Page 11 of Free to Fall

The mitts cracked louder when my focus was right. Dennis held them steady, dancing back on his toes while I stepped forward, rotating through my combo like I had something to prove. And I did; to everybody, to myself, to the people betting against me. To the ones like Nate, trying to knock me off my game for a payday.

Reg stood in the corner, arms crossed, watching every move like a hawk. I felt his stare, even when I wasn’t lookin’. I was sharp today. Fast, focused. I was back.

“A’ight, break,” Reg called out after another round. “Grab water.”

I nodded to Dennis and stepped out the ring, towel draped around my neck, sweat pouring down the sides of my face. I’d just reached for my water when I heard the gym door creak open, and someone shout my name.

“Nasseem!” I turned and spotted him right away, tall, silver-bearded, dressed in tailored slacks and a linen button-down even in the heat. Lenox Bradshaw. The OG. The one who changed everything for me.

I grinned and walked over, dapped him up. “Wasn’t expectin’ to see you out here in the trenches, Mr. B.”

“You know I don’t like to give no heads up,” he smirked. “Gotta catch you in the act. Make sure you ain't slippin’.”

I chuckled. “You got jokes now.”

He looked around the gym, nodding slowly. “Reg told me you been off.”

I rolled my eyes. “Man…”

“I ain’t here to press you,” he said, holding up his hands. “But I told Reg I’d stop by and see for myself.”

“I’m good.”

He tilted his head. “Then why you movin’ like somethin’ got you twisted?”

I grabbed my towel, wiped my face. “It’s nothin’. Just... life.”

Lenox chuckled, low and knowing. “Mhm. That “nothin’’’ sound a whole lot like a woman.” I didn’t respond. He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “You know how many times I walked into that ring distracted by Sienna?” His face softened. “Back when we first started messin’ around, I was convinced I couldn’t have both—her and my focus. I already lost my first love. You know Sevyn’s mama died when he was just a baby. I was broken. Told myself I ain’t have the capacity to love nobody else. Then Sienna came through like a storm. Turned my world inside out.”

I nodded, silently absorbing every word.

“I thought she’d slow me down,” he continued, smiling. “Instead, she became my anchor. Took care of me. Raised Sevyn like he was hers. Helped me rebuild. But I had to learn how to separate the two worlds. Boxing needed all of me. But love? That needed the best of me.” He tapped my chest. “You just gotta decide which one you givin’ your heart to—and why.”

I looked away for a moment. That shit hit deeper than I expected. “Appreciate you pullin’ up,” I muttered.

Lenox nodded, gave me a fatherly pat on the back. “Finish strong. I wanna see your hand raised against Khalil. You got this, Nasseem.”

After he left, I got back in the ring with Dennis and let my fists talk for me. Each hit was sharper, stronger, and cleaner. I was locked in now. This belt? It was mine.

Later that night,after I had showered and fed myself; Nate showed up again, unannounced. This time, he was very clearly tight. I opened the door to find him already pacing, hoodie on, jaw tight, like he came with smoke.

“Damn, you just gon’ keep poppin’ up?” I said, stepping aside so he could come in.

“Closed mouths don’t get fed,” he snapped, brushing past me. “I need that bread, Nas.”

I shut the door and leaned against it. “Why, Nate? What’s really goin’ on?”

He turned to face me, eyes darting. “I told you, I need to live.”

I folded my arms. “Bullshit. You don’t need money to live. You need it fast. That sound like pressure and pressure always means trouble.”

“I said I’m good,” he barked. “Don’t worry about what the fuck I got going on. All you need to know or care about is the fact that I need this money.”

“Too late,” I muttered. “You draggin’ me into it, so now I’m worried.”

He stepped closer. “Then help me.”

“I am tryna help you. But I ain’t throwin’ my fight, Nate.”

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