“Is that a yes or a no?”
“It’s complicated,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t ask more. “I still talk to him.”
They reached the entrance and Gabe had been right. The line went in one door, but the other was wide open for anyone who wasn’t there to see Sanchez. She said goodbye to Gabe, and they parted ways quickly as she walked around the enormous line and he walked to the end of it.
Once inside the gym, she saw the sign that announced not just the “Pride of East Los Angeles” himself, Sanchez, doing signings but “Aweless Ayala” as well. No wonder the place was packed. Ella had had the pleasure of meeting most of the awe-inspiring guys of 5th Street. Their presence at the gym never went unnoticed. Despite Abel’s fame and the number of people in the gym who just about froze when he walked through it, she often saw him there working, business as usual. Though, he did stick to the private work-out rooms in the back as much as possible.
As much as she’d like to think of herself as not the type to get star struck, she wouldn’t even try to pretend that she wasn’t. Every time she saw any of them, her insides would get all warm and giddy, though she had gotten better at playing it off. You’d think after all this time she’d be used to it. Even Noah and Gio, who weren’t famous for their fighting, were both equally as famous as Sanchez and Abel as trainers not just to Abel and Sanchez but other big name boxers as well. They were even known to make appearances on the late night shows during the hype leading up to one of the big fights.
The humble little boxing gym she grew up walking by on her way to and from school was also known worldwide now, and she often saw Gio and Noah on television for other things—ringside doing commentary on some of the biggest fights, promoting charitable events, or even sitting in on some of the ESPN sport commentating shows.
Even their wives were well-known in the community for all the work they did with 5th Street and its many charities. When Abel’s wife, Nellie, and his brother Hector’s fiancée, Charlee, had shown up at the self-defense classes Ella and her brother’s girlfriend Sonia had put together at the local high school, Ella had been floored. They offered to let them bring the classes to 5th Street and expand the program. Ever the suspicious pessimist, Ella at first questioned their motives. It seemed too good to be true. They were willing to let them move the small program Ella had worked so hard to put together to their state-of-the-art gym and even fund it completely all for nothing? She wasn’t sure what to think. But then Nellie explained they’d been following the news at the time about her brother and what had happened to Sonia on TV and were very impressed when they’d interviewed Sonia and Ella about the program they worked so hard on. They wanted to help in some way. And now here they were two years later. What had started as one class a week in the high school gym was now an ongoing program with classes held every day of the week.
As she walked past the mob of people who were waiting to get their things autographed, she came to an angle from which she could see the tables where the guys sat, signing away. Felix was leaning over to sign a shirt he’d been handed. He looked up and smiled at the guy who stood in front of him. Then Felix got up and posed for a photo with him. Just like with all the other guys the first time she’d seen them in person, Ella felt breathless. But this felt even bigger than with the other guys. Felix was on television far more than any of the others. He wasn’t just a sports star; he was a full-blown celebrity. He’d been on Dancing with the Stars, been featured in music videos, and even had his own highly successful line of sports apparel. As expected, in person, he was bigger than life.
She watched as he took his seat again and leaned over to Abel, who sat next to him. Whatever Abel said to him cracked him up. She may’ve lost all respect for the athlete he’d once been, when he seemed to lose his love for the sport and went all Hollywood instead, but she could definitely see why so many women wanted a piece of him. He was amazing.
Ella’s heart suddenly spiked. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t realized she’d been staring at him, and now he was looking right at her. Afraid of making a complete ass of herself by turning around to see if it was her he was actually looking at, she smiled, hoping he wouldn’t smile back. If he did, it’d confirm it was her he was looking at.
For a moment, he seemed confused as if he were trying to determine if he knew her or maybe—she prayed—it was someone behind her he was actually looking at. Then he smiled the most beautiful smile she’d ever been treated to, making her breath catch. So what did she do? She turned and practically ran, not slowing until she was sure she was out of his sight.
“So whatta ya think?”
Startled out of her thoughts, Ella turned to Carmen, who stood in front of her, looking in the direction she’d come from.
“I don’t know,” Carmen continued before Ella could respond. “I’m not that impressed. I mean he’s good-looking and all, but, hmm . . . I was expecting more. The guy has Athena in love with him, for Christ’s sake. I guess I was sort of expecting something more godlike.”
Ella smirked as her insides calmed, walking toward the self-defense class, glad she’d been able to avoid the question. She needed time to get her thoughts together still. “How do you know Athena is in love with him?”
Carmen’s eyes opened wide with a look as if to say Ella should know this. “She checked herself into rehab because of him!”