On the Ropes (Down for the Count) (13 page)

I simply incline my head.

“Maybe we should try to set him up.”

I shake my head at that.

“Why not? Maybe if we get him laid, he’ll ease up on us. God only knows the last time he’s gotten a piece of ass. It was probably back in the eighties, when he was sporting that mullet and the Gold’s Gym tank top.”

I crack a smile at his comment. I know he’s referring to a picture that Frankie has hanging in his office from the late eighties. It’s of him, Don King, and a very young Mike Tyson. Frankie was wearing a pair of acid-washed jeans, a Gold’s Gym tank top, high top sneakers, and his mullet that was straight out of a music video. Both Tyson and Frankie were flexing their muscles, while Don King was standing in-between them giving his cheesy smile.

“I’m not sure any woman would put up with Frankie,” I turn back to look at Jimmy.

“Ain’t that the truth?”

“Saint, Jimmy, Frankie, let me introduce you to Laura Simpson,” Blaine offers.

“Holy shit, you’re Laura Simpson,” Jimmy blurts out, like she doesn’t know her own name.

Laura smiles at him like he’s a confused little kid. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Blaine has been talking about you guys all morning.”

“Really?” he inquires anxiously.

“Jimmy, cut the shit,” Frankie growls under his breath.

“I’d love to do a brief interview with you, if you don’t mind.”

“You mean, we’re gonna be on the news?” His face lights up and he can’t contain his excitement.

“Yes,” Laura chuckles.

“Uh… yeah!” he’s dumbfounded. “Steph, my girlfriend, is gonna flip out! She watches you on the Eleven O’clock News every night.”

Laura seems a little taken aback by Jimmy’s behavior, which confounds us, as well. “Well thank you. It’s always nice to hear from the fans,” she smiles kindly at him.

“Laura also mentioned that she’d like to get some footage of your fight,” Blaine chimes in.

“Absolutely!” Jimmy jumps on it.

“Saint, how about you? Is that okay?” Laura asks.

“Yeah, I’m down for whatever.”

“Great! Let me just give my cameraman, Chuck, a heads up. I’ll be right back.”

As soon as Laura walks away, Frankie smacks the back of Jimmy’s head.

“Ow, what was that for?” the big baby whines.

“That’s for acting like a fourteen year old!” Frankie bellows at him. “Get it together and quit being an asshole. That broad is going to put you on television, and you need to act like an adult.”

Jimmy’s now pouting and rubbing the back of his head. Frankie can be pretty hard on him, but there are times when he really does act like a child.

“Here she comes,” Frankie stands up straight, smoothing his clothes out, like he’s trying to impress her. “And pull yourself together!” he warns Jimmy again.

“Okay, we’re almost ready,” Laura says, approaching us. “I was thinking we could do the interview with you guys suited up and standing outside the ring.”

“Sounds good to me,” I consent.

“Great! Why don’t you go change into your stuff, and we’ll meet you inside the gym in five minutes.”

“Come on Jimmy, I’ll show you where the locker room is,” I motion for him to follow me.

We maneuver ourselves through the crowd. I can hear people whispering my name as we pass by, although I can’t make out what they’re saying. It doesn’t really matter to me
what
they’re saying or
why
. I’m here for one reason and one reason only… Frankie.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe we’re gonna be on TV!” Jimmy exclaims. This is probably the most excited I’ve ever seen him… ever.

“It’s the Eleven O’clock News, man. You’re acting like we’re gonna be on the Nightly News with Brian Williams,” I laugh, and look over my shoulder at him.

“Whatever, dude. It’s still the fucking news,” he reiterates. “Christ, this place is huge,” he’s looking around in awe.

Turning around, I look too. “I know…”

Out of nowhere, I feel the crash of someone’s body into mine, then I watch in slow-mo as she falls to the ground. “Oh Jesus, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” I apologize, immediately holding my hand out to help her up. That’s when I realize who she is… Salem.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?!” she snaps at me as she stands up.

“Well, well, well,” I mock, “look who it is, Jimmy. It’s doll face.”

“Ugh… you’re such a Neanderthal.”

“A Neanderthal?” Jimmy laughs.

“Yeah, you know, a cave man,” she throws at him.

“I know what a Neanderthal is,” he shoots back.

“What
were
you doing in the men’s locker room anyways? Hold on… don’t tell me… you were waiting for me?” I joke as I take a step closer to her.

