Fighting Chance

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Chad sat in the locker room, doing his deep breathing to calm his mind before his fight tonight. This was only his second fight with Rich as his coach, but he felt better prepared than he ever had been before.

He’d already warmed up with Rich before, and now he was trying to harness all his energy for the fight. His muscles were warmed and ready, and his mind was getting there too.

A trainer sat across from him, wrapping his hands before he put his gloves on. The tape would provide a little more protection beneath the gloves for his knuckles, which were going to take a beating, or rather give one, if he remained focused.

Once his hands were taped, he was ready to walk out whenever they called him, but he still had a good half hour. Rich had taught him that being prepared early helped you stay focused, and so far, he agreed with the man.

He’d met Rich in the gym, and after only an hour with him, Chad had begged Rich to train him. Rich was older, and he was a boxer, not a mixed martial arts fighter, but the control Chad was learning from him was more valuable than anything other coaches had taught him.

Fighting had been the one thing he’d been doing his whole life with little success. He had always gotten good grades, but he couldn’t take on the largest guy after school and win. He’d never dreamed of even making it this far, and if he did well here, he knew he had a shot at taking it to the real-deal fights, like UFC.

One day, he might make it that far. It had been his dream for longer than he could remember. It would also really stick it to all those people that said fighting wouldn’t get him anywhere.

Growing up as a nerd, he was always bullied, and fighting had been something he wanted to learn. As an adult, his image had changed, thanks to the people he’d paid to help him with that transition, but this, fighting and winning, was the last thing that he needed to complete his image change.

He’d gotten tattoos, too, much to the concern of the image consultant, but they didn’t show when he was wearing a suit and tie. He’d gotten those tattoos for himself as he’d bulked up from the training, needing to see himself differently in and out of clothes.

The image, the tattoos, the fighting, it all reflected his transition from the nerdy kid he’d been to the respected adult that women wanted and men wanted to be. No one would see the tattoos, except the women, but he knew they were there and how intimidating having them made him feel and look underneath his suit.

“How are you feeling?” Rich asked as he entered the locker room.

“I’m feeling good about this one,” Chad told him, holding his taped hands out for inspection.

“Good, good.” Rich checked over his tape and helped him slide his gloves on.

“Dad?” a woman’s voice said from the locker room door.

“We’re decent. You can come in,” Rich answered.

A blonde woman walked in, wearing jeans and a plain T-shirt, her smile nearly knocking him out of his seat. She was beautiful, and now he was distracted. s**t.

“I just wanted to let you know I was here and wish you luck.” She kissed Rich on the cheek.

“Chad, this is my daughter, Kendall. Kendall, meet Chad.”

“So, you’re the guy that got my dad to come out of retirement when he is supposed to be relaxing?” Her hands came to her hips, and he felt like a kid in school being scolded by the teacher.

“Calm it down. He needs a clear head. You can yell at him later,” Rich told her.

Visions of her angry and yelling at him danced across his mind. Then came visions of making up after she was done being mad.

He shook his head. This was exactly what he didn’t need. Not to mention that, as she was Rich’s daughter, there was no one more off-limits.

Now wasn’t the time in his life for the complications that women brought. He knew better. He had a few women he could call for a good night, and he needed nothing beyond that—or so he told himself.

“Fine.” She sent him a glare before turning her attention back on Rich. “There’s a lot of people out there for something that isn’t that well known.” She arched a brow at Rich.

“Glad to see we have a good turnout. You going to be able to get a seat?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure I can squeeze in somewhere.”

“Well, you best get off and do that before there’s nowhere left for you,” Rich told her.

Kendall’s jaw fell for just a second before she recovered. “Did you just dismiss me?” She pressed a hand to her chest in shock, her smile showing it was all a joke.

Rich shrugged. “Gotta get Chad ready for the fight.”

“Fine. Guess I’ll go make sure I can find a seat now.”

“Sit up higher so you can see the whole fight,” Rich advised as he hugged her.

“You act like I’m new at this,” she laughed as she turned toward the door. “Good luck, Chad,” she added to him before she left.

“I didn’t know you had a daughter, Rich,” Chad pointed out.

“I don’t mix family with fighting often.”

Which made Chad wonder why he was doing that now. Rich was a private man, always had been. Even at his peak as a boxer, he’d frustrated reports by remaining largely quiet on anything personal.

“Back to the breathing,” Rich reminded him.

“Right.” Chad sat up tall and tried to focus.

He pushed everything from his mind, including the fight, and focused on his breaths. Meditation wasn’t something he ever would have bought into, but Rich had convinced him. The best part was it had worked.

Setting his mind free of all his worries right before any fight, even a practice one, had helped him immensely. He went into fights focused, ready, and won more often than not.

His punches had improved, as had his accuracy since starting with Rich. Next week he had a training session with someone Rich knew to work on his takedowns, something that Rich wasn’t able to help him with.

Chad knew he’d come a long way in just a few months. He listened to everything Rich told him, which was different than he’d done with any other coach,

“Focus,” Rich reminded him, knowing his thoughts were wandering.

He pushed the thoughts away for later and went back to focusing on his breath. In through the nose and out through the mouth.

Someone knocked on the door and said, “They’re ready for you.”

“Tell them we’re coming,” Rich called back before looking at Chad. “Remember, tonight isn’t about winning; it’s about your skill level. Get out there and focus on what you’re doing.”

It was the same advice he’d given before the last fight. Chad nodded. He was still working on that focus, but damned if he wasn’t trying.

Chad stood up and let Rich lead him out of the locker room and down the hall to the octagon. Kendall hadn’t been exaggerating. The place was packed—more so than he’d ever seen it.

“Don’t look at anyone. Just keep your mind on your breathing and your goal,” Rich reminded him.

He was grateful for the reminder because he found he wanted to look for Kendall but kept his gaze neutral instead. He didn’t make eye contact with anyone as he entered the ring and waved his arms to pump up the crowd.

The crowd played into his request and got louder from every angle. His opponent was already in the octagon, which meant the fight was soon to start.

The cage was closed, leaving just him, the other man he’d be fighting, and the ref inside. He took stock of his opponent. The man was from out of town, and although Chad had watched a few recordings of his fights, it was different seeing a man in person.

His opponent seemed evenly matched in size. Chad’s fighting skills were better, based on what he’d seen in the videos, though. He hoped they were. Three rounds were exhausting for both fighters, but if one had the upper hand from the start, it used considerably less energy.

“Men, touch gloves and wait for my signal.”

Chad moved forward, his glove quickly making contact with the other fighter’s before he backed away. The referee stood between them with his arm up.

His arm came down, cutting the tension between them like a knife. “Fight!”