"I just dropped the little one off at the nursery." Amanda sat in her parked car, speaking into the receiver of her phone. She had a round face, brunette hair with dull blonde streaks. "Gonna try and get a workout in."
"Okay, hun," the voice said. "I'll be home later. We're tweaking some things in my defense."
Amanda didn't respond. She just held the phone to her ear, staring off into the empty parking lot.
"Hello?"
"I'm here," Amanda sighed.
"What happened to my number one supporter, huh?"
"Jim, I still support you," Amanda said. "But, you have to realize when it's over. You're out of your prime. Your injuries are mounting up. You—"
"I know. And, that's why this is my last one. One final paycheck."
Amanda folded her arms, lowered her vacant gaze to the dashboard.
"Honey..."
"Yes?"
"I know you're still shook up about what happened in the first bou—"
"Shook up? Of course I'm scared." Amanda perked up in her seat. "I watched you get knocked unconscious. This guy is younger, faster—"
"They're yelling at me, sweetheart. Gotta run," Jim said. "We'll talk about it later. Okay?"
"Fine..." Amanda hung up the phone, sat for a moment in a thoughtful silence. Her eyes drifted up to the billboard splayed atop the business: Wilson's Boxing Academy. Home of the Heavyweight Champion of the World, 'Nasty' Nate Nelson.
***
'Nasty' Nate took center ring, dancing in the dark. The only light came through the acrylic doors. He stayed swift on his toes, shadowboxing. He was trim, fit. Unlike most heavyweights, he had the muscle definition of a lightweight. He jabbed, followed with a right cross. He circled out from against the ropes, ducked, and came back up with a leaping left hook. He could see the fight unfold in his mind.
The front door squeaked open. A familiar face walked in. She wore a tank top, leggings, which exposed her apple frame. Her wide hips swung from side to side with her strut.
Nate stopped, smiled. "You lost... Amanda, is it?"
Amanda stepped to the corner of the ring, looking up through the ropes. "I need to talk to you."
"Apparently. What brings 'Gentleman' Jim's wife here?"
"Ummm..." Amanda's train of thought slid, distracted by Nate's shredded abs. She shook the lewd images from her mind. "It's about this rematch."
"Still having nightmares of the last fight, I see?"
"Fuck you!"
Nate reenacted the scene in the empty ring. He bobbed, weaved, near the ropes. He put two jabs out there, feinted, ducked, and came over top with a straight right. He jumped back with his hands in the air, celebrating the victory. "That was a nasty knockout. Him hanging in the ropes like that, wiggling like a fish out of water. Must've been—"
"You don't have to be a fuckin' dick."
"Me?" Nate appeared taken aback. "After all that shit you talked in the pre-fight build up, like fuckin'—what's that dad's name? His son is in the NBA—Lavar Ball. Talking all that shit for your husband like Lavar Ball, Conor McGr—"
"I believe in my husband. What's wrong with believing in someone?"
"Nothing. But, you went out of your way to discredit me," Nate shot back. "'Young and inexperienced, won't last four rounds, got no heart, spends more time with hookers than training.' Yeah. I heard all that shit."
Amanda didn't reply.
"Your words have more bite than your husband's punches." Nate leaned in on the ropes, looking down at her. "Maybe I should've fought you instead."
"Seems like I touched a nerve."
"You might have. But it didn't work." Nate wiped his face with the towel. "What are you here for?"
"I wanted to work out a deal."
"Well, step into my office." Nate exited the ring. He escorted her through the back, into the locker room. "I'm listening."
"Well, you see," Amanda hung her head, "Jim is not in his prime anymore. That's the only reason you beat him."
"Not a good start if you're trying to make a deal." Nate opened his steel locker, removed a towel. "I hurt him. You know I hurt him bad. Your ole man is lucky to get a young dime like yourself. But, he ain't lucky enough to beat me."
"I know," Amanda said in a defeated whisper.
"What's that?" Nate leaned his ear closer. "I didn't quite catch it."
Amanda raised her head, her glare sharpening on the cocky champion. Through clenched teeth, she growled, "I know!"
"So, what are you suggesting?" Nate kicked one foot on the bench, untied his boxing shoe. "I'm not losing."
"No. No. Just, ya know, take it easy on him."
Without any shame, Nate pulled down his gym shorts. His thick, limp cock hung down his leg. "You're saying I should carry him to a decision?"
Amanda blushed, turned away. "Ummm..."
"And, what do I get in return?" Nate headed to the showers.
"A, uh, clear conscious." Amanda followed him. She had her hands over her eyes like a visor. Yet, she couldn't help but to look under, sneaking a peek at his muscular backside. "You can sleep easy at night knowing you didn't severely cripple a man."
"Yeah..." Nate sarcastically pondered; hand on chin and eyes to the ceiling. "Uhh! No."
Amanda lowered her brow, pursed her lips together. "I can pay you."
"I'm getting paid for the fight." Nate turned the shower head on. It didn't take long for the hot water to steam. "And I doubt you can come close to that number."
Amanda fumed. She looked away with a scowl, tapped her foot angrily.
"Sorry. No deal." Nate squeezed the Old Spice body wash into his palm, cleaned himself of the day's worth of workouts.
"What is it you wan—" Amanda stopped herself. She gawked at his Greek God physique, covered in soapy suds. "I'll give you whatever."
Nate spun around on the slippery tiles. The soap ran down his face, so he peeked through one eye. "Whatever?"
Amanda turned her gaze to the floor, nodded.
"Well, looks like my workout is not done after all." Nate turned the shower off, steam rose from his shoulders. He dried himself with a towel, tied it around his waist. "When I said, 'Jim was lucky to get you' it was intended more as a compliment to you than a dig at him."
Amanda rolled her eyes. "What is it you want?"
"I want you." Nate's fingers grazed over her wide hips. "You're thick in all the places I like."
Amanda sneered. She held up her wedding ring.
"No, no. I just want you for a day." Nate waved for her to follow him. He walked back out of the locker room, into the main gym. He climbed the steel steps of the ring. He sat on the middle rope and pushed the top one up, making an entrance for her. "Come join me."
Amanda sighed. She set her purse down, followed him up the steps, and ducked into the ring.
Nate trailed her to the center, circled her like a vulture. "It'll be good for you. I'll help you relieve all that built-up pressure."
"Pressure?"
"I'm no doctor," Nate said, "but if I had to guess—"
"Nobody's asking you."
"I'd say it was," Nate continued right along, "years of bad sex."
"My sex life is—" Amanda hesitated. "It's not bad."
Nate stopped in front of her. He undid her loose bun. Her hair fell upon her shoulders. He grazed his fingers along her jaw, tucked the loose strands behind her ear. "Why else would you be so angry all the time?"