She laughed. “I was going to say they’re usually not into violence.”
“Neither am I. Not anymore. Obviously, injuries can happen during one of my fights, but I don’t necessarily want to hurt anyone. I just want to win.”
“Don’t the two go together?”
“Sometimes, but not always. If you get your opponents in the right submission hold, they’ll tap out and walk away good as new.”
She twirled the bracelet on her wrist. “Is it scary? Walking into that cage?”
“If you’re scared, you probably shouldn’t be getting into the ring in the first place. For me, it’s more of a rush that gets the adrenaline flowing. The key is to keep the adrenaline under control.”
He began reeling in his line.
“I take it you’re pretty good.”
“I’m all right for an amateur, but I’d struggle in the pros. Some of those guys were NCAA-level wrestlers or Olympic boxers, and they’re out of my league. But I’m fine with that. It’s not my dream to go pro – it’s just something to do until I graduate. When the time comes, I’ll be ready to walk away.”
Instead of casting again, he fastened the hook and lure to the pole, then tightened the line. “And besides, teaching and cage fighting don’t exactly mesh. I’d probably scare the little kids like I scared you.”
“Little kids?”
“I want to teach third grade,” he said. He bent over, reaching for his tackle box. “It’s getting dark,” he added. “You ready to head back? Or would you like to stay out here a bit longer?”
“We can go,” she said. As Colin set the pole on his shoulder, she noted the restaurants lit from within, lines of people already forming at the doors, the faint strains of music filling the air. “It’s starting to get crowded down here.”
“That’s why I asked to work the day shift. It’ll be a zoo on the rooftop tonight.”
“Good for tips, no?”
“Not worth the aggravation. Too many college kids.”
She laughed, the sound warm and melodic. They began to retrace the steps they’d taken earlier, neither feeling the need to rush. In the dimming light, she was alluring, her slight smile making him wonder what she was thinking. “Have you always lived here?” he asked, breaking the peaceful lull.
“I grew up here and moved back last December,” she answered. “Between college, law school, and working in Charlotte, I was gone for about ten years. You’re not from here, though, right?”
“I’m from Raleigh,” he said. “Spent summers here when I was a kid, lived here on and off for a month or two for a few years after high school. I’ve been living here permanently the last three years.”
“We’ve probably been neighbors at times and didn’t even know it. I went to UNC and Duke.”
“Neighbors or not, I doubt we traveled in the same social circles.”
She smiled. “So… you came here to go to college?”
“Not at first. College came a little after that. I came here because my parents kicked me out of the house and I wasn’t sure where else to go. My friend Evan was living here and I ended up renting a room from him.”
“Your parents kicked you out?”
He nodded. “I needed a wakeup call. They gave me one.”
“Oh.” She tried to keep her voice neutral.
“I don’t blame them,” he said. “I deserved it. I would have kicked me out, too.”
“Because of the fights?”
“There’s more to it than just that, but the fights were part of it. I was kind of a problem child. And then, after high school, I was a problem adult for a while.” He glanced over at her. “What about you? Do you live with your parents?”
She shook her head. “I have a condo down on Market Street. As much as I love them, there’s no way I could live with my parents.”
“What do they do?”
“They own La Cocina de la Familia. It’s a restaurant here in town.”
“I’ve heard of it, but I haven’t been there.”