“In your dreams,” she rants as she pushes her way by me.

“Doll, I could make that dream a reality,” I give her a wink, “all you gotta do is name the time and place, and I’ll be there.”

“That will never happen. Take my word on it.”

“Never say never, doll.”

“Ugh!” she screeches as she marches out of sight.

“Man, you really get under her skin, don’t you?”

“I sure do. Someday,” I grin from ear to ear, “I’ll have that hot piece of ass.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Saint. She doesn’t seem to like you very much.”

“I don’t wanna date her. I just wanna fuck her.”

Jimmy shakes his head in disapproval. “You know what you need?”

“No, I don’t. But the way this conversation is going, I have a feeling you’re gonna tell me.”

“You need a girl like Steph.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I don’t need anyone. I do just fine on my own.”

“How do you know if you’ve never tried?”

“Tried what… to love only one person? Where’s the fun in that?”

“It’s not all about having fun, Saint. It’s about giving your heart to someone, letting them in,” the guy has gone completely soft on me. If he was a cartoon, there’d be a bubble over his head with an image of Steph in it.

“Give my heart to someone, so it can get broken into a thousand pieces? Nah man, I’m good.”

“It’ll happen. Out of nowhere, she’ll walk into your life. Just wait and see,” he forewarns.

“Don’t count on it, Jimmy. Love, marriage, and family aren’t in the cards for a guy like me.”

“I don’t believe that for a second. I see how you are with the kids at the gym. You’re great with them, they love and respect you.”

“It’s my job.”

“Nah, it’s more than that.”

I roll my eyes. “Come on Casanova, let’s go give them the show they’ve been waiting for.”

“Alright, alright!” Jimmy knocks his gloves together.

We walk out and through the gym. This time around, people part the way for us and I feel a few pats on my back.

Laura and her cameraman are waiting for us at the ring. She’s giving us a warm and welcoming smile. “You guys ready for your television debut?”

“Hell yeah!” Jimmy affirms.

“Let’s do this,” I say calmly and smile back at her.

I spot Blaine and Salem in the crowd behind Laura, so I smile and wink. Blaine acknowledges my gesture, but Salem just scowls at me. She nuzzles closer into Blaine and runs her hand over his chest. Then she stretches up to kiss him on the cheek, all the while glancing over at me smugly.
Is she intentionally trying to make me jealous?

“You good with that?” I hear Laura say.

“I’m sorry, what?” I give her a puzzled look.

Giving me a strange look back, she repeats, “I’m going to ask you and Jimmy a series of questions. Once we’re done, you guys can head into the ring.”

“Okay,” I agree.

Laura squeezes herself in-between Jimmy and me.

Her cameraman begins to count down, “In five… four… three…”

Silently, his fingers motion the numbers two and then one.

“Good evening everyone, I’m here at TKO boxing gym for their grand opening celebration. Tonight, I have two very special guests with me, Mr. Gabriel ‘
The Saint
’ Vega and Mr. Jimmy ‘
The Jackhammer
’ Santoro. How are you guys doing today?”

“We’re doing very well,” Jimmy chimes in.

I stand by quietly and let him say a few words.

“So, can you tell our audience how you got into boxing?” Laura directs this question at me.

“Well…” I hesitate.

“We’re both involved with a program for ‘at risk’ youth,” Jimmy answers for me. “The program keeps kids off the streets and teaches them to box.”

“Really?” Laura sounds surprised.

“Yes. Our trainer, Frankie, is the owner and operator of both the gym and the program. He’s right over there,” he points to Frankie, who’s standing next to Blaine in the crowd.

“Wow! He must be a pretty remarkable man to train two rough and tough fighters such as yourselves.”

“I’d say so,” Jimmy smiles.

Laura turns her attention back towards me, “So Saint, how long have
you
been boxing?”

“About ten years now.”

“Wow! Ten years? That’s a long time.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been with Frankie since I was a kid.”

“I’ve been told that you’re going to be in a pretty big match next weekend. Can you tell us about it?”

“I’m fighting Gavin ‘
The Gladiator
’ Sullivan next Saturday. It’s a pretty big fight for both of us.”

“I’m also told that you’re favored to win,” Laura beams at me.

“I wouldn’t say that. Honestly, it could be anyone’s fight. Gladiator is an amazing fighter and I’m honored to be getting into the ring with him.”

“So, is this your first pro fight?” Laura asks.

