Kimmy Loves to Read: The Real Series

Showing posts with label The Real Series. Show all posts

Saturday, September 30, 2017

BLOG TOUR: Racer (Real #7) by Katy Evans

Racer by Katy Evans

Publication Date: September 28th, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Racer, an all-new standalone in the Real Series from New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans is LIVE!

A bad boy with something to prove.

A woman with a mission.

The race of their lives.

The love of a lifetime.

I don’t think his parents expected him to live up to his name—Racer Tate—but once he felt the adrenaline rush behind the wheel, he was addicted.

He's the fastest, fiercest driver around.

Scouting new talent brings me to his doorstep...

but his smile sends me to my knees.

The sexy, mysterious Racer Tate is not the kind of man a girl like me falls for. He's secretive, reckless, elusive. But his proximity pushes me beyond reason, and his kiss....

This is our last chance to win, and he is our only hope. I'm supposed to watch him—make sure he doesn't get into trouble. But it's an impossible task. And now the one in heart wrenching, toe-curling, soul-crushing trouble is me. Because when your heart belongs to someone, their truths become your own, and their secrets become your salvation...or your curse.

He says he wants me. He says I'm the One. But he also thinks he'll break my heart, one piece at a time until it's gone.

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2vdmnsx

Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/u6Afj4

iBooks: https://goo.gl/s1EHS7

Nook: https://goo.gl/zoTe8X

Kobo: https://goo.gl/WgX9oJ

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/JFvQ6D

EXCERPT

I’m still reeling. While people approach him, he cuts a path straight to me, his gaze penetrating and target-like; making me want to bolt.

His lips do that little upward tilt they do that seems so sexy, and for a second, I feel like I’m lightheaded.

I gulp, and then feel mad at myself for acting like some idiot as fucking devil-Racer Tate reaches me, throws himself into a seat next to me, and turns to look at me expectantly with the most gorgeous grin on his face.

I don’t know what to say.

This guy has left me sort of speechless.

“So … ” I say, staring in the distance at his beat-up mustang, then at him.

“So … ” he says too, in his deep voice, his smile a little more wicked than it was two seconds ago. He glances at my mouth.

Oh god.

Why am I licking my lips?

It only made his eyes narrow and darken.

I open my mouth to speak, failing to find words. He smells like sweat and soap and shampoo, and I feel my traitorous nipples push up to my top again. Why do they do that when he’s around?

“This is illegal,” I state.

His voice is husky from exertion, and his eyes glint with laughter. “That’s why it’s fun.”

I look away from his eyes, trying to focus and clear my head. He leans over and peers into my face, his face shadowed by the moonlight and his jaw now carrying a little scruff. “Are we in agreement?” he presses.

“No.” I glare and shake my head, meeting his cocky gaze. “You’re reckless, Racer.”

“So are you, Alana.”

“It’s just … Lana.”

His brows fly up in surprise. “And a bit of a liar too.”

I purse my lips, still glaring as my gaze goes back to his car. Girls are rubbing against it as if it were him, and I find it disgusting. Why are women always acting so slutty around race car drivers and bad boys?

“You crashed your car,” I say flippantly.

“You crashed my car,” he contradicts, amused.

I laugh, then scowl in his direction. “You crashed it more. I can’t believe you were making such a fuss about me crashing into you when it was just a little kiss—”

He leans in to peck my lips—fast but firmly. “That’s a kiss.”

I lose my breath.

My eyes wide.

He eases back, lips smiling as he comes to his feet and stretches his hand out to take me by the elbow and help me to my feet.

“Let’s get out of here.” He starts walking, leading the way.

“And go where?”

“Anywhere I can get my hands on you.”

Katy Evans is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her debut REAL shot to the top of the bestselling lists in 2013 and since then 9 of her titles have been New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages across the world.

