Chapter 127
Aaron studies me for a long moment. Something flickers behind his eyes…anger, yes, but not fully directed at me.
“You don’t understand how he thinks,” he says finally.
“Then explain it to me p>
He shakes his head. “That’s not my place p>
Silence falls between us, as my gaze drops to the bruise along his ribs again. Guilt claws up my throat.
“I didn’t mean for you to get hurt,” I say,
“I know you didn’t p>
“I’m still sorry p>
This time he nods once.
We stand there like that for a few seconds, the air smelling like metal and sweat and something else p>
I inhale slowly.
“I need you to train me p>
He freezes.
“What p>
“I want you to teach me how to fight p>
For a split second, I actually see him question my sanity. He stares at me like I just said I want to join the military tomorrow.
“You hit your head at the bridge pretty hard right?” he asks.
“No. Well yes but not in the context you’re thinking, I’m pretty fine p>
“Then why would you say something like that p>
“Because I’m tired of being the weakest person in every situation and needing people to protect me all the tim p>
His brows draw together.
“I don’t want to be dragged around or restrained or dependent on someone else to survive,” I continue. My voice doesn’t shake now, it’s surprisingly steady. “If something happens again, I want to be able to defend myself p>
“This isn’t a self-defense class at a community center,” he says. “You don’t just learn a few moves and call it a day p>
“I’m not asking for a few moves p>
He studies me again, waitin for me to say it’s. A joke, maybe p>
But it isn’t one.
“You don’t know what you’re asking for p>
“Then tell me p>
He runs a hand over his face, clearly irritated.
“Training hurts,” he says bluntly. “You will get knocked down a lot of times, you will get bruised and you will hate me at least once a week p>
“I already survived worse,” I say.
His eyes flick to my wrists briefly.
“That’s not the same p>
“No. It’s not.” I hold his gaze. “That’s the point p>
“You think learning to throw a punch fixes what happened to you?” he asks.
“No. But it fixes what happens next time someone tries something p>
Aaron walks a slow circle around me, assessing.
“You’ve never been in a real fight,” he says
“I’ve survived one though and my brother thought me a few things so I’m not a novice p>
“That’s not fighting back p>
“That’s why I’m here p>
He stops in front of me again.
“And if Zane says no p>
I don’t hesitate. “He doesn’t get a say in ths p>
That answer makes his mouth twitch, just slightly.
“He won’t like it p>
“He doesn’t have to p>
Aaron exhales through his nose again.
“You’re serious p>
“Yes p>
“And you understand I won’t take it easy on you p>
“I don’t want you to p>
His eyes narrow.
“You’ll train like everyone else, no special treatment and no quitting halfway because it’s hard p>
“I won’t quit p>
“You’ll have to listen and we both know how hard that is for you p>
“Yes, I will listen p>
“You’ll get hit p>
“I know p>
“You’ll have to hit back p>
“That’s the goal p>
The corner of his mouth lifts just barely.
“You really have lost a few screws,” he mutters.
“Probably p>
There’s a long pause then he jerks his chin toward the mats.
“Fine p>
My heart jumps, but I don’t show it.
“We start now p>
“You wanted this, didn’t you p>
“Yes p>
He grabs an extra set of hand wraps from a drawer and walks back over.
“Hold your hands out p>
I do.
His fingers are careful as he wraps my knuckles firmly
“This isn’t about proving something to him,” he says quietly as he works. “It’s about discipline and control. You lose your head, you lose the fight p>
“I won’t lose my head p>
He glances up at me. “You already did once p>
I don’t argue.
He finishes wrapping my hands and steps back.
“Feel shoulder-width apart,” he instructs. “Knees slightly bent, guard up p>
I mimic him.
It feels awkward so he adjusts my stance with a tap to my ankle and a little push at my elbow.
“Balanve first,” he says. “Power later p>
For the first time since I walked into this room, I feel something different from anger.
Purpose.
I lift my chin.
“Show me,” I say.
Aaron doesn’t ease me into it. He circles once, watching my stance, then suddenly moves.
“Guard up,” he snaps.
I barely get my hands up before he swats them aside and taps the side of my thigh with his foot just enough to throw me off balance.
“Again p>
I reset.
He comes in faster this time and I try to jab the way he showed me, but my timing is off. He slips past it and lands a sharp smack to my backside as he steps around me.
I whirl around. “Are you freaking serious p>
“That’s where you were open,” he says without a hint of apology.
“That’s not even fair p>
“Fights aren’t meant to be fair p>
He lunges again, I block badly and stumble, he taps my back side again in a corrective strike.
Heat floods my face. Not from embarrassment…but from frustration.
“Stop hitting me there p>
“Then protect it p>
I grit my teeth.
We circle again, the mats squeaking faintly under our feet. My heart’s already pounding harder than it should be which is embarrassing because he is not even going full speed and I can barely keep up.
He fakes lefr and I bite, only for him to duck under my arm and smack my other hip as he passes.
“Oh my God,” I snap.
“Focus p>
“I am focusing p>
“No, you aren’t yet p>
He comes at me again and this time I shove him purely out of irritation.
He doesn’t budge. Instead, he grabs my wrist and twists just enough to make me lose balance, then lets go befor I fall.