“I’m hurt,” Buddy stated, clutching his chest.

“You’ll get over it.”

I left out of the bathroom, chuckling as he retorted something to my back. I glanced up into the ring to see Doc inside. That was his nickname. He was actually a doctor, which, obviously, was how he got the name.

“What’s up, pretty boy?” I taunted as I entered the ring.

“Townsend. Oh, how I’m going to enjoy this opportunity to mess up that grin of yours tonight.”

I grunted. “Don’t count on it.”

“Alright, boys, you know the rules. I won’t exhaust myself going over that shit again,” Buddy yelled as he stood between us. “Let’s go!” Stepping out of our way, he allowed us to do our thing.

Doc and I circled one another, and while I was certain he was the quietest one in the room, I could feel my father’s eyes on me, watching me. It didn’t make me nervous, however. It did the same it’d always done when I knew my father was observing. It made me brave.

“Shit!” Doc cursed when I saw an opening and landed a left hook to his right side ribs.

“That was just a fucking love tap. Don’t be a pussy!” I taunted.

“Fuck you, Townsend,” he retorted.

He swung and just narrowly missed clipping my chin. But I didn’t let that near miss deter me. I went in for a sweep of his right leg, but he saw it coming and side hopped it. However, I caught him on my way up, sending a right cross to his chest, causing him to stumble backward. Nevertheless, Doc was no easy win. He wasn’t too knocked out by my cross and quickly recovered, trapping my right hook in his grasp.

“Oh hell no,” I blurted out, knowing he was going to try an arm lock move that he was known for. Fuck that.

I pivoted and kneed the same side of the ribs I’d punched earlier, causing him to loosen his grip on my arm just enough that I could free myself. We continued to go blow for blow for three more rounds before Buddy ended it. It was a draw.

“You went easy on me, Townsend,” Doc stated angrily.

I shrugged. “Didn’t want to end your career.” It came across as a joke but I was partially serious. I still didn’t fully comprehend why a doctor, a surgeon no less, would risk his livelihood by getting into an underground fighting ring that had few rules.

We slapped fives, and I hopped out of the ring, coming face-to-face with my father.

He patted me on the shoulder. “You half-assed it in there.”

“How could you tell?”

My father lifted a brow. “I’ve seen you in action when you really want to take someone down.”

I nodded. “Are you disappointed?”