Tommy and Slade looked at each other slowly and then back at Oliver. "A couple of times?" Tommy said.
                          
"Yes. But we decided that it was not a good idea to get involved. She is my manager. It would not be professional." Oliver said and they could hear a slight tinge of bitterness in his tone.
                          
"You both decided or she decided?" asked Slade.
                          
"We both did. Look, I am not ready for anything serious. I am trying to concentrate on my fighting. I don't have time for anything else." Slade gave him a shrewd look as he took a sip of his beer. They all ordered food before he spoke.
                          
"Oliver we all know that in this business if you don't have something else in your life it will consume you. You get caught up in the fighting, the titles and then when you are done and you reach that title peak you have nothing left. You need something else man."
                          
Tommy took a sip of his beer, "I am seeing Iris tomorrow night." he said and Oliver looked at him in surprise. She was Felicity's bartender friend from the other night.
                          
"Wow Merlyn, a woman actually said yes to a date with you? I am impressed." Slade teased. "Maybe this will allow you to break up with your hand."
                          
Tommy punched his shoulder and Oliver laughed. He was happy for Tommy. Iris seemed nice and she was a friend of Felicity's. 
                          
"What about you Slade?" Tommy asked. "You have been dating a number of women lately. Any one of them peaking your interest?"
                          
Slade shrugged. "I have a few more wild oats to sow. Not interested in settling down to one woman just yet."
                          
Their food soon arrived and Oliver let his mind focus on their conversation and the teasing and ribbing that was always there when they got together. He pushed Felicity to the back of his mind. He would worry about her later.
                          
"So, I got to train with Yeo Fei today." Oliver said and Tommy and Slade both stopped with their forks halfway to their mouths.
                          
"Jesus! How did you manage that one?" Tommy asked astonished.
                          
"Felicity set it up. She saw footage of some of Bulldozer's fights and arranged for Yeo Fei to come train me." he said, slightly proud.
                          
"Ok maybe I need to approach her again about managing me." Tommy said. "Do you know how hard it is to get within 10 feet of him, much less get him to come train someone?"
                          
Oliver knew the man had been a recluse for the last few years so the fact that Felicity was able to get to him was pretty astonishing.
                          
"I am training with him again tomorrow if you guys want to stop by the gym." Oliver said and they both eagerly agreed. 
                          
Oliver looked at his watch. It was getting late and he had to be at the gym early the next morning so they all paid their bills and then parted ways with a hug and a see you tomorrow.
                          
Oliver headed home, tired but feeling good about the progress he had made with Yeo Fei. His fight was in three days and he felt confident he would be ready.
                          
***
                          
Felicity paced in her apartment as she went over the details for Oliver's upcoming fight. She was excited because winning this fight could catapult him up in the rankings and the momentum that was gathering would do his career well. She had several calls from Candace trying to set up another interview and she had taken great delight in ignoring her calls and messages. 
                          
She pushed her glasses back up her nose as she read that Oliver would have to agree to a photo shoot for the fight and frowned when she read further that they wanted him to take a few pictures with an up and coming female MMA fighter. She would need to check that particular clause. She headed into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine when she heard a knock at her door. She frowned as she was not expecting anyone and it was late in the evening and walked slowly to the door.