Page 67 of Healing Souls

She will heal us, and we will heal her. But she needs all three of us.

Not now, Ryker.

Taking a deep breath, I grab some hand wraps and turn around. “So, if you aren’t comfortable doing it with me, you can use a punching bag. But punching something might help you. If you enjoy it, I can teach you how to do it properly a different day.”

Harley raises a brow that I don’t quite understand. She opens her mouth but then snaps it shut and nods. “I’ll do it with you. What are those?” she asks, gesturing towards the hand wraps.

I step forward and grab her wrist, explaining while putting them on her hands and my own, “It helps keep your wrist stable under the boxing glove and offers extra protection for your tendons and ligaments.”

“Oh, okay.”

I grab her both boxing gloves and myself some boxing pads to wear for her to hit. Then I gesture towards the center mat, where we get ready. Harley tosses her long red curls on top of her head in a messy ponytail and then slides the gloves on.

“Gray, can you turn on some music?” I ask.

He goes over to our speaker system and hooks up my phone since I am the one who usually has the most music.

“Any preference, Harley?”

She thinks it over for a moment before shaking her head. “No. I like most everything I have heard so far at Bri’s. And the guys at the gym listened to a variety, so I’m good with anything.”

Grayson starts up a playlist and the song,‘Me, Myself, and I’ by G-Eazy and Bebe Rexhacomes on.

I raise the pads on my hands and because I am not prepared for a full hit, my balance is slightly off, so when the first swing comes it knocks me back a few steps. I have to shake my head to register what is happening, but I’m not even given a chance before the next hit is coming.

Chapter Seventeen

Harley

Rykerfallsbackastep before catching himself and shakes his head. But before he processes again, I swing once more and hit the other pad.

The fucker didn’t even check to see if I had already learned any of this, so why not mess with him?

For the first time in a week, I feel pretty calm and centered. I am in a basement and not freaking out, and Ryker kissed me.Again.I think my heart almost stopped when his lips touched mine. I was not expecting it, but it was very welcome. I think kissing Ryker or even Cayden could become addicting very fast.

Maybe Grayson too…Don’t think like that, Harley.

After the second blow, I give him a moment to work through the shock of how hard I hit. When he finally gets it together, I raise my brows with a smirk on my face.

Atlas’s voice seems to radiate through my head as I start relaxing my muscles and getting into position.Stand straight and place your feet shoulder width apart. Take a breath, Harley.

Shift one of your feet slightly in front of the other, keeping them mostly parallel to each other. Breathe again. Keep yourself calm and relaxed.

Ryker notices and removes the pads before grabbing his own boxing gloves and getting into position. The music is blasting too loud for us to talk, but I see the questions, worry, and curious gleam underlying in his eyes.

I know I am going to have to make the first move, so letting Atlas keep me centered in my head, I move.

Always keep your lead foot far enough in front of your back foot so you can shift your weight when you hit.Shifting to the left, I get ready to swing at the side of his head, but when he moves to block, I swing low and hit his gut. He grunts but doesn’t lose his balance.

We circle each other, but Ryker never comes at me or tries to hit me even once. He doesn’t even fake it.

I start getting frustrated when I know I need this really bad. I need them to just go for it like Atlas and Linc would. I rip the gloves off and wave at the speaker where Grayson still stands slack-jawed. He shakes his head and clicks the music off.

Letting my anger get the best of me, I whirl on Ryker. “Look, I know I didn’t tell you that I actually know what the fuck I’m doing, but I do. You could've asked before you went on to mansplain it to me. But now I need a fucking fight, Ryker! So if you won’t do it, find me someone who will.”

Ryker’s eyes darken, the darkest I have ever seen them, and he storms towards me. I back up until my back collides with the wall, and he cages me in with his arms. “If anyone fights you or lays a fucking hand on you, I will kill them.”

Something inside me ignites at the way he is talking and how possessive he sounds, but it also pisses me off.

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