Connect with the Author:

Email: katyevansauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorKatyEvans

Twitter @authorkatyevans

Thursday, September 28, 2017

RELEASE BLITZ & 5 STAR REVIEW: Racer (Real #7) by Katy Evans

Racer by Katy Evans

Publication Date: September 28th, 2017

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Racer, an all-new standalone in the Real Series from New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans is LIVE!

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2vdmnsx

Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/u6Afj4

iBooks: https://goo.gl/s1EHS7

Nook: https://goo.gl/zoTe8X

Kobo: https://goo.gl/WgX9oJ

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/JFvQ6D

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review.

Lana Heyworth's family business is F1 racing. They've never been extremely successful, but they have managed to stick around the sport long enough for people to know their name. But unless they have a winning season, they may have to hang up their racing suits. When Lana talks her family into letting her go find the driver that will put them on top, she takes a quick trip to states. Upon arriving, she gets into a minor accident with the Racer Tate, who ends up being her family's savior, but also the man who in no time, will own Lana's heart and soul.

We met Racer in Legend and I loved him as a little boy, but now he is all grown up. Not wanting to be a fighter his father, Racer has made a name for himself in illegal street racing. And he is good at it. Really good. When he meets Lana he's not only immediately attracted to her, but he also wants to take care of her. He quickly figures out what she is doing and invites her to see him race and against her better judgment she goes and cannot believe what she sees. Racer Tate is the real deal and she knows that he is what her teams needs to make a run for the F1 championship. He accepts her offer to race the Heyworth car and that's when the fun begins.

Racer and Lana. They reminded me of Remy and Brooke. Just like Remy needed Brooke, Racer needed Lana. When she’s near, he feels complete. She soothes him. At one point in the book he even calls her “his medicine”. They use music to communicate. Not on the same level as Remy and Brooke did, but the same idea. Their connection is intense and despite the fact that Lana knows she shouldn’t get involved with him, she can’t stay away. And I don’t blame her. He’s sweet. Down to earth. Gorgeous. Sexy as all hell. And he makes her feel loved. And he never once let success go to his head. He even asked her father to date her. Racer has some major game!

Talk about like father, like son! While Racer is a lot like Remy, he is also his own man. He never wanted to be a fighter and despite Remy's pleas, Racer never gave in. In the way that Remy used his fighting to help control his moods, Racer used racing. He was so focused on being the best and that's probably why he was so good at it. I loved Remy and Racer’s relationship. He understood Racer better than anyone else. Remy was there when Racer needed him the most, but he also recognized when to step back and let Lana take over. Those scenes were some of my favorites. I kept waiting for Remy to tell Racer that he wasn’t doing the right things, but he also knew that Racer had to figure things out in his own way.

Have you ever seen someone after not seeing them for a while and think "I really missed this person"? There was a moment very early in the book where I found myself taking a deep breath and I actually said out loud "I forgot how much I love this series!!!" This book y'all. It's just so good. I picked it up and I just couldn't put it down. Thank you Katy for giving us Racer's story! I feel like now that we have Racer's story the series is complete. Don't get me wrong, if she wanted to write more (*cough* Iris *cough*) I'd be all over it, but if this is the end, I’m good.

Go 1-click this book! If you haven’t read the rest of the series that is okay, BUT I feel as though you will appreciate it so much more if you have read them. And let’s be honest, if you haven’t met Remington Tate yet, you’re missing out!

Connect with the Author

Email: katyevansauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorKatyEvans

Twitter @authorkatyevans

Friday, February 12, 2016

RELEASE BLITZ & 5 STAR REVIEW: Legend (Real #6) by Katy Evans

Meet Maverick “The Avenger” Cage in Legend, the newest stand alone in the REAL series releasing February 9th!

AVAILABLE NOW

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TFo2L4

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1JYmeal

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Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1HDokuT

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Google Play: http://bit.ly/1HyXaYg

Maverick “the Avenger” Cage wants to rise to the top and become a legend in the ring. Though he keeps his identity well guarded, he's known on the fighting circuit as the new kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tattoo on his back that marks him as trouble. He's got a personal score to settle with the Underground's one and only Remington "Riptide" Tate.

