We heard a shrill whistle and we both looked into the gym to see Jake taking his fingers out of his mouth to wave us his way.

“That’s our cue,” Josie murmured and started moving.

I moved with her and we barely cleared the door before Jake announced, “Right, you know we’ve struggled to get you boys good gear. But this year, Mrs. Spear, and especially Miz Hathaway, who donated a bunch of really good crap to be sold for the league, raised enough that not only do we have all new gear this year, but you’ll be fighting your matches in the big ring in Blakeley.”

We had all the boys’ attention on us as we came to a stop at the back of the group.

At this news there were some open mouths and a sweep of excitement glided through the space before Jake concluded, “So give it up for the ladies.”

I felt my cheeks warm as the boys let out a collective whoop.

In all my years of raising money, not once had I personally faced a single soul who benefited from that.

Taking in those happy faces and their cheer, I found it felt great.

“Now, line up at the scale,” Jake ordered. “We gotta class you then we’ll get you your gear. After that, get your trainer assignments, introduce yourself to your trainer and get your training schedule.”

The boys started milling about and Josie and I stepped out of their way so they could do this.

And my night got better when Cillian walked by with one of his friends.

He was grinning at me.

I was grinning back.

And his friend was saying to him, “Bonus to being a fighter. You get hot chicks.”

“Yeah,” Cillian replied, looking away from me. “The short one’s my dad’s girlfriend.”

“Whoa, nice,” his friend said, eyeing me as they jockeyed for position in a line that led to one of those upright scales that Junior was attending.

It was at that from Cill’s friend that it just wasn’t my cheeks that were warm but other parts of me, primarily the region around my heart.

The last time I was in this gym, I felt old, unattractive and past my prime.

Now, I had the approval of twelve-year-olds.

It wasn’t much but it was something, and having Cillian’s approval of me for his father was even better.

Then the night got better when I felt weight around my shoulders, looked up and saw Mickey had claimed me with his arm around me.

“Hey,” he said on an easy grin.

“Hey back,” I replied.

“This feel good?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Good,” he muttered.

“Mr. Donovan.” I heard and looked up to see a bruiser who might be seventeen or eighteen standing close to us.

“Joe,” Mickey greeted.

The boy looked at me. “Hey, uh…you’re Auden’s mom, right?”