He nodded as I glanced over at him. “We go way back.”

“Look what the wind blew in,” Buddy greeted as he strolled over in our direction.

He was about a half a foot shorter than my father. He’d always said his height was the main reason he stuck to training and not getting into the ring himself. Though, I was sure he could handle himself if he needed to. You don’t spend more than fifty years around a boxing gym, fighters, and training some of the best of the best, and not pick up on a few things yourself.

“Buddy,” my father greeted, extending his hand to Buddy and pulling him into a short but warm embrace.

The many sides of my father often intrigued me. One minute he could blend in with a dingy fighting club and its trainer, and the next he could command the boardroom whose occupants combined for a net worth in the tens of billions. And a minute after that, he’d come home and be a doting, loving husband and father. He was a chameleon. But I wouldn’t dare call him a jack-of-all-trades, because unlike that saying, he actually was a master at it all.

Do it a hundred percent or don’t do it at all. Don’t half ass anything.

I remembered that lesson he taught me when I first came to work at Townsend Industries. I’d made it clear from the beginning that I wasn’t interested in the energy side of things but I was all in when it came to the real estate division. My father had told me those words and then got out of my way to let me sink or swim on my own.

“I know you’re getting old, but are you getting senile on me? You came down here to fight?” Buddy questioned.

My father shook his head. “Just checking up on my third youngest. Seeing how this operation of his is running.”

Buddy’s gaze shifted to mine. “The kid’s doing alright. A chip off the old block.”

I grunted at Buddy. “Whatever. I didn’t come here to talk and reminisce. You came to watch me fight or what?” I questioned my father.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“Finally.”

I parted ways with my father and Buddy to head to the bathroom to change into my fighting gear which was only a pair of boxing shorts, boxing shoes, and hand wraps. I waited until Buddy entered to tie my wraps.

“Damon’s not here tonight,” he informed me.

I nodded, already knowing he wouldn’t be making it. “He’s a newlywed. I don’t expect him to be coming as often.”

Buddy snorted and laughed. “Same with you. We’re lucky if you make it out here once a month.”

I shrugged. “I’d rather be at home in bed with my wife and daughter than looking at you all night.”