Page 92 of Pulse
“Last night.”
“At that fighting racket? Really?”
“I was weirded out by it, but the guy’s legit. Checked him out and it’s all aboveboard.”
“What are you going to do? You said yes, right?”
Once upon a time, my little sister had been there for just about everything. She’d come to bouts, visit me at Beat and make sure I was following my nutritional plan. I guess she didn’t have any idea what she wanted to do with herself, so making sure I was on the right path was important to her. I didn’t know who was more devastated that I wasn’t fighting pro. Old habits must die hard.
“I said I’d think about it.”
“You don’t sound thrilled.”
“It’s not an easy choice,” I said, watching the parrots flying through the gum trees overhead. Green and blue flashes paired with a whole lotta screeching.
“Did you want to fight pro back then?” Violet asked.
It was a simple bloody question, but suddenly I didn’t know the answer to it. So much had happened, so much shit, and that life was something that was no longer in my grasp. I guess I sort of forgot about it, but now things had changed.
“But Ren gave it up. We could’ve-”
“Forget about Ren for a moment,” she argued.
“I can’t forget her Violet. Ren’s everything.”
“I was gunna say, forget her and think about yourself, but somehow I reckon you’ve already got your answer.”
“I promised I wouldn’t keep things from her…”
Violet sighed and I felt bad about dumping yet another pile of crap on her. “Tell her, Ash. If she’s everything to you, then tell her.”
“If we’re talking about our futures, then you should be a shrink,” I declared.
“Oh, ha ha.”
“How is everything going with that?”
“Good. Better. I’m trying.”
“Good.”
“Have… How’s everything with…” She hesitated and I could sense the uncertainty in her voice. There was a hint of fear in there too and I curled my free hand into a tight fist.
“So far it’s just been words,” I said, trying to keep my anger in check. “But we’ll get him Violet. I promise.”
There was silence on the other end and it went on for so long, I thought she’d hung up.
“Good,” she whispered. “Good…”
