But too many people were watching, and his pride had become more important to him than common sense.
“Fine,” he said. “Five minutes. Light gloves. Raymond can referee.”
Raymond looked unhappy but agreed to supervise.
Cole put on the gloves.
As he stepped onto the mat, he saw Claire near the front row.
She looked pale.
For the first time that evening, she wasn’t watching Derek.
She was watching her husband.
Cole looked away.
He wasn’t there to win her back.
He wasn’t even sure he wanted her back.
He was there because he needed to face the man he had become without pretending that the man he used to be had never existed.
The bell sounded.
Derek came forward with a quick combination.
Cole stepped back, blocked, and moved to the side.
The first exchange lasted only seconds.
But it was enough for Raymond to see that Cole wasn’t improvising.
