Page 24 of Until We're More
“As for intimidation tactics, you do have access to a few of the most intimidating people ever.”
“Intimidation lessons. That’s an idea.” Here I’d been focusing on being assertive and bold—not that I had those down yet, either.Man, I have a lot of work to do.
“Also, hitting a punching bag when you’re frustrated works wonders. If you feel self-conscious, we can find a time when the gym’s empty, and I’ll work with you. Shane will insist on being here so we’re not alone late at night—I’ve given up talking him out of it—but I’ll make him do laundry or something.”
“Deal.”
The buzzer sounded, making me jump, and then I laughed at myself. The guys in the cage moved to the next drill, and Liam and Shane switched to striking, now in the position nearest us.
Liam hit, hit, hit, packing a crazy amount of power into each swing. He’d peeled his shirt off, and every muscle worked in tandem, bunching and flexing and delivering blow after blow.
“Their bodies are so ridiculous.” Oops, that sort of slipped out. I gave Brooklyn a sheepish smile. “I mean trained fighters in general.”
“And I totally buy that,” Brooklyn said, her tone contrary to the words.
I slumped back in the chair, giving up on denying it. “It just sort of hit me. But to be clear—”
“You and Liam are just friends,” Brooklyn finished. “I’ve heard the speech. From you, from him. From both of you at the same time. But I also get what you’re saying, because when I first returned home, before I had a chance to rebuild my immunity, it hit me hard, too. And, well, considering I’m with Shane now, maybe I didn’t exactly build it up, but…” Her gaze drifted to her boyfriend, and her teeth sank into her lower lip. “I forget my point.”
“That we should just sit back and enjoy the show?” I asked, doing some gazing and lip biting of my own.
“Amen, sister.”
Liam looked better than ever, and I was talking skill level as well as physical strength and endurance. Carlos would never have a chance of beating him now. Not many fighters would, and I was sure he’d win his next fight and get to put on that belt he’d been dreaming about his whole life.
When the buzzer rang, they called practice, and Liam caught my eye. I lifted my hand in a wave. “Guess I’m going to go talk to your brother about intimidation lessons.”
“Good luck,” Brooklyn said. “And hey, if you need a break from work and all the testosterone smothering the air in your apartment, give me a call, and we can hang out. Actually, give me a call anyway—Liam’s not the only one who missed you.”
Warmth wound through me, and I wrapped her in a tight side hug. “Right back at you.”
I walked to the edge of the cage, and I absolutely wasn’t watching the way my best friend’s throat moved as he drank his water, because that would be weird. But seriously, how did he manage to have a sexy throat? How was that even fair?
“Hi,” I said, suddenly finding myself short on words. In addition to the way his Adam’s apple bobbed, his pecs and biceps twitched with each move, too. Not that I noticed those or anything.
He raked a hand through his hair, but it immediately fell forward again, the longer pieces brushing his cheekbones. “What did Carlos want? You guys seemed extra chummy.”
That was like three subjects ago, so it took me a second to rewind. “Oh, he was telling me about how he’s promoting now, and I offered to help with some of the marketing.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“It’s not a big deal. I don’t mind. Speaking of opposite of chummy, he was reminding me about your last fight and how I held a grudge against him for a while, since he beat you.” I chuckled, and Liam frowned. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to bring up bad memories. If it makes you feel better, you’d totally kick his ass now.”
“It does,” he said, but his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Since I didn’t know what that was all about, only that continuing to discuss a past loss would be contrary to buttering him up, I charged on with my original mission. “Anyway, I was talking to Brooklyn and”—that turned his weak smile into a genuine frown—“why are you scowling again? I haven’t even gotten to the part of the sentence where I ask you for something yet.”
He looked at his sister and she gave him an over-the-top grin that admittedly did make her seem suspicious. “I just know that between you and Brooklyn, there’s probably a whole mess of bad ideas. Don’t worry, I mostly blame her. But you’re so easily talked into things.”
Now it was my turn to scowl. “Low blow, and now I’m not gonna ask.” I turned to gather my things, offense fueling me forward, but I only made it two steps before Liam’s large hand circled my arm, and he spun me back to face him.
“Come on. I didn’t mean it like that,” he said. “What do you need?”
I crossed my arms. Kind of hard to ask for help on being intimidating when he implied I could be talked into things. Which, okay, was maybe too true. My pride battled with my desire to prove myself at work. “I need more than assertive lessons. I need intimidation tactics.”
“Easy.”
“Like me?” I challenged, and the corners of his mouth trembled against a smile.
