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Chapter 36 - Hiding Something

Danny lay still on the left side of the ring, eyes closed, his body limp against the canvas.

Claire hurried toward Mike. “Mike—”

He didn't look back.

He ducked through the ropes, dropped to the gym floor, and walked toward the heavy bags without slowing down.

A few other boxers climbed into the ring.

Two of them crouched beside Sam and carefully slipped their arms under his shoulders. They lifted him to his feet, keeping him steady as he leaned heavily against them. Across the ring, two others did the same with Danny.

The gym stayed unusually quiet as they carried both men toward the medical room at the back.

Claire stayed close to Sam. Her hand rested on his arm as she walked beside him, her eyes fixed on his bloodied face.

Mike watched them disappear through the doorway.

Then he turned away.

He walked to his usual heavy bag and dropped his gear beside it. He picked up one glove and started pulling it onto his hand, tightening the strap with his teeth.

Mike felt a light tap on his shoulder.

He turned.

A female boxer stood behind him, still wearing her gloves.

“Mia asked me to call you outside,” she said. “She’s waiting.”

Mike stopped with the glove halfway on.

“Outside?” he asked. “Why? I can meet her here.”

The boxer shrugged. “Coach gave her the day off. She’s outside waiting for you.”

Mike looked at her for a moment.

Mia's big match was getting closer every day. She had spent the last few weeks buried in training and barely had time for anything else.

A day off was rare.

And the fact that she was waiting outside for him made the whole thing feel a little strange.

“When did she get here?”

“Not long ago.”

Mike pulled the glove back off and dropped it into his bag. He hadn't spent any real time with Mia lately. Maybe this was her way of fixing that.

He zipped his bag shut, slung it over one shoulder, and headed for the exit.

Outside, the late afternoon light hit the sidewalk. Mia stood a short distance from the gym doors.

She wore a dark crop top that ended just above her belly button and tight black leggings that caught the light every time she shifted her weight. When she turned a little, the edge of her sports bra showed under the bottom of the top.

Mike raised a hand and waved.

Mia didn't wave back.

She stood a few feet from the gym entrance, staring at the ground. Her shoulders were tight, and her hands were clasped together in front of her. Something about the way she stood made Mike slow down.

She looked nervous.

Worried, even.

Mike walked closer and gently rested a hand on her shoulder.

Mia flinched.

She spun around, eyes wide. For a moment, she looked almost frightened. Then she recognized Mike, and some of the tension left her face.

“Mike...”

He frowned.

“What's wrong? You looked pretty lost there.” Mike said.

Mia's expression shifted. For a moment, Mike thought she was finally going to tell him what was wrong, but instead she took a breath, forced a small smile, and stepped closer to his left side. She slipped both hands around his arm and held on.

“Let's go on a date,” she said.

Her voice sounded bright and casual, but something about it felt forced. Even her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

Mike looked down at her. “A date? Mia, what's going on? You called me outside instead of talking to me in the gym, and you've been acting strange since I came out. Are you all right?”

“I'm fine. Really.” She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and looked away for a moment. “I've just been training nonstop lately, and with the match getting closer, I haven't had much time for anything else. I realized I can't remember the last time we actually went somewhere together without talking about training.”

Mike studied her face. “Then why didn't you just tell me you wanted to spend some time together?”

“I don't know.” Mia gave a quiet laugh, but it sounded nervous. “I guess I wanted to surprise you. And if I told you inside, you'd probably say you were busy or start asking me a hundred questions.”

“I would not.”

“You absolutely would.”

Mike almost smiled.

Mia tugged gently on his arm and started walking toward the parking lot. “Come on. It's been forever since we've had a normal day together. No gym, no coach, no training, no people asking about my match. Just you and me for a few hours.”

Mike let her pull him along, but he glanced at her again. She was smiling now, yet her hands were still wrapped tightly around his arm.

Something was bothering her. He could feel it.

But whatever it was, Mia clearly wasn't ready to talk about it.

“Fine,” he said. “Where are we going?”

Her smile finally became more genuine. “That's a surprise. Just trust me.”

Mike shook his head as he followed her toward the parking lot. “That sounds like exactly the kind of thing I shouldn't trust.”

Mia laughed, and for the first time since he'd walked outside, the tension in her face eased.

Mike studied her face for another moment. Her smile stayed in place, even if it still looked a little stiff.

He could tell she was hiding something, but he decided not to push her. He nodded and let his expression soften.

“All right. Let's go?”

Mia started walking, still holding his arm. Her grip remained firm, almost as if she didn't want to let go.

Every few steps, she glanced toward the side of the street.

Mike noticed.

She wasn't looking at anything in particular. She seemed to be checking the people passing by, the parked cars, even the corners of the street.

Whenever she caught him looking, she quickly put her smile back on.

Mike said nothing.

Something had changed in her.

The cheerful expression she was trying to hold never quite settled. Beneath it was something tighter, something he couldn't put his finger on.

It looked almost like an old fear had returned.

And whatever had brought it back, Mia wasn't ready to tell him yet.

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