Page 100 of EverGreene
“You’re asking the wrong person.”
“It’s done with the right hand,” Malachi called out from where the four guys were still huddled together in their group.
“Right hand. Right.” Katy’s face flushed.
“Thanks for making it.” Loche bent down and brushed a soft kiss against my forehead when we made our way over to them. “I know things have been crazy with Conrad’s criminal case.”
“Yeah, well, I had to throw some things into my fuck it bucket to be here, but all of it will be waiting for me tomorrow, including a subpoena with your name on it.”
“They don’t need to subpoena me to get me to appear for that.”
“Just do us both a favor and don’t skip into the courtroom too merrily.”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been practicing my skip since I uncovered what he was doing. It’s a very manly skip, of course.”
“Of course.”
“Do you want to get a bite to eat tonight before I go out of town for the match?”
“Sure, but I need to take Katy home first, and…”
“I’ll take her home.” Our heads collectively snapped around in disbelief at Malachi, with mine pulling double duty, pivoting back to Katy, who looked like she was on the verge of short-circuiting. “She just lives over by Ever, right? I have to go that way anyway.” Malachi shrugged.
Katy’s eyes found mine, her lips mouthing,Praise the lord.
Behave yourself, I mouthed back.
Not a chance.She winked, then turned to follow Malachai as he and Loche said their goodbyes. As I watched them walk away, I wondered how far down the road they would get before Malachi doused her with holy water.
Shortly after Malachi and Katy left, we waved goodbye to Cole and Nix, effectively leaving us alone in the gym and me alone in the training area after Loche ran to take a quick shower. While waiting for him, I climbed up into the ring, crouching in between the ropes like I used to do between the rails of the rickety, wooden fence that was in my mom’s front yard. I preferred the ring to the cage where Loche’s matches took place. For some reason, the cage made them seem more brutal, even though there was still the same amount of force behind each hit.
It was hard to believe how far my life had come in the span of a year when I was essentially a hermit, surviving but not really living in isolation. It had been almost two years since the first package from Loche had turned up at my door, and now look at me, obsessed with the man whose obsession with me was a misdemeanor. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Jesus Christ!” I shrieked when I moved to turn around, crashing into a solid wall of man. “When did you sneak in here? I didn’t even hear you climb into the ring.”
“It’s my cat-like reflexes,” he answered, chuckling. He smelled of cedar, and his basic white t-shirt and blue jeans, though simple, still looked dressy on him. A far cry from my white tank and black skirt I’d changed into before heading over here. Over his shoulder was his gym bag.
“I’ve never been in a ring before. It’s surprisingly unremarkable.”
“What did you expect, Nevermore? It’s a practice ring, not an Airbnb.”
“Would you teach me how to fight?”
“As far as I’m concerned, you already know how to fight. You just prefer to do so in more of a stabby way.”
“It gets to the point faster.”
“I bet it does.” His eyebrow raised, and a smirk spread across his frustratingly gorgeous face.
“God, I can’t even be mad at you for that one. But, seriously, teach me how to fight.”
Loche sized me up in a professional way that still gave me butterflies even though it wasn’t meant to.
“All right. Let’s do it.”
“Great. It may come in handy sometime, considering the neighborhood I live in.”
“Yeah, about that. I think you should move.”
