Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2020 21:14:26 GMT -5
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
A side kick from Adrienne Levi to the pad had missed its intended target entirely. Instead, Bert McAlroy got the worst of it right on his hip. That was usually the sign that these sessions were over. Bert had been a great help these past few months. She found him a little weird but he was super passionate about what he liked. However, now once again, she had accidentally knocked down her sparring partner so she wasn’t sure he’d be a fan much longer if that kept up.
Perhaps it was just exhaustion. The cooler months had done nothing to help the situation within the warehouse that was being rented out as a private training ground. Although, Adrienne didn’t mind that too much as it as it seemed to simulate what it felt like under those hot lights overhead during the shows.
Bert let out a rather pathetic sound initially, but made an effort to shift it into a much more manlier grunt. He waved Adrienne off as she offered a helping hand, getting to his feet slowly, favoring his side with the pad and wincing.
“Nah I’m good yo. Jesus, if you kick Ken like that you’ll put him in Sinai!” He paid her a smile, despite the evident agony.
Adrienne smiled wryly. She didn’t want to go out of her way to make those sort of comments but she’d be fibbing if she didn’t admit that she didn’t enjoy the compliments every once in awhile. Bert was earnest and if one got beyond the rough edges, his knowledge of the business was pretty deep. She moved off to a corner where she retrieved a white towel and wiped the sweat off her brow. Her Silver Ann Gold t-shirt was soaked in her sweat as she wanted to really make sure she’d left everything on the table against an opponent like the world’s champion.
“I hope not. I’m not looking to hurt Ken. Just looking to make my mark.”
She was aware of Davison’s criticisms. Notably that she was lacking an edge. Adrienne, however, was aware of what he’d capable of.
“And stand my ground against someone like him. Maybe show him that I’d never have to pretend to be something I’m not to be someone.”
Bert nods, listening as he set to removing the pad from his hand and going to retrieve his own water bottle. He scratched the back of his head in a nervous tick before waving his hand dismissively.
“It’s all just bullshit, Ade. Knox always said most of a promo for most of these people is just them lying or telling half truths to try and throw the other person off their game,” he smirks, thinking fondly of the old man a moment before finishing the thought, “always said though, honesty is a lot scarier than a lie. When they fight to hurt you for touching a real nerve, they’re sloppier than they would be if you just out and out lied. Those are easy to dismiss.”
Bert pauses, and let out a small laugh.
“Sounds a lot cooler when Knox explains it, but the point is you know it’s bullshit, so don’t let it throw you off your game because that’s all it was meant to do, and if it doesn’t he’s already failed and you got him at a disadvantage.”
“I see a lot of that going on these days,” Adrienne said as she sat on the edge of the ring apron. However, she didn’t want to dwell on that. Many competitors in this sport drowned in the what ifs of an encounter like this. Adrienne had said her piece. And she was nothing like Ken wrote her off as.
“People like him don’t actually get humanity. Look at what you’ve done. You came here to Baltimore and took the same journey as we all did. You’ve got a real knack with these interviews, Bert.”
Bert’s face flushed, he moves over and sits next to Ade, giving a sheepish shrug of his shoulders as he wipes the sweat from his forehead with his forearm, then on the leg of his shorts.
“Yeah, it’s easy to ask questions to egomaniacs though. I can’t believe they pay me to do it, honestly,” he said with a chuckle,”I’m just a passenger though, yo. I’m just glad I got a front row seat to the Adrienne Levi, Matt Knox, Mitch Heart and Silvio Leon story. A lot more people are going to now, too, I’m sure. C$J is always lookin to dump cash into makin the place more noticeable, when he’s not bein a fuckface.”
He trailed off, shaking his head and looking up at Ade, “You really shoulda taken that title shot. Cuz I think you’d take it off him this week, leave him confused and agitated. I know, ain’t your game...but maybe it ought to be real soon, Ade.”
Adrienne had heard as much recently. Mitch, Silvio, Knox, Mia, and even her friend from California had mentioned it in passing as they watched the World Series together through a FaceTime call..
