lin... is everything okay?”

  Lin shook herself from her trance. “Yes, Yes. I’m sorry. I was just going over a training idea in my head.”

  “Were they good training ideas because the way you were smiling and staring at me, I was beginning to feel vulnerable. Like you were undressing me with your eyes.”

  “Oh god, no! It wasn’t that at all. Just training, I promise you.” Lin attempt to recover her composure, but she wasn’t having much success. “Do you think you could put a shirt on?”

  Mac laughed and then stood next to Lin. “Naw, its hot in here and I have to keep myself from getting overheated. But it doesn’t seem to be helping you. Your welcome to slip into something more comfortable.” He winked. “I could help you if you like. I am always here to serve.”

  Embarrassed Lin could feel her face get warm and the warmth moved throughout her body the more Mac MacLoud spoke. Shifting where she stood, Lin reached into her bag and grabbed her tablet, pretending to now jot down notes. “Why don’t you tell me why you want to train?”

  Mac leaned back against the wall “Well, Lin I guess this is the moment of truth.”

  “Okay and what exactly does that mean?” She responded.

  “Well, to tell the truth there is no issue.” Mac confessed.

  Confused Lin leaned forward placing her tablet against her chest. “What do you mean no issue? I was sent here because I was informed that you needed a trainer, is that not the case?”

  Mac smiled. “I do need one, it’s just that I don’t need as much training as I made it sound. I made them up.”

  Lin voice pitched higher “What do you mean you made it up?”

  “Well, just that I made it all up.” Mac watched for some sort of clue as to her feelings, but she hid them quite well.

  “And why in the hell would you make something like that up?”

  “To get you here.” Mac leaned back; the halfcocked grin extended to the dimple on his right cheek.

  “Me? What if Max had assigned Jake to train you? And why me?”

  “Guess I woulda crossed that bridge if I needed to. But you’re here so it all worked out.”

  “I don’t understand.” Lin replied.

  Mac stood up, took a deep breath “Well. Lin..I vowed that if I survived, I would make things right. Right with everyone.”

  “I don’t understand. Make what right?” Lin replied.

  “Make things right with you. I know I hurt ya back in high school, but it needed to be done.” Mac walked closer to Lindsey.

  “Needed to be done?” Lin could feel the anger well up from the pit of her stomach and she could feel her heart thump in her fingertips “WHAT DO YOU MEAN NEEDED TO BE DONE? MAC MACLOUD YOU BROKE MY HEART.” Lin jumped towards him and for a moment Mac thought she might jump over the bench that was standing between them and strangle him but before he could explain Lin tossed her tablet towards his head and ran out the door grabbing her bag as she flung open the door cursing “YOU GOTO HELL MAC MACLOUD, YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

  Mac watched as Lindsey flung open her car door and slammed it shut, pulling her car out of the parking lot. Standing just inside the door of the gym, his shirt still flung over his shoulder and his pants half unzipped well ya fucked that up Mac echoed through his mind but that was when he finally heard Max in the office. Most of the words were muffled but it was Max whose words finally broke through Mac’s thoughts “What got Lin’s feathers all ruffled? What’d ya say to piss her off? From the sound of it lying to get her here and oh ya breaking her heart. That is gonna require a little explanation from you to me. Ya, lied to me too brother” Max rounded the corner from the office.

  “Ya, pretty much that.” Mac grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head.

  “So, what’s your plan? Want me to call her momma see if she can't talk to her?”

  Mac shook his head then walked back inside, Max following closely behind him. “Naw, this is my mess to clean up, she has a right to me upset. I understand that. I probably could’ve chosen a better way of wording what I was trying to tell her.

  “Okay, now I'm curious. What did you say?” Max sat down on the couch draping his arm over the back “tell ole’ Max”

  “Well, I was trying to tell her about why I broke up with her in high school.”

  “Okay and she got that pissed off? Still? Wow she can hold one hell of a grudge.” Max Replied grabbing a fist full of almonds from the dish on the table next to him.

  “No, that wasn’t exactly how I said it.” Mac sat down at his desk, thumping through papers.

  “Oooooookay…… So how did you say it?”

  Mac paused for a moment gathering his thoughts.

