Marriage by Mistake

to face his cousin. "What do you want?"
    Troy shook his head. "Nothing."
    "Why are you smiling?"
    "Who, me? I'm not smiling." But Troy was definitely smiling.
    "Glad to see me down?" Dean cocked his head.
    Troy beamed. "Well, yeah. It's not unpleasant to see you looking miserable."
    "Great. You've seen it, now go."
    But Troy didn't budge. "Oh, the pleasure doesn't stop after only one glance." With his hands in his trouser pockets, he rocked back on his heels. "Yes, I'm definitely enjoying this, a kind of misery-loves-company thing, I suppose."
    "Excuse me?" Dean said.
    "The funny thing is, I can see the solution to your problem crystal clear," Troy told Dean. "While I have no idea what to do about my own."
    " Excuse me?" Dean said.
    Troy laughed and waved a hand. "Come on, Dean. Don't you think you could be doing something a little more constructive with your feelings than play video games?"
    Dean glared at him. "What feelings?"
    "Hm," Troy said.
    He sounded so superior, so smug. Dean felt his hands clenching into fists. With surprise, he realized his dark depression was lifting. It was transforming into anger. What business had Troy to make fun of him? This whole thing was Troy's fault to begin with! He'd been the one to give that idiotic hypnotic suggestion. He'd started the whole boondoggle mess.
    Dean showed his teeth at his cousin. "Fine. You think I ought to be doing something more constructive?"
    "Uh—"
    "More—physically healthy, perhaps?"
    "Uh, Dean—" Troy took a step back.
    Dean rose from the padded office chair. He tightened his silk belt. "How about we go a few rounds?"
    Troy's eyes widened. "Fight? Right here?"
    "No." Though Dean wouldn't have minded. But he could see he'd have to convince Troy. "In the gym, with gloves."
    Troy swallowed. "No way."
    "I'll pay you," Dean said.
    "What?"
    "I'll pay you. You're always up for an addition to your allowance."
    Troy held up his hands. "I don't think some extra pocket change would be worth this."
    "Ten grand," Dean said, knowing precisely how much Troy received from his trust fund every month.
    Troy's lower jaw dropped.
    "Twenty," Dean said, not wanting to fiddle around. He wanted his hands in the gloves, hitting something.
    Troy shook his head. But his mouth said, "You're on."
    ~~~
    Fifteen minutes later they were on a mat in the gym, circling each other. Troy had insisted on helmets, otherwise they were down to their gym shorts.
    Dean admitted he was a little stiff. He hadn't worked out since he'd discovered Robby's video games. That had been over a week ago. And Troy would be more supple, being younger. But he'd have no discipline. He never used the downstairs gym. Dean doubted his lazy cousin did any sort of exercise, besides a game of tennis now and then.
    Dean made an experimental jab toward Troy's jaw. He was surprised when Troy parried expertly.
    "Might not be as easy as you thought, eh?" Troy kept circling.
    Dean shrugged. He'd known Troy would be faster, but he wouldn't be stronger. Dean tried another jab, this one down low. He missed contact again.
    "Face it," Troy said. "You're not as all-powerful as you think."
    "Huh," Dean said. Troy sounded way too pleased about the fact. "All I have to be is powerful enough to knock your block off."
    "You think that'll make you feel better?" Troy grimaced as they circled each other. "Fact is, I had the same thought, but I don't believe it's going to work."
    "I believe it will." Dean made another jab. Troy blocked it again and then added a shot of his own, one that connected. Dean grunted. His cousin had more juice than he'd expected.
    "Ready to call off this stupid idea?"
    Dean drew in a steadying breath. "I haven't got my twenty grand worth yet."
    "No." Troy sighed. "That'll only come after I knock you out, I suppose."
    Dean smiled. "Right. Come and get me, girlfr—"
    Troy's arm flashed toward him. Dean's head snapped back. His feet slipped out from under him, and then everything went black.
    ~~~
    Dean opened his eyes to see Troy in his helmet, looking worriedly down at him.
    Helmet still on. He hadn't been out that long, then.
    Troy's worried look eased. It turned annoyed. "Idiot," he said.
    Dean shrugged. Or at least he tried to.
    "Come on, let's get you on your feet." Troy lifted Dean's shoulders. Dean groaned as the pain in his head surged. "You know, this really wasn't productive," Troy grumbled.
    "You can say that again." Dean winced as he struggled to sit up.
    "Getting beat up is not going to make you