As Mav trains, he meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town--and sparks fly. When things get heated between them, he finds out she's none other than Reese Dumas, the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who's supposed to root against him and a girl he's supposed to stay away from.

But Maverick fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND.

* LEGEND is the 6th and final installment of the REAL series, but it can also be read as standalone or after the three Remington and Brooke books (Real/Mine/Remy.)

My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the Real series. I love Remy and the whole crew. I was sad when I learned that this was going to be the last book of the series, but Katy certainly ended this series with a bang. When I read the synopsis I thought, but what about Pete and Nora? Or Riley and some unknown lady? What happened with Pandora and the search for her daughter? Why bring in new characters now? Then I started reading all those questions went away.

This book is about Reese, Brooke's cousin, and Maverick, an up and coming fighter. He is having a hard time finding a coach because of who his father is, but he is determined to succeed. Needing a place to work out, he sneaks in behind Reese one morning when she goes to the gym. He almost gets caught, but Reese ends up saying that he is with her. After that she sees him most days and they form a kind of friendship. They are both kind of shy, but it is obvious that they are attracted to each other. I liked the scenes when Maverick would meet Reese and Racer (he's so cute!) at the park (see the excerpt below). They became quite comfortable with each other and their relationship only grows from there.

Maverick. Holy crap. I. LOVE. HIM. He kind of reminded me of Remy in the sense that he was a gentle giant. Maverick destroyed people in the ring, but with Reese he was the complete opposite. While I wouldn't say that Maverick has a temper there were a few times he got a little hot under the collar and Reese always found a way to calm him down. And I never once thought that he was going to turn out like most people thought he would (sorry about the vagueness, I don't want to give anything away), I was a little worried that his success would be overshadowed by why he was doing it. Luckily Reese and his coach Oz are there to keep him grounded.

There was just something about Reese and Maverick's relationship that just made me all warm and fuzzy inside. I found myself highlighting so many of their moments together because I found them to be so touching and sweet. There's a moment late in the book where Reese finally voices her true feelings to Maverick:

“I came here to find myself. And I think I did. And I also found . . . you.”

“And I found you,” he counters gruffly, standing suddenly closer, his eyes devouring me.

See? All the warm and fuzzies. I usually love when when the main characters say "I love you" for the first time, but the above moment was so much better.

I liked that the book was about Maverick, but at the same time it was about Remy and his desire to not only move on from the Underground world, but to also leave with a legacy. He saw greatness in Maverick and was there for him when he needed it most. And to be honest, the whole Tate crew accepted Maverick, no questions asked, because Remy did. Remy put himself out there in a way he never had before and it was so wonderful to read.

If you're a fan of this series, you don't want to miss this one. Katy has given us a wonderful book to end the series. Out of all the books, this is that one that I know I will be rereading for years to come.

EXCERPT

It’s midweek already, and I’m halfway through my workout when I get a text from Brooke:

Hey! Huge line at the Underground registration, might pick up lunch on our way back home. Don’t wait for us - lunch home w/Diane

Me: Got it ☺ Will take Racer to park and meet you home ltr

I set my phone aside and scan the gym again. Some otherworldly impulse has me walking past the weights section. I cross the treadmills, bicycles, toward the mats at the end and the boxing bags. I scan the area where Maverick always works out. There are several guys at the bags now. None of them are as big, or mysterious. Or hot.

He’s gone.

Disappointment washes over me. I wait a bit, checking the time. Five minutes to leave for Racer.

Reese, you’re acting stupid.

“You’re looking for your friend? The one you come in with?”

“I . . . ah . . . yeah.”

“He hasn’t come in.”

“Right. Thanks.”

I head to pick up Racer from day care, meet Pete there with the stroller and our snacks, then sit Racer inside and push him to the park. There’s this spot I like under the shadow of a tree. I head there. “How was day care, Racer?”

“Okay.”

He’s scanning the park for dogs, I know.

“This is nice, isn’t it?”

