I unintentionally paint Cole’s eyes on the third wall of my room. I begin with an oval, and next thing I know, it’s his eyes. Always watching me wherever I go. I can train all day, every day, but he’ll never be far from my mind.
Monday. I wake up ready to kick some ass. After taking a hot shower, I pull on fresh clothes. I bind my hair tightly while inspecting myself in the mirror. My face has gained some color from eating better and exercising, but it’s still lean like the rest of me. My form-fitting shirt flatters my athletic frame. I smirk, pleased with my transformation. I wish Cole were here to see it. No… I can’t think like that today. I squash the argument in my brain and bounce into the cafeteria. Keegan looks up from his crowded table and stares at me, dumbfounded.
“Would it be all right if I joined you?” I say as I put my tray of food down beside him. “I’m sorry.”
“Finally! Thank God, I was starting to worry that I lost you forever,” he smacks me on my back. “Watch out, fellas, my little sister here is going to do some serious ass-kicking.”
“I don’t know about that,” I whisper.
“You will.”
“Oh really? How do you know that?”
“Because I can see all the potential you have. You’re just blind to it,” Keegan says. “If you want strength, you need to eat.” He shoves more food in my direction, and I laugh out loud.
“I’m going to barf if I eat any more.” I push his tray away. “So how do you get all this food anyway? Everyone up top has to scrounge for it.”
“We grow some down here. We barter for the rest.” He shovels in a mouthful of potatoes and keeps talking. “Told you we have connections.”
“Eww, your manners suck. You’re spitting food all over me.” I pick up a napkin and wipe my shirt.
He laughs and more falls out of his mouth onto the table. “Like seafood?”
I swat him and laugh. Some things never change.
The others at the table look at him and then at me. It’s the first time I really see them. They smile politely and laugh along with us. We’re an athletic group, a multicultural quilt of people. I feel at home here and almost safe.
This time I run faster, hit harder, and Keegan matches me up against some of his guys. We wrestle, and I get pinned a few times.
“Damn it. Push yourself!” Keegan shouts. He circles the room, keeping his eyes on everyone. He stops at my mat, evaluating me as I roll around. “Wow, that was impressive! I’m glad you’re over that idiot.”
I clench my teeth and ball my hands into fists. Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Oh, but I would give anything to deck him right now.
“At least he allowed you to train well. That’s all the credit I can give that—Wow!”
I reverse my competitor’s guard and end up in a full mount. My smile takes up my entire face. I stand up, and shake hands with my opponent. He’s a little taller than me and slim, but I still beat him.
The training is rough. In the beginning, my body hurt everywhere, but I feel it adjusting to the grind. The daily torture dampens my mental anguish because I’m too busy to think about Cole.
“That’s it for the morning, guys. Go rest up,” Keegan puts his arm around me. “When the revolt breaks out, I want you on my team.” He turns to walk toward the showers.
I chase him, tugging at his shirt. “What do you mean?”
He continues walking, so I match his stride. “For the main operation, we divided everyone into teams. I’m assigning you to my team. One, because I want to look after you, and two, because you’re that damn good.” He cracks his neck and stops with his hand on the light switch. People pass, but we don’t move.
“Who leads the other teams?”
“Sutton, Bruno, and a lot of others… People you haven’t met. Why?” His eyes search mine with a cool stare.
“Just wondered,” I mumble. Obviously Bruno’s alive if he’s going to lead a team, I think with satisfaction. If he’s still kicking, then chances are so is Cole.
“For God’s sake, please tell me it’s not because of him.” His cobalt eyes see right through me. “He can’t be trusted, and for that reason alone, he’s not welcome anywhere near my group.” He takes a deep breath. “Enough about him. Go shower. I’ll catch up with you later.”
I start to speak again, but he’s not in the mood. He slams the switch down and the lights flicker off. The room feels lonely and smells like body odor.
I shuffle to the women’s showers and tiptoe past the stalls before anyone can talk to me.
“I love you, Lexi. You’re all I want. You’re the air I breathe, the very reason for my existence,” Cole says as he kisses along my jawline, my ear, and my neck. Bright light frames his perfect face, and warmth from his body radiates against mine.
I wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer. “You have no idea how much I love you,” I say.
His eyes light up, and he pulls my left hand to his chest, fingering my ring. “I’ll never let you down,” he says.