Lost and Found by Megan Fields Page A

shoulders. “Yeah sure. Maybe I can pay you back for last night!”
    “In your dreams old man.” I joke.
    When we get to the gym I go to warm up with some skipping, while Alex heads to the treadmill. I’m facing the mirror and can see other women checking me out, but all I can think about is Ella. As I stop and stretch, a woman approaches me. She has her blonde hair made up perfectly, her face is caked with make-up and her outfit barely covers her body. She couldn’t look more false if she tried.
    “Hi, I’m Beth.” She offers her hand out and I hesitantly shake it.
    “Jack.” She twirls her hair between her fingers and leans closer.
    “So, Jack, do you think you could help me learn to skip?” She asks demurely.
    “What? You don’t know how to skip?” I don’t know why it tickles me, but I start to laugh and can’t stop, laughing so hard I have to lean against the wall for support. She storms off looking less than pleased with my outburst.
    “I see you haven’t lost your way with women.” Alex jokes as he claps me on the shoulder.
    “Sorry, but that was the most ridiculous line I've ever heard.” We head over to one of the boxing rings and put our gear on. We used to come to this gym when we were teenagers, but we were into lifting weights then and showing off to the girls how strong we were. The old owner still runs it and he decides to come watch us spar.
    “Hey, Max.” I shake his hand before he helps me put on my gloves.
    “Boys. How’ve you been? New York treated you well I take it?” He asks.
    “Hey, Max. Yeah, New York was good, but there’s nothing like coming home.” Alex says before slipping in his mouth piece.
    I slip into the ring and we circle each other. “Come on then boys. Let’s start with five 3 minute rounds. Keep your moves tight and no pussy footing around. Show me what you learned in fancy New York.” Max shouts. I’d forgotten Max had been a boxing coach.
    The first round’s good and Alex manages to land a few punches. During the second round though, he gets a little cocky and I catch him with an uppercut. “Time!” Max shouts. We each sit in our corners for a drink and a breather. “Okay, let’s go. Third round, come on Alex get your head in the game. Are you going to let your little brother get away with a move like that?” Max asks. Alex mumbles something, but I can’t understand him with his mouth guard in. The third and fourth rounds are a draw, as we each land a few good hits. It’s during the 5 th and final round that the image of Ella sitting on my lap flashes in my mind, my arms around her waist and her scent intoxicating my every thought. I drop my hands and Alex hits me with a left hook. I drop like a sack of spuds and the last thing I hear is Max shouting “Timber!”
    “Jack? Jack?” Alex is shaking me as I slowly open my eyes. “Are you okay?” I sit up and touch my hand to my head.
    “Yeah, I’m okay. What the hell happened?” I ask taking a glass of water from Max who’s kneeling by my side./
    “You dropped your guard and I caught you. It’s lucky we had head gear on or that could’ve been worse. Why the fuck did you drop your guard?” He asks angrily.
    “Sorry. My mind wandered and I just forgot where I was temporarily.”
    “Come on, up you get.” Max orders. “You’ll be fine.”
    “Cheers Max. Sorry about that.” I say embarrassed for getting knocked out.
    “Looks like you got me back for last night.” I joke to Alex. He just shakes his head and goes to the changing room.
    “What happened last night?” Max asks.
    “I punched him in the face.”
    “What the hell for?”
    “I thought he was after my girl.” Yeah that still sounds stupid a day later.
    “Your girl? What girl?” Max sounds intrigued. “Whatever happened to that cute little thing that used to watch you work out?”
    “Same girl or woman I should say now.” I reply, wiping the sweat from my neck with a towel.
    “I’m guessing that nothing was going