The Clinch

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

"'Brawl Room Blitz- the gritty underbelly of the boxing league'" Gabriel spits in disgust as he throws the newspaper down on the kitchen counter. And there, right on the front page of the derogatory article is a full sized series of pictures ranging from the start of the outbreak to the aftermath of last night. In the first captured shot, Hunter has just whacked the rabbit punch at the back of Gabriel's head. The next one pictures several fighters brawling all around the ring and Gabriel in the centre restraining Hunter. And the last, which is by far the most mortifying, is the shot of me in Gabriel's arms with his face all cut up and bloody and our eyes locked whilst Hunter is being shoved into a patrol car in the background.

They'd captured such an innocent moment between us, and this article is just muddying it with the situation surrounding the out of control fight. Though I suspect that Gabriel is more upset about the sullying of his name. He wasn't the one that instigated the occurrences last night. But the article's misconstrued everything.

"I've already had one of my sponsors call this morning and pull out of our contract." He grouses, throwing himself down into the spare stall next to mine as my mother flits around the kitchen filling up empty plates with breakfast.

My father enters the room and steps up behind Gabriel to give him a pat on the back. "It's alright son, I've received a couple calls already offering up more sponsorship. Seems the romance angle's working for you."

But Gabriel's in a funk and he grunts in response. "This could jeopardize everything. Not just with boxing, but with the hospital. If money donors start pulling out and stop funding our department they'll cut me loose."

I lean across the table and scoop up the newspaper, flicking to the article and quickly skim reading it. It's not too incriminating; but it'll definitely serve a temporary blow to Gabriel's boxing career. And he's not wrong about the sponsors at the hospital either. With a shy grin in his direction, I fold up the paper and slide a hand down his thigh. "If we bow down and let this die over, you're at risk of everybody forgetting who Azazel Lancaster is. We'll just schedule another fight in a month or so and show everybody that this hasn't effected your game, that you're still a serious competitor."

Gabriel sighs and runs a hand through his hair before lifting my hand to his mouth and gently kissing my knuckles. "You're right. God, you're so right."

Blushing, I pull my hand from Gabriel's and tuck back into my bacon. When Gabriel's hand reaches across my plate to swipe up a piece of bacon, I make to furiously stab him with my fork. "That best not be my bacon you're trying to steal boy!" I warn him, swatting the back of his hand just as he swipes a piece and rips into it with his teeth.

My mother chuckles and dumps more bacon onto my plate and sets some in front of Gabriel. "Our girl is serious about her bacon. I hope you're taking notes Gabriel."

He snickers in response and thanks her for the bacon. "Believe me Mrs K, I'm vigilantly taking notes. I want to know exactly how to handle Darryl for when I take her as my wife. I can't have an unhappy wife can I now? Unhappy wife means unhappy life, or something like that..."

Startled, I almost choke on my bite of bacon as I sputter and cough in indignation. "Whoa boy. Down! Who said anything about a marriage? Are you trying to give me an aneurysm?" Okay a baby is one thing, a house is another, but marriage? That's in a whole other galaxy right now. I don't think my brain can handle so much so soon. I clutch at my heart as I get my breath back, wiping tears from the corners of my eyes whilst considering the serious expression on his face.

"You'll be getting married sooner than later, Darryl. The man knocked you up after all." My father sternly puts in with a frown in my direction.

"Not deliberately. He's not that clever!"

"Hey!" Gabriel scoffs, pouting over at me whilst wolfing down his food. "And don't worry sir, I'll change her mind eventually." He sends me a wink and I flush whilst busying myself with washing my empty plate in the sink whilst they all snigger at my reaction behind my back.

I turn and glare at Gabriel, sending him the best death glare I can muster whilst firmly folding my arms under my chest. "You watch your back Lancaster or there'll be a hole through it sooner than you'd like!"

"Yes ma'am." He smirks whilst blowing a kiss in my direction. I roll my eyes and try to contain my blush. That man is too damn flirty for his own good; and for mine too now that I mention it.