I pull out his fruit bears and open them. He dives in.

“Racer, I ran extra hard today and I’m suddenly hungry. If I tell you an extra story tonight, would you give me one of your fruit bears?”

“Two stowies,” he negotiates.

“Okay, two stories, for two bears?” I shoot back.

He hesitates, then nods and lets me pull out two bears, examining my hand thoroughly. I let him open my palm.

“See? Two?”

He grins a dimpled grin that I could eat up, and then continues eating.

I shove them in my mouth and start to set up my blanket and stop in my tracks when I spot the figure doing pull-ups on the tree.

His T-shirt is riding upward due to the lifted position of his arms, and I can see the concrete-like squares of his abs perfectly.

His extraordinary eyes blaze and glow when he spots me a few feet away, not far from the tree. He drops himself to the ground, lithe as a cat and surprisingly quiet, and as he stretches to his feet from the crouched position he landed in, his eyes are direct and interested and warm. No, not warm. More.

There’s a flip in my stomach when his lips curl a little. He ambles over and I have the oddest sensation that he was waiting for me. But . . . was he?

“Maverick.”

“Mavewick!” Racer repeats, and puts out his fist.

He bumps fists with Racer. “Dude. Cool cap.”

He taps Racer’s Yankees baseball cap. Then his eyes lift to meet mine.

My stomach feels unsettled, but it’s not from hunger, more like from nerves or something like . . . anticipation.

“Didn’t see you at the gym today,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I talked to Oz.”

“You did?”

He gives me this quiet, perfect smile and simply nods.

“That’s great.”

“Yeah.”

We smile for the most delicious few seconds.

“So you’re fighting during the inaugural?” I ask excitedly.

He pulls out a page from his back jeans pocket. “That’s me.”

I take and scan the page. It indicates his accepting the Underground terms and rules of engagement, states his coach’s name, and then his name. A dangerous little chill runs down my spine when I read:

Maverick “the Avenger” Cage

And Maverick “the Avenger” Cage is watching me read this paper, studying my reaction.

My palms are sweaty all of a sudden. “Well . . . wow.”

My stomach is quaking upon seeing his name, I don’t know why. Maverick Cage. His name is a conundrum. Maverick means “rebel,” and cage . . . But it looks like this maverick is coming out of his cage.

He tucks the page back into his jeans. “I had to tell someone.”

“And you came to tell me?” If I sound bewildered, it’s because I am.

He stares into me, a liquid look coming to his eyes. “It wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you.”

“That’s totally not true.”

He glances down at the stroller. “I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t tell my buddy here.” He fist-bumps Racer again and Racer giggles at the attention.

“Mom and Dad are busy, so I get to keep him for an extra while,” I tell Maverick.

He stares at me. He has a very stubborn, arrogant face, but when he smiles, pleasure softens his granitelike features. And he’s smiling right now. Dear me. “So he’s not yours,” he says.

“God, no. I wish!”

I can’t think straight when he looks at me. I feel naked. As if he knows that I’ve missed him. As if he knows that just looking at him makes me feel odd. Odd and oddly sensual inside. Responding to him.

I open my blanket and bend over to smooth it on the ground. Then I realize my butt is sticking out, the Himalayas of butts out there for him to see. In tight exercise gear. Fuck.

He kneels on his haunches at the edges of the blanket and opens his hand. “Share the blanket with me?”

His knuckles are still scarred. I can’t decide why I keep looking at them. I get a gut squeeze of empathy every time I see the bruises. His hands are huge. He plants them on the blanket, then shifts to lean back on his arms, stretching out his legs before him. Other couples are nearby on blankets. It feels intimate when I set my stuff down, and I feel myself go hot when I sense him watching me settle down next to it.

He spreads out just a little more and squints up at the tree, then looks at me in silence.

I search the picnic bag. “Want some . . . kid food? Or I’ve got . . .” I pull out my emergency Snickers bar, which I’m proud not to have touched yet, and I hand it over. “Plus one water and a drinking cup with a lid.”

