Page 12 of Let Me Love You

“Thanks. I kept training after you left. Gave me something to focus on.”

“Which is why I’d like you to train others. We have a long-ass waiting list right now, and we can barely keep up with it. I’d start you off with some beginners who have no clue what they’re doing, but pretty soon, you’ll have more experience than me.”

“You think I’m ready for that?”

“More than ready, Archer. You’ve been working on this for years.”

“Wow, I’m honored. I honestly would’ve cleaned the toilets if that’s what you needed.”

He pats my back. “And let all that talent go to waste? Hell no. This will be good for both of us. I’m glad you’re here.”

I nod with a grin. “Me too.”

“I was thinking next week you could start shadowing one of our other boxing coaches, Matt. He’ll be here in ’bout thirty minutes.”

“Sounds like a solid plan,” I say as Tyler leads me to the locker room that has a steam room and hot tub. After the tour, a muscular guy with broad shoulders enters.

“Matt,” Tyler calls out. “This is Archer.”

“Hey, man. Nice to meet you.” He shakes my hand with a firm grip. “You’re the boxer, right?”

I give him a curt nod. “Yep, that’s me.”

“Heard good things ’bout ya.” His client walks in, and Matt excuses himself.

While I fill out my employment paperwork, Tyler answers a few membership questions from some locals. Once we’re both finished, he asks, “Wanna go out for lunch?”

“Sure,” I say, then follow him outside.

After a few minutes, we cross an intersection and arrive at a building that looks like it was built in the 1950s.

“This is downtown in all its glory,” Tyler says.

I chuckle. “You said small town, but this is tiny.”

As soon as we enter, a bell dings above the door, and we’re quickly greeted by an older woman.

“Hey, Tyler,” she says, squeezing him tightly. “And Archer!”

She pulls me in next as if she’s known me my whole life. “We’re huggers ’round here. It’s nice to meet ya. I’m Belinda.”

“Oh yeah, Tyler told me ’bout you. Nice to meet you too.”

“Hopefully all good things.” She winks and grabs two menus.

“It was!” Tyler confirms as she leads us over to a booth by the window.

“Today’s special is cowboy chili. Since the temperatures are startin’ to drop, it’s the perfect dish for fall,” she says. “Coffee?”

Tyler nods.

“Same for me.”

“Got it.” Belinda walks away with a hop in her step.

“She’s pretty awesome. You’ll probably see a lot of her since she’s dating Gemma’s dad,” he tells me, just before she returns with two steaming mugs.

“You’re comin’ to Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, right?” Belinda asks and notices my reaction, then turns to Tyler. “You haven’t invited him yet?”