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My eyes shoot open and I sit up, letting half of the blanket fall to the floor How’d I forget that I have work this ? "What’s the ti into the lush carpet as I run to the bathroom I really need to pee When I washon back on his bed in a pair of his fighting shorts--the ones with the slits up the side--and a white t-shirt

"Relax," he s we could have breakfast, go to the gym and then take you to work"

Wow He has it all planned out "Do I have ti one of his walls for a clock I find nothing

He sits up "It’s only five You have four hours until work and I’o"

I follow hi--nauseatingly overwhel all over each other in the frying pan and a fresh bowl of scra in the e juice and a stack of buttered toast

"Are you hungry?" He asks proudly, taking charge of the stove and shuffling the steaks around Of course he’s excited about cooking

"Steak? I thought fighter’s drink all of those randohs "We do that too"

His spatula slides underneath the thick slab of meat and the juice and blood run off it as he lays it on a plate and slides it across the bench Oh, God It stops right in front ofthe plate away "Do you have fruit or yogurt? Anything other than ot up early to do this forat me like I’m crazy "You don’t like steak?"

"I do, just not early in the e "You’re in luck because I have loads of fresh fruit and yogurt"

He places apples, oranges, a container of blueberries and soe and pulls out a tub of Greek yogurt I watch him effortlessly maneuver his way around the kitchen as he pulls the bowl frourt and blueberries intous for breakfast?" I ask when I’h my food

He shakes his head "She won’t be up until this afternoon"

He stuffs the last piece of steak in hisit in the sink He washes his mouth and I slide my bowl over to him

I put onbyfor work?"

"Can do, baby" He laughs, pulling out of the driveway

He’s very chipper this ht I assumed he’d be down in the dumps today "You’re happy," I state "I like it"

"I have no reasons to be unhappy today Noro to the gy for a while This , however, I woke up to your pretty face and I reirlfriend" He sh "It’s going to be a good day"

Heat spreads throughoutup so happy, and for no other reason other than I’ly sweet and I love it Itspecial?

We didn’t spend too long at rabbed a sweater, a pair of black slacks and so and hair brush, too I also hts and a t-shirt into y hi late and unprofessional Jackson is also here, leaning against the wall shaking his head at us in disapproval I split off, leaving Seth to deal with his pissed off teae intowith his sparring partner I avert uy’s face I don’t see it, but I hear the guy hit the floor and I cringe, picturing everything in my head

"Olly!" Dad calls fro halfway out histo talk tomakes me nervous

"Hi, Dad"

"Hold on," he s theall cheery and alert "It’s been a while since you’ve co

"Yeah, I’ve been busy But I’s a heavy arlance sideways at hi out of his pocket I pull it out and glare at hi healthy You know, for the sake of your heart"

He flicks the fry froes the subject "Your ht, but you weren’t ho hi confidently down at us fro "She ithattention to training, instead of intruding oninto his phone, his face serious and focused on a spot on the et in on the conversation I turn my attention back to Seth and Dad

"Well, do you want to tell him?" Seth asks "Or should I?"

"Tell hiether, officially"

I s now, so"

Dad’s thin lips curl up into a wide s, so happy "That’s great!" Dad laughs, slapping me on the shoulder "Maybe someday soon I’ll have Seth Marc as my son in law"

Seth and I chuckle nervously--I even think we both flushed Neither one of us are thinking that far ahead I turn from them both and head to the treadet any exercise time in and God knows my Dad can chat forever if he really wants to I stretch a little, start up the tread at a brisk pace Every now and then I’ll look over at Seth training with his tea with him His eyes wide like a kid in a candy store as he chats to Seth The spar partner lies on the floor before Seth’s feet and Seth gives him his arm I watch curiously as my dad inaudibly tells Seth what to do The spar partner wraps his legs around Seth’s ar the strain on the elbow My dad crouches on the floor, talking--always talking Seth nods in agree hio off Seth’s arm and Dad pats his back, happy with the result Darryl and Jackson are setting uproo I only ever see Seth boxing or sparring I never see him actually work out I peer around the door and I’m surprised when I see only a few chin-up bars in the room

"What, no tractor tires?" I ask Jackson

Jackson shakes his head and straightens a ht on the floor "Not this year"