I pass the drinking cup to Racer and hand Maverick the water. He takes it. “I’m good.” He opens the water bottle and hands it to me.

I shake my head. I’m not hungry, really. Or thirsty. My stomach feels full of butterflies again and it makes no sense, since I don’t even know him.

He shifts up higher on his arms, the flex of his torsal muscles visible through the cotton of his shirt.

“I almost thought you’d arrived to the gym and got yourself kicked out,” I try.

“Not yet. There’s still tomorrow.” He smirks.

And there’s a tinge of merriment in his eyes.

“Wee, and the ducks?”

I jerk my attention back to Racer and my pending business with him. “Right. I promised we’d feed the ducks today.” I quickly pack our stuff and then push the stroller toward the lake. He walks beside me.

I feel him watching me as I stop at the dispenser to fill up a cup of duck food.

“Mavewick, get me out,” Racer commands.

Maverick sweeps him up and sets him on his feet.

“Don’t go in the water, Racer, just stay on the edge, and don’t let them bite your finger. Do it like this. . . .” I show him how to cup his hand. “Or throw it in the water and watch them pick at it.”

He nods and starts throwing all over, sending the ducks after the nibbles.

I sit on the ground, the scent of damp grass surrounding us as Maverick sits beside me.

“Hey, I want to do something for you.”

“What?”

I can’t remember how to breathe.

I give him a moment to explain, but he’s not helping me out, only smiling. His face is open, friendly, his smile captivating. But his eyes are guarded, careful. I try to keep my voice indifferent.

“You mean for the gym?” I ask, a puzzled frown on my face.

He nods. “For that. And Oz.”

“Oh.” I shake my head, laughing softly. “It’s nothing, really.”

When he looks at me, he looks curious, and unsatisfied somehow. But a genuinely appreciative smile touches his eyes. “Trust me. It’s not nothing. It’s something, and I appreciate it.”

His open gratitude makes me so warm. He makes me feel impulsive.

“I’m in a healthy-living boot camp this summer. You’re meeting the new Reese,” I hear myself blurt out.

Wow. Did I just spew it out like that?

I’m so desperate for him to share bits of himself that I’m just totally baring myself to him without his even asking. Thank god he takes it in stride with an attractive little dance in his eyes.

“What was the old one like?” he asks easily.

I shrug and shake my head, not really wanting to get into that.

When he does nothing to fill the silence that settles between us, it leaves me with nothing to do but look up at him. I lift my lashes, and he’s staring at me with a look of total intrigue in his eyes. Wisps of hair tease my face, and I push them away, feeling really restless under that stare.

“Help me kick my own ass, and we’ll call it even,” I suddenly suggest.

He shakes his head with playful stubbornness. “We’re not even. I still owe you.” His eyes grow thoughtful, and he reaches into his pocket and extracts something. “Open your palm.”

He looks so intense that I open my palm and watch him drop something in it. “What’s this?”

“My IOU.”

I stare at the penny in my palm, then look up at him in confusion.

His voice sounds a little more harsh and textured all of a sudden. “I don’t have a lot right now, but I got this.”

“For a rainy day?” I ask.

“For any day.”

Real (Book One) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1CHl6sS

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35g8N

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zT7J31

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1tHrTct

Mine (Book Two) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1I2nbzy

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1tHrdns

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1zmq1cT

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1yhymBF

Remy (Book Three) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1vOn8T2

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1w35lcN

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ynVnBv

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1vlqhom

Rogue (Book Four) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1vOnjh8

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1FOFfJy

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1wvpqI6

iTunes: http://bit.ly/12xnylU

Ripped (Book Five) The Real Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Bfzsi
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1yia714
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/11X9CAG
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1ynQ9FV

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

Website: www.katyevans.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatyEvans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

Friday, January 8, 2016

EXCERPT REVEAL: Legend (Real #6) by Katy Evans

SEATTLE

Maverick

‘Not in a million years, kid.’

‘No.’

‘NOT INTERESTED.’

