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Max gets up from behind his desk and walks over to the door, closing it.
Shit.
“Easy,” he says in a reassuring tone. “It’s ok.”
I nod, although I’m anything but reassured. Fear floods my veins as I consider what this could all mean. If I’m about to lose everything right now, and my world is going to come crashing down around me. If I’m no longer good enough to be in this gym.
“I just want to see how everything is going.” Max sits on the edge of his desk, placing his hands on either side of him. “You’re looking good, and making great progress.”
My eyes lift to meet his, which are soft as he watches me, and I give him a tight nod.
“But…” he says gently.
“I know.” I nod, shifting in my seat and dropping my gaze to my lap. “I’m behind. But I’m going to fix it. I’ll be good to go.”
He’s silent for a moment, and I don’t look up.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on you, but…” he pushes off the desk and sits in the chair across from me, “I think you may have to consider withdrawing from Dallas if you don’t think you’ll be ready in time. By one week out, we’ll have to assess–”
“Fuck that,” I snap, lifting my eyes to glare at him as a swell of anger rolls through me.
Max doesn’t react at all to my outburst as he just nods calmly. “I know it’s hard to hear. But Ty,” he says with a shake of his head, “it would be completely irresponsible, of both of us, for you to go out there if you’re not one hundred percent ready–”
“I will be.” I stare back at him. “I still have three weeks.”
He nods again. “Yeah. And I hope more than anything you’ll be ready. But,” he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and giving me a firm look, “I will be making this call.”
As I continue to glare at him, the fear I’ve been working so hard to suppress is unleashed, mixing with the anger that continues to build. Because right now, I feel closer than ever to losing everything. If I don’t fight in Dallas, I don’t go to LFA.
And under the surface of it all… is disappointment. I’ve been working my ass off, and I’ve made progress.
But it’s not enough.
And I’ll be left behind…
“Understood?” Max asks, eyeing me.
I nod, dropping my gaze from his.
“Ok,” he says softly. “You’re doing excellent work, Ty. Keep it up, and we’re just going to take it one day at a time. No matter what happens with this fight, you’re still a part of this team. It’s just one opportunity, and it isn’t going to define everything for you. There will be others.”
“Yeah,” I say, grabbing my bag as I stand up. “Thanks.”
I head for the door, completely aware I’m being a dick, but also thankful that Max lets me leave without saying anything else.
With my head down, I go right to the locker room. But as I get to my locker, I drop my bag and press my forehead against it.
Fuck.
And as I turn around, my eyes land on Luca’s locker. The one with a sticker of a fucking unicorn lifting weights… and a tiger.
I walk over to it, running my fingers over the ridiculous stickers and taking in a deep breath.
I have to do this. I can’t let either of us down.
SIXTEEN
I’ve always known I give great high-fives. But now, I know they are legendary. Because as I make my way down the hall at the end of the day, the kids all run at me demanding the most epic of high-fives. And I deliver.
