It temporarily knocks the wind out of him, but when he catches his breath, he shoots me a glare that shows his dissatisfaction with my unsportsmanlike conduct. As soon as his feet are solidly planted on the ground, I lunge again, pushing him until he trips and lands on the mat once again.
I hop up and he quickly follows suit. “I’m getting the feeling that this isn’t a friendly workout. Mind explaining what the fuck is going on and why you are insistent on putting me in my place?” he asks.
We circle around each other, both in a fighting stance, waiting for the other to pounce. “I don’t know what you mean, big brother,” I say coolly. “I’m just getting rid of the stress of the day.”
He stands straight up and wipes the sweat from his brow. “That’s how it’s going to be, huh?” he asks. I take a swing at him and he throws his forearm up to block it.
“I’ll take that as a yes then,” he says as he bends back down into a defensive position.
We continue to circle each other, taking turns throwing jabs or connecting roundhouse kicks. It isn’t long before we are both sweaty and breathing heavily…no one a clear winner.
“You know adults talk about their problems instead of using their fists,” he says between labored breaths.
“That’s rich coming from the man who used to use pussy as a pain reliever,” I spit out.
His eyes squint and his nostrils flare. I’ve struck a nerve; I knew it would, but I threw it out there anyway. The insult hangs in the air while Brooks weighs his options, fight or flight. If he’s the brother I grew up with, he’s going to charge, so I brace myself for the impact.
“Grow the fuck up, Lakin,” he snaps. “You know, this is exactly why I told Campbell to stay away from you, when she asked about you. You’re a child who has no concept of what it takes to love a woman properly.”
His reference to Campbell has me seeing red. I say nothing, but my body shakes with anger. How dare he think I couldn’t love her the way she should be loved? What a self-righteous asshole to put that shit on me.
After several moments of silence, he shakes his head and turns his body to walk off the mats. “That’s what I thought,” he mumbles.
A roar builds in my stomach, up into my chest, and rips out of my throat as I rush toward him. Hearing my bellow, he spins around and readies himself for the blow. We smash together, stumbling around the mat, each of us working to get the other in a headlock.
Our bodies slam to the ground, pain shoots through my shoulder from the landing. I let out a pained grunt, but I continue my battle.
“Get off me, you asshole!” Brooks grumbles as we roll around on the ground.
“Asshole? You don’t see me sticking my nose in other people’s lives and relationships. That dick move is all you, brother.” I’m able to wiggle on top of him and wrap my arm around his neck.
“What in the hell are you talking about?” he chokes out.
“Campbell, you prick,” I say as I squeeze as hard as I can. I know if I hold him like this for too long, he’ll pass out, so when I feel him tap my elbow, I loosen my grip and let him roll flat onto the mat.
He’s breathing hard to catch his breath; I can see his chest heave up and down with each inhale and exhale. I rest flat on my back and just stare at the water-stained ceiling tiles above us. My muscles feel strained, but the adrenaline rushing through my system is keeping any discomfort at bay.
“Damn it, Brooks, I like her. She makes me want to treat her properly. She makes me want what you have,” I sigh.
Neither one of us looks at each other; we just lie still, letting my words sink in.
“You don’t deserve her,” he finally says.
“I fucking know that, Brooks,” I resign. “But I want to.”
“And what happens when you fuck it up? I refuse to cut either one of you out of my life.”
I jump up, and Brooks slowly follows until we are both standing, squaring off once more. “Look, I get that you think of her as a little sister, man. I really do. You want to protect her because there isn’t anyone else in her life to do it, but she’s a grown woman. Don’t you think she should be able to make her own decision about me? Why ruin it before anything has even started?”
He looks me up and down, analyzing my body language. I feel like I’m bacterial goop under a microscope and with one word he’ll eradicate me. He exhales heavily and throws his hands in the air. “Fine. But if you hurt her, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Brooks, I don’t even know if she’ll want me. All I’m asking for is the opportunity to find out.”
He extends his hand for me to shake. “Then go find out,” he says as I reach for his hand.
I smile and he wraps his sweaty arm around my neck and tussles my hair the way he used to when we were kids. “You’re an asshole, don’t forget that,” I tell him.
“Noted.” He pushes me forward. “Now get the hell out of here.”
I step off the mat and head toward the locker room to shower, but then I turn back to Brooks, who is on his way out the front door. “Hey, Brooks, we’re good, right?” I holler across the gym.
He opens the glass door and stands in the entrance. He finally smiles and nods his head. “Yeah, we’re good,” he says before walking through the exit to his car. As soon as the door closes, I rush to the shower and wash the proof of my temper tantrum off my body. Knowing I have Brooks’ approval, I can’t get to Campbell fast enough.
I grab Italian takeout and a box of birthday cupcakes before rushing to Campbell’s apartment. As I pull up out front, I notice there are no lights on in her apartment. It’s not too terribly late. I would be surprised if she was asleep already, but I don’t want to wait for another time. I need to see her now.
I race up the stairs as quickly as possible with all of the food I’m carrying. My excitement prevents me from knocking lightly; instead, I’m pounding on her front door, willing her to open it and put me out of my misery. I alternate knocking with yelling her name and asking her to open the door with no avail.
“Dude, she’s obviously not home. Maybe try calling first,” the man across the hall says as he opens his door in his pajamas. “We, however, are home and would appreciate it if you took the racket someplace else.”
“Sorry, sir. I just wanted to make sure that if she was asleep I knocked loud enough to wake her,” I explain.
“Well, I think you knocked and yelled loud enough to wake the entire floor. I’m going to go out on limb and say she just isn’t home.”
I reach into my grocery bag to offer a cupcake as an apology, but before I can say anything, he slams the door, leaving me once again alone in the hallway. Feeling deflated and rejected, I get a better grip on my bags and begin my pathetic, lonely march back to my apartment. I’m no longer in a rush; my evening feels anti-climactic and a letdown.
Before walking into my building, I throw away the takeout food in the trash bin on the street. I’m no longer hungry, and besides, I’m sure it’s cold and stale. I keep the cupcakes though; I figure I can track Campbell down and give them to her tomorrow.
I take a deep, tired breath and push the button to take me to my loft. Closing my eyes, I run my fingers through my ragged hair and attempt to swallow my disappointment. What a shitty night.
The ding of the elevator chimes and the doors slide open prompting me to take a step toward my ride up. I slowly open my eyes and move to gain entry in to the elevator, but my body pauses and I drop the cupcakes onto the floor of the building foyer. I’m shocked at what I see and it freezes me in place.