‘Get the fuck out of my face!’

Four cities in two days, and more doors slammed in my face than I can count. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and scratch another name from my list.

Hopping on to a bus and hopping off thirty minutes later, I scan the mix of both commercial and apartment numbers down the block, then knock on my last door.

“Coach Hennesy?”

He’s a tall man, his hair like pepper, clad in sweats, with a yellow timer hanging from his neck. He gives me a questioning look.

“I’m your next champion.”

He laughs, but then he must see something on my face. In my stance. Thirst, resoluteness, guts. Maybe I’m wearing my balls in my eyes. He falls sober and swings the door wide-open. “Come on in.”

He doesn’t ask for my name.

I guess with one look, he knows he’ll find my name in the dictionary, right next to “determined.”

He leads me to his garage. “Where’d you train before?” he asks.

“Self-taught. I watch videos.”

He scoffs, then shrugs. “Okay, let’s see what you’ve got.”

I eye the equipment across the room. The heavy bag hangs from the ceiling, the leather worn from other fighters before me. There’s a boxing dummy at the corner. Speed bag. Weights. A whole private gym set up here. I drop both my bags, then zip open my backpack and start to put on the gloves without bothering to remove my hoodie.

“Take that off; I need to know what you’ve got. Need to see your form,” Hennesy says.

I clench my jaw. Slowly unzip my hoodie. Take it off and glance past my shoulder, shifting to keep my back from the coach’s view. The guy is clearing the fighting area. Good. We can get down to business. He walks to me when I face him.

“Give it over.” I hand him my hoodie and he tosses it aside, then crosses his arms and looks at me. “Speedball first.”

I inhale, position myself before the speedball, and hit. Wham.

I keep on hitting, lightning fast, my fists making the bag fly.

I would have warmed up first, but I’ve been doing this for days, and I won’t stop until I’ve got myself a coach—and not even then.

I’ve got momentum now, and I pick up speed, my arms moving back and forth, working the speed bag until it’s moving so fast you can’t even see it.

I’m starting to sweat; it’s stuffy in here, but I can’t stop. I need him to take me on. I need one yes to get me in the ring. Just one yes and I’ll do the rest.

“Time.” Hennesy stops me. He signals to the boxing dummy and the heavy bag. “Let’s see you pound the bag.”

I swing out and slam my knuckles on the bag, putting everything into my fists. Thack, thump, thud.

Hennesy’s composure starts to crumble with excitement. “Holy shit, boy!”

I’m getting in to it. I’m in the zone—where it’s just me, the leather brown bag, my fists, and nothing else but slamming the spot I’m looking at.

“I’ve seen enough.” He stops the bag from swinging. His eyes glassy. “Fill this out.”

I pull off my right glove and grab a pen as he slaps a paper onto a desk at the corner. I bend down to fill out my name and contact information and realize, too late, that I exposed the tattoo on my back.

“You’re his boy.”

I freeze midsignature.

A second ticks by. Then two.

I slowly set the pen down and take one last look at the paper. I might not get to fill it out after all. I turn.

His face has paled.

I wait it out for a few beats. Maybe he’s different. Maybe he can deal with it.

He tosses my jacket at me. “Get out. Nobody wants to see you fight.”

I frown fiercely as I catch my jacket in my fist and edge forward, equally mad now. “That’s too damn bad. ’Cause I’m fighting anyway.”

I keep my eyes on him as I pull off my left glove, shove my arms into my hoodie, and zip up.

I walk out and the door slams behind me. I clench my jaw, and I shove my gloves into my bag and spot the old, black gloves inside too. I push them down into the bottom of the duffel bag and zip it up.

The season starts in a week and a half. No coach? No fight. I can’t even get into a gym.

But I won’t let anyone or anything keep me from the ring.

I pick up a penny from the ground.

And I spot a girl in workout clothes across the street, tying her shoelaces. She’s a step away from the gym door. I straighten, pull my hoodie over my head, and cross the street, following after her like I belong.