“I swear to… Syd this is bullshit. So what? I didn’t try your little arm bar, trick. I got the W, didn’t I?”
“Little trick?” Her arms fell to her sides.
My stomach dropped at the look she gave me. It was a mix of disappointment and anger. I braced myself for a tirade that I just knew was coming.
Instead of yelling and ranting, she pushed out a huff of air and yanked the door open, leaving the room without another word.
I fought every instinct that reared up in me to go after her.
Chapter 18
What’s Going On?
Syd
“That’s awesome, Aeryn. Thank you so much,” I said into the phone, feeling relieved. “We’ll be there next week. Thanks again,” I told my old friend and mentor before hanging up the phone.
Sighing, as I looked up and ran my hand through my hair while staring out of my office’s window.
“What’s that look all about?” Tanisha asked, walking through my office door, and taking a seat in the chair in front of me.
“I just got off the phone with Aeryn Reese.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “That name sounds familiar.”
“It should. The man taught me most of what I know when it comes to Judo. He was my instructor for many years.”
“Down in San Diego? At that studio you used to go to?”
“Dojo.”
She waved me off.
“Yes. To answer your question. He’s agreed to my bringing Luke down there to train for six weeks.”
“Aren’t you his trainer? Are you giving him over to your old teacher?” She asked.
“No, I’m still training him, but he needs something more. He has a few quality sparring partners here in Los Angeles, but in San Diego, at Aeryn’s dojo we’ll have access to higher quality challengers, which is what Luke needs.”
“We?You’re going with him?”
I nodded.
Tanisha tilted her head to the side. “When were you going to tell me, you were going to be gone for a month and a half?”
“Today. I just needed to clear it with Aeryn. He can get real territorial over his dojo. I’ve thought about it for some time. That exhibition fight last week helped me decide. Aeryn finally said yes today.”
“And you have to go to San Diego with him for this training?”
I shrugged. “Of course. I’m his trainer. Why’re you looking at me like that?”
Tanisha’s side-eye spoke volumes. “I don’t know about martial arts and all of that. What I do know is that you’re planning on going away for six weeks with a man you started off training and are now sleeping with.”
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s not like that, Tanisha. I wouldn’t take this time off to train with Luke unless it was absolutely necessary. Besides, I won’t be gone the entire time. San Diego is only a two hour drive from here. I can come back and forth when needed. Also, I’ll have my laptop with me. You’ll be able to get ahold of me for anything emergent.”
“I figured you planned all of this out already. I’m not worried about work. We’ve got plenty of staff to take care of any assignments that might come up. My real issue is what’s going on with you and Luke,” Tanisha said, staring at me with her head tilted to the side.
Lifting my hands, I shrugged and shook my head. “I’m his trainer.”
