“Yeah, but I miss you,” I said.
“I miss you too. I’ll be happy when we can put the fight behind us,” she said.
“Me too. I’m pretty sure this’ll be my last fight,” I confessed.
“Really?” she asked, surprised.
“Yeah, I don’t have the same passion as I did growing up,” I admitted.
“Is that a good thing before a fight?” she asked skeptically.
“Don’t worry. I’m ready. I’m locked in,” I assured.
Coach looked at me. We were sharing a room. He’d just heard my announcement. I had some explaining to do.
“Okay,” Claire replied.
“Have a good night. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said.
“See you tomorrow.”
We ended the call, and Coach had his right eyebrow arched.
“Explain,” he deadpanned.
“I told you I wasn’t going to make this into a full-time career,” I said.
“That’s a mistake, Asher. This fight is big. If you win it could mean great things for you,” he continued.
“It isn’t the life I want,” I said simply.
“You’re in love,” he said dryly, like those words were sour.
“I’m in love,” I said unable to hide my grin.
Coach laughed.
I laughed, and then we switched to small talk about the fight tomorrow like nothing had changed.
CHAPTER 33
Claire
The hallway outside the locker room smelled like sweat, disinfectant, and the sharp edge of nerves. Soleil squeezed my arm as we walked with Eric, Becket, and Phoenix toward the door where the fighters were getting ready.
“How are you holding up?” she whispered.
“I’m fine,” I said but the words weren’t convincing to my own ears.
The closer we got to the locker room, the louder my heart pounded. Asher was about to step into a cage with a man whose job it was to hurt him. How could I be fine? Phoenix knocked once and pushed the door open. Asher was sitting on a bench inside, already wrapped for the fight. His coach was talking quietly with him, but the moment we walked in, his eyes lifted and landed on me immediately. Something warm spread through my chest.
He stood. “You all made it.”
Eric clapped him on the shoulder. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
Becket studied him carefully. “You ready to do this?”
“As I’ll ever be,” Asher replied easily.