A blush from her. Why?
Frosty cleared his throat, a demand for my full attention. “Hate to stop you when you’re going balls to the wall, but you need to talk to Reeve,” he said. “Tell her to drop whoever she’s seeing. This keeps up, and Bronx might just snap and play Prison Rules with the guy.”
“How do you know about Reeve’s new boyfriend, Ethan?” I demanded, searching for Bronx.
He hammered at the punching bag with so much force I was afraid his knuckles would crack. Dark hair streaked with blue was wet and plastered to his scalp. Sweat dripped from his temples to his bare shoulders, then down the ripped cords of his abs, and if I’d been with Cole, I wouldn’t have watched those droplets, mesmerized.
Lucky Reeve.
Poor Ethan.
Frosty patted me on top of the head. “Aren’t you cute? As if you don’t know the answer to your own question.”
Right. Kat. “Forget Reeve. Her life, her decisions. Your problem is the fact that Kat wants self-defense lessons, and I promised to give them to her. I know she would love it if you helped.” And with my new...urges, it would be better all the way around.
Uncomfortable with the new direction of the conversation, he shifted from one booted foot to the other. “No. And you’re going to tell her you changed your mind.”
“Are you kidding me? No, I’m not.”
“It’s not that I don’t want her trained. It’s that I want her stronger first. You could break her. I’d definitely break her.”
“Cole didn’t break me, and I’ll be a much gentler teacher. So will you. I’ve seen you with her.”
That earned me another head pat. “Cole went easy on you, sweet cakes. And I’m the worst coach the slayers have ever seen. Just ask them. I’m too impatient with failure, and I’d hurt Kat’s feelings.”
I got snagged on his first words. “Cole did not go easy on me.”
He tsked. “Pretty, but delusional. A smoking-hot combination. No wonder all the boys want a go at you.”
Hardly. “You’re seconds away from a busted nose, Frosty.”
He laughed. “Unlike Cole, I give back whatever’s dished. Just remember what I said about Reeve.” And he ambled away.
As if! “Who’s on patrol tonight?” I called.
Frosty grinned over his shoulder. “There are two patrols going out. Gavin and Mackenzie, and Cole and Lucas. Want to guess who you’ll end up with?”
Chapter 8
A Beautiful Disaster
For several minutes I stood where Frosty had left me, all by myself, feeling forgotten, abandoned. Finally the most unlikely source took pity on me and strode over.
“It won’t always be this hard,” Mackenzie said with a sad smile.
A show of compassion. One I didn’t deserve. Not from her. I guess she’d meant what she’d told me before, about being there for me if I needed her.
I’d find a way to make up for every bad thing I’d ever said to her.
“Here’s hoping,” I replied.
She patted my shoulder before walking away.
A few seconds later, Trina took her place. “When you’re ready, let me know and I’ll take you out to meet someone outside our little circle. You’ll have fun, I promise. It did wonders for Mac when she was in this same situation.”
I nodded, and she was off. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready.
Cole exited the locker room. He’d painted black half circles under his eyes and strapped weapons all over his body. I’d always loved seeing him like this. Strong. Ready for action. Just a little naughty, capable of any deed. Had we still been together, I would have thrown myself into his arms and kissed the breath out of him.
You know what wistful thinking gets you? A whole lot of nothing.
“What are my instructions?” I demanded.
He stopped in front of me. Avoiding my gaze, he withdrew a black bandanna from one of the pockets in his combat pants and covered my hair. “You’ll stay with Gavin and Mackenzie, and you’ll be careful.”