“Don’t let Matt hear you say that,” she said amusedly. “I get you. And you’re right, it isn’t my game. I earned the Baltimore City Championship without that strategy. My hard work got me there. And to say you’re just along for the ride isn’t right.”
She paused. Bert and Ade had shared a lot of small talk over the months. All of the little things, the tips, the advice, the knowledge on how to present herself - it helped.
“I was a passenger, Bert.” She said quietly. “And maybe you were. Maybe it was easy to write you off when I wasn’t sure if you were serious about being Matt’s trainer or not. But here you are, through thick and thin. You put yourself out there and did an interview with me when you knew it could have been ignored. That’s pretty cool.”
Bert exhales shakily, considers then finally speaks. His tone unsure but his resolve made of iron.
“You - well, you got that affect on me, Ade. on a lot of people. Knowing what you come from, what we do know? And seeing what you can pull off? It makes it easy to take shots. Your strength is infectious, Adrienne.”
Turning to him, she smiled.
“Infectious? That’s the nicest way I’ve ever heard that said. You’re a good guy, Bert.”
With all the bravery he can muster, Bert leans over toward Ade now, closing his eyes as he goes in for a kiss.
It took a moment for Adrienne to register why Bert’s face was so close to hers. Why his lips were pursed. For a small moment, she was intoxicated by the moment. He wasn’t bad looking. He was nice, that was no lie. And it could be very easy to give into this little moment. No one would know.
Adrienne’s heart beat faster as she considered all possibilities within that split second.
“Bert,” she whispered.
What should have been there in a moment like this wasn’t there. And it wasn’t Bert’s fault. She just … didn’t know.
“I can’t.”
Adrienne hopped off the apron, embarrassed by the unspoken turmoil in her senses.
“I’m sorry,” she said as she gathered her bag quickly and ran to the exit, just barely catching herself from falling flat on her face. Her shoulder hit the door to the outside and she disappeared into the evening.
Outside, she braced herself against the concrete wall of the warehouse. The adrenaline from the workout had worn off. Her skin felt cold and clammy. Doubling over to catch her breath, she mumbled to herself, “What is wrong with me?”
A pair of pristine dress shoes came into view, the gravel around them undisturbed.
“I wouldn’t settle for that either.”
Slowly, Ade looked up and saw his smiling visage.
“I’m not a ghost if you were wondering. I’m in there.” Danny Levi said as he pointed right at the side of Adrienne’s head.
“...I know.”
“But to answer your question, baby girl, a lot. A whole lot.”
Closing her eyes, she swallowed hard. Engaging with her own delusions wasn’t worth the time. Especially in a public space like this. Steeling her courage, Adrienne readjusted the backpack over her shoulder.
“I mean, look at you. Conjuring up your dead husband. Manifesting all of your doubts into this rotting corpse. Maybe tonight, I’ll crawl under the sheets. Lay beside you. Feel your warmth as you fantasize about good ole’ Bert giving you the good pump and dump.”
Adrienne moved past him.
“Ejactulate and evacuate.”
Shaking her head, Ade accelerated to a brisk jog towards her bike. Behind her, Danny still called out.
“Creampie and goodbye.”
Her phone buzzed, notifying her of a text. The phone fell out of her hands onto the gravel lot, thankfully not shattering. Kneeling down, she retrieved the phone and shook off the lingering pebbles attached to the screen.
SILVIO!!!
Hey, champ! Ax figured you'd need some stuff for the puppy's teething phase, so we went out and got you some new toys for Buster. Hey, is being a godfather to a dog a thing? A dogfather?
Hey, champ! Ax figured you'd need some stuff for the puppy's teething phase, so we went out and got you some new toys for Buster. Hey, is being a godfather to a dog a thing? A dogfather?
Danny was gone. Trembling from his appearance, she was relieved to be yanked back into real world. When Ade had first held that puppy in her arms, he squirmed, whimpered, and yelped excitedly. And then as she held Buster tight, she could feel him just let go. Melt into her shoulder.
That decided it right there.
Thank u
More than they could ever know at this moment.