Chapter 20
The short time with Ivan was just so good, although the shock of Pauli's words still runs deep. I realize that it's not right to be in a relationship with Ivan, but I can't accept that he's dragging Mickey into it. It took everything I had not to start thinking about how much shit he's screwed up in his life.
Before I left, I called Adrian. It doesn't take a genius to realize that Rocky's head isn't in the game. He needs his wife. He needs all the support he can get right now and well that support is obviously not me and before I distract him even more or before Pauli drops the bomb before the fight ... No, Rocky doesn't need that at all right now.
I have watched Ivan train every day for the last 2 weeks. Coach Rimski has done a really good job. Ivan trains like a maniac all the time on machines that I have never seen before. But what I've never seen before is Ivan using drugs to help with his strength and endurance. I haven't said anything about it, but I don't like the way Nikolai treats Ivan, as if he were his personal puppet. He's only interested in media presence, he doesn't seem to care that Ivan can't concentrate properly with so much turmoil.
I sit in the training hall and frantically try to write a useful article from my notes while Ivan stands in the ring and beats his sparring partner to a pulp. His technique is good, but there are small subtleties that his coach doesn't seem to notice.
"Try not to stretch your arm out so far," I say without lifting my eyes from my notes. But when I don't hear any more noise, I look into the ring where Ivan is looking at me questioningly.
"Your arm," I start and move towards him. "If you extend it all the way, your punch will have more power but your guard will be down longer. Better hit short."
I hear people behind me saying something in Russian, but Ivan takes my advice to heart and boxes as I suggested, which makes Nikolai extremely angry.
"Chto ty delayesh? Tebe sleduyet slushat tol´ko Rimskogo, a ne etu amerikanskuyu shlyukhu"(What are you doing? You should only listen to Rimski and not that american slut!) But before he has even finished the sentence, Ivan is already millimeters away from him.
"Do not call her a slut, got it!"
"Who do you think you're talking to? You're nothing without me! You're fighting for us, don't forget that!" Nikolai shouts back in horror. He turns in my direction and scowls at me before storming out of the hall, leaving Ivan, Rimski and me alone.
"Don't say that Nikolai, but your suggestion isn't so bad. Ivan has always been physically superior, but we don't want to underestimate his opponent, do we Ivan?" Wow, the first time I've ever received a compliment from Rimski.
When Ivan has finally finished, we make our way back to the hotel. Although I have my own room, Ivan and I have spent most of the time together and I have to say there is something good about being here in Russia. I've gotten to know so many new things about Ivan in the last few weeks that I really have the feeling we could work out.
"If he talks to you like that again, he'll regret it!"
I could hardly calm Ivan down after Nikolai's outburst. On the one hand, I find it admirable that he really stands up for me and stands up to his people, but on the other hand, I'm not a foolish fool like Nikolai, Ivan just has to concentrate on the fight otherwise it won't work. Just like Rocky. Both men don't have their heads 100% in the game and I'm afraid both will realize that in a painful white way.
"Ivan, listen to me! You have to concentrate, please don't let Nikolai get to you. And Ivan, no matter what your people might say ... you have to fight for yourself. Don't underestimate Rocky. When you go into this fight, you only have to fight for yourself. Not for Nikolai. Not for your country. Not even for me. You have to fight for yourself."
We stare at each other for a few moments before I finally summon up all my courage. On the tips of my toes, I kiss Ivan more passionately than ever before.
„Ya lyublyu tebya, Ivan!" (I love you, Ivan!)