Slowly, I give him a non-committal nod.
“Good, good.”
I keep my eyes level on his own. We stay locked for a moment, like two fighters measuring each other up before sparring.
“Right, well, this is your home now. Do as you please. But tomorrow we set off, remember.”
“Yeah,” I say.
“We’ll teach you how to fight old-school.”
“Got it, Glass.”
“You’re going to be the best, boy!” he says. He can barely contain his excitement again. I picture him rubbing his hands together like some cartoon villain staring at a stack of cash. “I’ve got some business to attend to.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll take you out tomorrow and we’ll get you some clothes before we set off. It’ll be a long drive.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I’m wearing everything I own.”
“You wear it better than me,” Glass says, rubbing his belly. “See you tomorrow morning.”
“Right.”
He walks off, and I stand in the gym alone for a moment, gazing around. Free weights, machines, treadmills, bikes, punching bags, supports for calisthenics, tires, medicine balls… it’s fully loaded.
It’s a God damn paradise for anyone who needs to train.
I need to train.
I turn around, leave the gym.
Find a girl, he said.
So I’m going to find Dee.
Chapter Eight
“Hey.”
I’m startled, turn around and see Duncan standing in the doorway. We meet eyes, and when he smirks at me, I can’t help but grin back.
“Dad give you the grand tour?” I ask, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in my voice.
He hooks his thumbs into his belt. “Yup.”
“Well, he likes to show off.”
“I’ve noticed.”
We look at each other for a moment, and once again my heart is sent into overdrive. I feel a shiver, and try to distract myself by offering him a cup of tea.
“No thanks. No caffeine.”
I furrow my brow. “Why?”
“Messes with my rhythm.”
“Really?”
He nods, comes into the kitchen, rubs a hand along the marble counter. “Yeah, really.”
“Why?”
“Caffeine increases your heart rate and blood pressure,” he says. “Even if just a little bit. But timing is everything in a fight. One heartbeat too late… and you’re locked up.”
“But you’re not fighting now.”
“Wouldn’t want to like it, then have to give it up.”
I consider that. He does seem like a kind of spartan person… someone with only a need for simple pleasures.
“You mean you’ve never had a cup of tea before?”
“Not since I was young.”
“No coffee?”
“Not since I started training.”
“Huh,” I say. The gulf between us seemingly has grown wider. There’s a moment of silence, and I feel awkward as hell. “Where did Dad go?”
“Said he had business to attend to.”
I roll my eyes. “Right. Business. You know what he does, right?”
Duncan sits down beside me, looks straight at me. His eyes catch me off-guard again.
“Of course I know.”
“Then you know what business means.”
“And you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you… in business?”
“With Dad?” I ask, snorting. “God, no. I’m still in school.”
“High school.”
“Yeah.”
He nods. “So it must be your last year if you’re eighteen.”
“That’s right,” I say. “I graduate in a few months, actually. What, you keeping track?”
“You told me when your birthday was.”
I suck on my bottom lip. “Thanks for the mirror. I still have it.”
“Yeah?” His smile becomes more genuinely joyous, and it brightens up his whole face.
“Yeah. How did you even get my address?”
“Took it off the back of the check Glass gave my kickboxing instructor.”
“What about the cat? Um, Sai, was it?”
“Oh, she’s still around somewhere, I’m sure.”
“Do you miss her?”
“Yeah, a little. So what happens after you graduate?”
I blink. “Well, then I go to college,” I say. “Why?”
Duncan shrugs. “I don’t know,” he starts, but doesn’t finish the sentence.
“Don’t know what?”
“Anything about your life, I guess. About what people like you do.”
I frown. “People like me?”
“People not like me.”
“You could go to college if you wanted. All you’d need to get is a GED. I mean, you wouldn’t get into a top-rated one, but it’s possible. Or there’s community colleges, vocational schools.”