  “Out with-it man!”

  “Well…… I said, “I did what needed to be done!”

  “You said what?” Max’s mouth dropped.

  “I said… “I said I know back in high school I hurt you, but it needed to be done.”

  Max Leaned forward, shallowed then replied “Dude…. Dude you didn't just fuck up, you royally fucked up. You gotta fix this or you will never get her back.”

  “Yeah! Ya ’think? I just don't know how I'm gonna fix it?”

  “Well, Ya better do something and do it quick because if you don't it won't just be you losing the love of your life, it will be all of us losing our top trainer and right now Mac we need her as a trainer or this entire Gym will fall into the pits.” Max grabbed a handful of almonds and shoved them into his pocket as he stood up and headed towards the door. “I'm gonna go and make sure we are getting the gym closed up before I let the guys off for the rest of the day. while you go figure out how your gonna fix this mess. If ya need me let me know but this is something you are gonna have to fix yourself. I don't even her momma can talk to her on this one. Dude, you really gotta learn how to communicate with women!” Max replied as he closed the door behind him.

  ***

  Lindsey sped through the backroads of her hometown trying to calm herself as the tears flowed that son of a bitch, she kept repeating to herself. The more she repeated it the more pissed she became and the more she cried. Lindsey knew these roads like the back of her hand, she and Mac would cruise through them at break neck speed almost every night. She loved the way it made her feel when she stuck her head out the window of Mac’s truck and the wind flew through her hair. It was specially why she had purchased a convertible. It was as if she had never left this Podunk town every curve, every hill was exactly where it was when she left, as she rounded the curb the kids all called suicide bend she felt her back tires start to skid and slide on the loose gravel on the side of the road. Her heart stood still, and time seemed to stop as she jerked the wheel the opposite way and the convertible fought her jerking the other way as everything went dark.

  ***

  Lindsey began to stir, her entire body ached, and she could feel the rain as it fell against her body. Slowly she opened her eyes, it was pitch black and the realization that she had wrecked her car finally hit her as well as the pain that pierced her chest. She couldn’t see anything around her but trees and the headlights from her car that barely lit the area. Grabbing for her seatbelt, she attempted to free herself, but she was stuck. Cell phone, where’s my damned cellphone

  The rain began to pour down from the drizzle that had awoke her, she searched for her cell then she realized she had lef
t it back at her office. Damn it! The one time I really need that piece of junk and I leave it. This is Mac MacLoud’s fault if he had just left me alone I wouldn’t be sitting in this… Lindsey looked around again trying to get her bearing, the blaring of the horn was now starting to get on her last nerve, her head pounded and she was wedged between the steering wheel and the air bag. Well this explains the chest and head pain. As she tried to pierce the airbag with her ring but all she really accomplished was to bounce her fists on the bag. Stuck, I am stuck, and this is all Mac MacLouds fault if I get out of this, I swear I am going to kick his ass. Lindsey screamed at the top of her lungs but all that responded were the echoes of her own voice. All she could do was hope and pray someone would come along and save her.

  ***

  Mac shuffled the papers on Lindsey’s desk at least a hundred times after Max had left, even dozed off in her chair finally deciding to go to bed, he got up and headed to the door. Not worrying about locking up since Max had already taken care of that letting him wait there in case Lindsey came back. Locking her office door he passed the bench that Lindsey had been sitting on when she had thrown the tablet at his head. Running his hand over the top he thought of her and how adorable she still looked when she was angry. He stood there his knee on the bench when he had noticed leaning against the leg of the bench was Lindsey’s cellphone.

  Grabbing it, the screen lit up twenty-six missed calls and thirty-two texts, Mac couldn’t stop himself from looking as each text became more and more urgent.

  3:50 p.m. Mom: Hey Lin call me when you are out of your meeting.

  5:58 p.m. Mom: Call me. I wanna find out what your plans are for dinner.

  7:46 p.m. Mom: Lin. You out of the training meeting yet? Call me.

  9:58 p.m. Mom: Lindsey Stewart, where are you? Call your mother!

  11:59 p.m. Mom: Lin this isn’t like you. You aren’t answering your phone and I am starting to worry. Call me ASAP.