“It’s totally life or death,” Aspen whispers under her breath.
“Agreed,” I murmur back.
The worker goes through the rest of the rules, but I tune out as I study our competition. There are two groups of girls who look like they belong to a sorority, two dudes who look like brothers, and the rest look like couples.
No one looks like they have any real training, but then again, looks can be deceiving.
After the last group leaves, we all head in and find our hiding places.
“Ready to kick some ass, Songbird?” I ask quietly.
Aspen leans in and steals a kiss. “You know it. Let’s kick some ass.”
The next thirty minutes go by faster than I thought possible. Aspen and I work, taking everyone down one by one. The entire time, she heckles the people as we take them out. The lights come back on, and we exit after being the last ones standing.
“Fuck yeah, baby,” she says, giving me a high five.
The worker clears his throat as we step out of the room.
“Um, I’m sorry to bother you guys, but we had some complaints about you two. You made a couple of the women cry.”
“What do you mean we made them cry? We didn’t touch them,” Aspen says.
The kid winces. “They said you were being bullies.”
Aspen gasps. Her hand flies to her chest. “I would never. I’m a girl’s girl.”
I bite the inside of my cheek so hard to stop myself from laughing, I taste copper.
Bullshit. That was all her. I was just the one with good aim.
“I’m going to have to ask you guys to leave. Just for tonight. You guys are welcome to come back.” The kid leans in close. “Between you and me, I watched it all on the cameras. You two make a kick-ass team.”
“Thanks.” Aspen smiles.
We take off our gear and give it back to him.
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” I tell her, taking her hand in mine.
On the way out, we pass by one of the groups of girls, and they shoot us a dirty look. Aspen, being Aspen, lunges toward them and growls, making them flinch.
“You’re a shit stirrer,” I mutter as I push her through the door.
“You know, all things considered, that was by far the best date I’ve ever been on,” Aspen says.
“Same, baby. Same.”
It’s nice knowing she agrees. It just means we really are compatible. It’s nice being able to hang out with someone and not have to put on a show. If I’m not careful, she really will end up as my best friend and lover.
Which, now that I think about it, wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Not at all.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
ASPEN
