The Next Breath is now available on audio! Now you can listen to the entire book, and find out why Nick calls Robin “Rocky,” and why/how she goes up against the elusive “Flashdance Girl.”
Find The Next Breath on Audible
But first, let’s revisit the epic question posed by Nick in the novel’s prologue.
Excerpt:
“Mmm.” Nick gives me a crooked grin. “I can’t decide if you’re crazy, running in this weather, or if you’re a badass.”
“Uh huh. Keep wrestling with that while I change out of my sweaty clothes.”
Nick shakes his head. “Don’t change. I like the sweatsuit. I bet you looked like Rocky Balboa, running through downtown Des Moines. Did you go up any steps?”
I screw up my face. “Huh?”
His mouth drops open. “Rocky Balboa? The famous sports montage from Rocky?”
“Starring Sylvester Stallone?”
“That’s the one.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You’re saying I look like him?”
“Yeah.”
When my mouth drops open in horrified shock, he chuckles. “Oh, come on. It’s clear that you, in all your leggy-blonde glory, don’t actually resemble the Italian Stallion. You’re just both determined and scrappy.”
“Right.” I have no other answer, so I walk off to my bathroom. After closing the door behind me, I peel off my workout gear, splash lukewarm soapy water under my pits, reapply deodorant, and change back into today’s outfit: a wide-necked gray sweater that slides off my shoulders, black stretch pants, and pink knee socks.
Then I rejoin Nick in my studio’s workspace. “Thanks for bringing me lunch.”
Since I no longer smell like car exhaust and perspiration, I give him a proper kiss.
His lips are warm and inviting, tasting faintly of the soup he just sampled. I pull back and smile. “Vegetable minestrone?”
He grins, surprised. “How did you know?”
“I’m a woman of many talents.” I grab the container that smells like chicken and roasted tomatoes.
Nick looks me up and down. “Okay. Now that you changed clothes, you’re more Flashdance than Rocky.”
“Oh yeah?” I taste my soup, which makes my mouth water.
“Hey. How come no one talks about the Rocky/Flashdance rivalry?” Nick asks. “It’s epic… Philadelphia versus Pittsburgh, boxing versus dancing, men versus women.”
“I haven’t seen either film, so I can’t say.”
“What?” His mouth drops open. “That’s not right. They’re both classics.”
“I always meant to watch them. Just never got around to it.”
“Well, tonight we’ll remedy that.” Nick looks at his watch. “I have a showing in twenty minutes, so I should go. Come over around six? Andrea’s on her spring break trip, so we’ll have the place to ourselves. I’ve got both movies on DVD. We’ll watch them, and you can decide which one’s better.”
What do YOU think? In case you need a refresher, check out the clips below:
So, which do you think is best — Rocky or Flashdance? I’d love to know your thoughts!
You can start reading my FREE, Taylor Swift- inspired short story, Love and Poetry today!
Flashdance rules. Rocky was overhyped.
Personally, I find Flashdance more entertaining and Rocky a little dull.
Rocky is the winner! It’s a love story .🥰
The man just happens to box. The woman is shy and unsure of herself. Together, they bring out the best in each other.
Good point!