Cameron nodded stiffly. "Yes, sir."
Grant was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Remember to be light on your feet and move laterally. Don’t get stuck in a line. And remember to always block your head and don’t rely on your dominant foot."
He didn't wait for a reply but strode to where her mom was no doubt waiting for him in the arena.
Cameron let out a big sigh once they were alone and Ebony couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. "Don’t worry. Just remember to block and keep moving and you'll be fine."
Most of her team members that belonged to the Stardust Martial Arts Center won their matches that day. Master Chun had congratulated her as he always did when he presented her winning medal. Ebony sat between her mother and Garrett as they all watched Gavin and Cameron walk onto the mat. Each was wearing the puffy protective chest piece and matching helmet, Gavin in red and Cameron in blue.
Ebony smiled at the wave of nostalgia. She could still remember her and Gavin arguing as kids who would get what color while Master Chun stared daggers at them. Maybe it was the rare presence of her parents sitting next to her or the tension of watching Cameron actually going up against his best friend but Ebony's thoughts began to drift. It brought back memories of the car rides home, with Gavin excitedly boasting about his victories, or the celebratory ice cream along the way.
But as the present melted away and the past came hurtling to the forefront of her mind, another memory leapt forward, one she hadn't thought of in years, of how she first met her step brother years ago.
Eleven years ago.
The thud of feet hitting the padded mat echoed inside of Ebony's padded helmet. She shifted her stance, eyes fixed on the boy in front of her. His eyes peeking through the helmet were a shock of sky blue, small and cruel like a baby alligator she had seen on a field trip. His movements were quick and confident—too confident actually—she could see at least three openings so far. Arrogantly, he bounced on his toes waiting and watching for her to move first. She wouldn't. She would do what her coach taught her and let her opponent make the first move, the first mistake.
This was her first regional taekwondo tournament. It took a lot of pleading to get her mother to make the drive from Houston down to this town hosting the tournament, but Ebony finally convinced her. Around her, the air buzzed with shouts and cheers as other tournaments on other mats were steadily progressing, yet all she could hear was her own heartbeat thundering in her ears.
The boy's patience wore off and he moved forward, launching a rapid series of kicks aimed at her torso. But he made a mistake; in his attempt to do the overly complicated move he dropped the arm guarding his head. Ebony seized the moment, pivoting swiftly and delivering a precise kick to the red padded helmet. The impact sounded off with a loud slap.
Before she knew it the referee's whistle cut sharply through the air, signaling the end of the match. Ebony stood and watched as shock mutated into anger on the boy's face. Ripping off his helmet, the boy charged her despite the referee's warning shout.
But another deeper sound cut through all the noise.
"Gavin!" The word felt like the lash of a whip in the air while the next words came out like short punctuated gun shots. "Don't. Even. Think. About it."
The boy froze, flicking a worried look to the source of the voice before settling back onto her with pure hatred.
A large—no make that giant—man came over to stand next to the boy. He glared down at him before looking at her with a slow widening smile.
Nervously Ebony looked to the bleachers and saw her mom walking toward her, her sharp eyes steadied on the man. Feeling a little more comfortable knowing her mother was coming over, Ebony took off her helmet.
The boy's eyes widened into shock as he watched her puffy curls pop from the helmet, and the man laughed at his expression.
"You're a girl?!" The boy, Gavin, shouted, clearly distraught by the revelation.
Ebony looked at him as if he were dumb or something. "Obviously."
Before he could say anything else the man spoke up. "I'm sorry my son is such a poor loser," he glared at his son as if this would not be the last time they spoke of this and then smiled back at her. "You're quite good."
Ebony didn't want to say anything. Even though the gigantic man had a kind smile and bright blue eyes, all she wanted was to shake the referee's hand like you were supposed to do after each match and get her trophy. But she could feel her mother's presence behind her and knew she would scold her in the car on the drive home if she didn’t act appropriately.
"Thank you," she forced herself to say.
The man looked from her and traveled upward and stopped, his bright blue eyes settling on her mother. Something warm and unreadable passed over the man's expression as he extended a hand. "Grant Rosebank," he offered and waited until her mother gently put a hand in his.
Ebony watched as his pale hand seemed to swallow her mother's hand whole.
"Whitney Landry," she answered. "And this is my daughter, Ebony."
As the boy burned a hole into her head with his glare and the referee shook her hand and handed her the blue and gold trophy, Ebony watched as her mother smiled and talked with the giant man with the kind smile. She could never have known that the tournament she had begged to attend would be the moment her life would change, and that the boy with the mean eyes would come to redefine it.
Chapter six
Gavin let out a wide yawn as he stepped out into the quiet hallway. Lifting his arms, he stretched out a stiff muscle in his shoulder and stopped at the door across the hall. Silently, he stood and listened. There were no sounds coming from the room behind the door.
Looking down, he grinned at the dark glassy eyes of the golden retriever, Duke. "Go check on Ebony," he whispered.