“No, I’m not pro. I still fight amateur. I’m hoping to turn pro in the very near future though.”

“Well, I wish you good luck.”

“Thank you, Laura,” I reply kindly.

“So, what can we expect to see here today?” Laura re-directs to Jimmy.

“A good ole’ ass whoopin’!” he spouts.

Laura’s eyes open wide at the comment.

“Oh, shoot! I’m sorry,” he covers his mouth in embarrassment.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Frankie shaking his head in disapproval.

“It’s okay, Jimmy, we’ll edit it out,” Laura nudges his shoulder.

“Oh phew, I thought I blew the entire interview for us,” he’s laughing nervously.

Looking over at Jimmy, I advise, “I got this one.”

“Laura, what you’re gonna see today is a typical sparring session. Jimmy and I have been sparring together for years, so we pretty much know what the other one is going to do before he does it.”

“Thank you, Saint. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing you two in action.”

Laura motions to her cameraman. He acknowledges her, then begins setting his camera up on the tripod for the fight.

“Okay, it’s showtime!” Laura sings out with a huge smile.

Looking into the crowd, I catch Salem staring at me.

“You wanna be the ring girl, Salem?” I yell loud enough for her to hear.

She rolls her eyes at me and mouths, “Neanderthal.”

I throw my head back laughing as Frankie and I follow Jimmy into the ring.

“It feels strange actually using steps to get into the ring, doesn’t it Frankie?” Jimmy jokes.

He and I take separate corners, like we’ve done a million times before, and Frankie walks over to Jimmy. He speaks to him softly so I can’t hear what’s being said. I keep my eyes on Jimmy’s facial expressions, trying to figure out what Frankie’s telling him. Jimmy glares back at me, nodding his head at Frankie’s words.

I turn my head and see Blaine making his way up the steps and into the ring. He gracefully maneuvers through the ropes, then walks to the middle of the ring, where he stands smiling proudly. He scans the crowd of people filling the gym and his eyes stop tracking when they land on a hot blonde that’s standing at the very back of the gym, near the windows. I see her wave and blow him a kiss. He smiles back at her then quickly looks for Salem, who’s standing in the front row. That fucking bastard; he has a hot piece of ass like Salem, and he’s dipping his stick into
that
bimbo!

I catch myself scowling at Blaine as Frankie walks over. “Kid, what the hell you lookin’ at?”

“Him,” I jerk my chin in Blaine’s direction.

“What ‘bout him?”

“He’s got that sweet honey…” I stop mid-sentence, knowing what Frankie will say to my next statement.

“I told you to forget about her,” he barks.

“Nothing is gonna happen between us. She thinks I’m a Neanderthal.”

“That’s not far from the truth,” Frankie kids. “Alright! Enough of this shit. You and Jimmy gotta put on a good fight. I don’t want you to hold back on him. He’s gonna be gunning for you, so keep on him.”

“You got it,” I mumble as Frankie puts my mouth guard in.

Frankie joins Blaine in the middle of the ring. He shakes his hand, says a few words to him, and then leaves.

I hear Blaine clear his throat. “Can I have your attention please?” he says loudly, getting the attention of the crowd. I hear some people shushing those that are still talking. “First and foremost, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for joining us today. I’m blown away by the great response. My staff and I are looking forward to working with all of you in the very near future,” he pauses for a moment. “I would also like to thank Channel Five’s, Laura Simpson, and her crew, for coming and spotlighting our event.”

Laura bows her head, “Thank you for inviting us.”

“I’d also like to thank the two great fighters that are standing in the ring with me right now. Gentlemen, would you please join me?” he motions for us to stand next to him. “I’m proud to introduce Jimmy ‘
The Jackhammer
’ Santoro,” he proclaims, as he takes Jimmy’s arm and raises it in the air. The crowd cheers for Jimmy.

“Jackhammer!” someone in the crowd yells.

Jimmy starts dancing around the ring, shadow boxing. “You’re going down, Saint,” he roars right in my face.

He’s playing his part well, but I know he’s only egging me on for the crowd.

“Keep dreamin’,” I growl and give him a shove. He stumbles backwards a few paces, recovers, then charges at me.

“Whoa… whoa! Gentlemen, save it for your fight,” Blaine laughs, getting in-between the two of us and pushing us apart with a hand on each of our chests. “Jimmy, why don’t you go back to your corner?”