Page 1 of All Hallows' Rage
CHAPTER1
Matt
THE MEETING, TWO YEARS EARLIER
My Jeep rocked slightlyas I came to a stop in front of the training building and slide the gear into park. For a midsummer day, the morning had been cool, but I knew the temperature would rise to an unbearable, sweltering heat before I left. My phone was mounted on my dashboard and vibrated with a text. Grabbing it, I got out and clicked the lock button on my key fob as I walked to the massive doors of the gym.
Lane: your new partner has arrived
I stopped short of the entrance and turned back to the parking lot. Lane’s car, I noted right away, and a few other familiar cars belonging to the acrobatic team were here, but nothing stood out to me.
Matt: and you’re being nosy because?
Lane: harsh, but not as harsh as the cut of his muscles
Matt: knock it off, L
Lane: already felt the divine call, you’re welcome
Matt: nuisance
Pocketing the phone, I pushed Lane’s meddling out of my mind as I pulled open the door and stepped inside. The usual gym smell of sweat overlaid with sweat hit me as I followed the short hallway to the locker rooms. Lane’s teasing had caught up to me when I realized my head was on a swivel and looking for any sign of my new partner. With no unfamiliar faces, I shook my head and started dumping my bag.
Why am I even curious?
Gretchen had a habit of changing my partners at her discretion, even without my input. Her last few choices had resulted in shitty performances because they were so far up their own asses. Even fresh out of college and relatively young for the gymnastic world, I had better professionalism than the seasoned athletes she brought in. I didn’t kid myself about the job. The pay wasn’t grand, and Gretchen had a talent for making the workplace hell, but it was more than a stepping stone for me.
I stripped off my sweatpants and hoodie, sliding on a pair of training shorts. My phone went off again.
Lane: you’re not late, but dude, hurry up and get in here
Matt: pest
I left her with that message and threw my phone into the duffle bag at the bottom of my locker. The water bottle I brought was empty and I was in no hurry, stopping by the fountain to fill it up. I was partly convincing myself I didn’t care about something potentially temporary, but mostly enjoying the fact that my delay would irritate Lane.
She was one of the first friends I made when I started working here, and the satisfaction of riling her up was unmatched. Very much within best friend territory, she’d made it her mission to ensure I have eternal happiness.Pesky witch,I thought to myself as I sealed the lid.
People passed through the annex in hushed conversation, and while I couldn’t immediately hear them all, they weren’t this new partner that had Lane up my ass. Approaching the doors for the shared practice arena, I reminded myself that I wasn’t going to be disappointed or impressed. Chemistry and talent were a priority, and it would take time to form that judgement. Being impressed in the past had made way for disappointment, where initial disappointment left the whole practice in a sour mood. Over the years, male or female, they were immediately ready to move on before even introducing themselves. This was a phase for them, and because they’d felt that so deeply, their posture was sloppy and their executions were half-hearted. No matter how hard I compensated, in the end, it wasn’t enough.
The gym was vast, and looking around inside didn’t help that little voice telling me to findhim,whoever he was. People were everywhere, doing their own stunts and routines. Gretchen mentioned that her new hire did aerials and the same stunts, so we were to practice on the duo straps today.
“Matt!” Lane’s voice broke my concentration on the pair working on their acro balance routine. When I looked over at her, she was jumping up and down while waving her hand. Her long black hair was tied back in a sleek style, and she rocked her usual alternative casual wear.
As I made my way around the floor, she slumped against the wall, pulling a snack from her shoulder bag and sliding until her ass hit the floor. Her smirk grew with each step I took until I stood in front of her and she wore an ear-to-ear smile. I crouched down in front of her and leaned in close.
“Pest,” I said with a smile. She was my favorite pest, my best friend, and I enjoyed every aspect of her personality.
“Did you see him?” she whispered. Her eyes grew wider and her brows rose.
“See who?”
“Damn,” she muttered, leaning forward and scanning the gym. “He was just out here on the floor!” I stood fully and followed her movements, but no one stuck out to me. Bodies were tumbling, flying, and flipping everywhere. A door closed behind us followed by Gretchen’s typical stern tone.
“There you are.” I turned as Lane looked behind me.
Beside Gretchen’s short frame was a man with a build like mine. His hair was shaggy and cropped. He kept the sides shaved close, but that faded into background noise when I focused on his face. Bright green eyes were alight and matched the smile he had. Pretty teeth, pretty cheekbones—just fuckingpretty.
My eyes trailed down his body and confirmed Lane’s earlier assessment. Forcing myself to look away before my appreciative gaze turned lewd, I focused on Gretchen. Snickers from Lane came from behind me, and I wanted to throw her in the pond when I looked back and saw she had a straight face.
