Page 35 of Blinded By Forever
Junior nods his head, like he understood me while Easton just looked confused.
Easton is still young and trying to learn and keep up with how things work and what they mean while Junior is understanding and teaching what he knows to Easton.
I lead them to the mats and hand them each a pair of gloves. I drop to my knees between them.
I put the gloves on each of their hands. “Okay, so rule number one, fighting is the last resort. Not the first. You don’t start fights, you finish them.”
Junior nods his head and Easton mimics him.
The gloves on them were like twice their hand size and I know Jaclyn would want me to take a picture of them.
I stand and grab my phone. “Pose for your mom.” I hold the phone up and take a picture as they pose in front of the camera like little badasses. I chuckle to myself and send her the photo.
“What’s the next rule?” Easton asks.
I toss my phone to the side and start wrapping my hands as I say, “Rule number two is you protect two things. Your face and your pride. One with your hands and the other with your decisions.”
“What’s pride?” Easton frowns, trying to understand.
Junior answers before I can. “It’s what you feel when you do something right, even when it’s hard.”
That’s my kid.
But he’s smart just like his mother.
I stand there and demonstrate the basics to him.
Their stance, guard, and jabs.
Junior knows the basics from my training with him before.
He is quick, he has my speed and aggression. He is strong and smart.
Easton is a little clumsy but determined. He fell twice trying to throw a cross but laughed each time like it didn’t matter. As long as they are having fun I don’t care. Watching them hit the bags with their tiny hands in oversized gloves makes something in my chest twist.
They aren’t growing up like I did, thank god.
I’m doing something for the younger version of myself because he wasn’t able to have what I give these kids.
After an hour, they were winded and red faced but grinning ear to ear.
I give them both protein bars from my bag and ruffle their sweat-dampened hair.
“Are you proud of us?” Junior asks between bites.
I furrow my eyebrows at him. “Of course I am.”
Junior nods his head before eating his protein bar again.
A flicker of Jaclyn showing because I know she would ask something like that even though it’s obvious how proud I am.
They both beam like that means the world.
We get into my Porsche and drive back to Carter and Alex’s house.
I've had this car since college. I only ever drive the Porsche when I’m visiting since I keep it in the garage here.
It’s almost sunset when we pull up to the house. The porch lights are on and River is outside barefoot in her pink summer dress running around in the grass, chasing bubbles while Jaclyn sits on a blanket with Alex. Carter stands a few feet away, sipping on a glass of what I’m assuming is whiskey.
