"What was the name of the man who owned the gym?"
I like the way Mallory is curious, the way she asks questions, puts together a puzzle in her mind.
"Aaron."
"Got it." Mallory nods once. "Continue."
"Aaron taught Ambrose proper form for lifting weights. Looking back, we must have given all the other gymgoers a laugh. Two skinny pre-pubescent boys lifting weights."
"Or maybe you inspired them."
"Huh. I haven't thought of it that way."
"You're welcome," Mallory says loftily, digging in her purse and coming away with lip balm.
"So, we're going to the gym regularly. And I show an interest in the sword Aaron has in his office. I mean, it's asword. Not exactly a normal item to have in an office. So Aaron tells me about fencing, asks me if I want to hold the sword. Turns out it's called a saber, by the way. Not a sword. Really, it's called a weapon, but that word is better used in the right context."
"Because anything can be a weapon," Mallory interjects. Her hands curl into fists, and she punches the air. "Including these bad bitches."
"Careful where you're swinging those," I joke, and Mallory laughs.
"So, Aaron starts teaching me everything he knows. Coaching me. I had a natural aptitude for it. The rest is history."
"Where is Aaron now?"
"Sante Fe. He met a woman online and followed his heart. It was ok, though. It was around the time I was heading to college. I was fencing in college and couldn't have outside training anyway. He recommended the man who I trained with for the Olympics."
"What was it like to win a gold medal?"
"An out-of-body experience. Years and years of training, and then it all came down to one summer."
"Two medals, right? One in teams, the other individual."
I dip my chin, confirming. "Stalker."
"Professionally curious."
"I like it."
"And now Ambrose is in the NFL?"
"Yep. Linebacker. The guy is just a smidge below a giant. He dwarfs me and Penn, and Duke."
"The day of the Olive Festival, I was doing my best to keep up with the dynamics of your friends. Daisy and Duke were engaged?"
"Yeah," I answer. That was some drama I didn't need,or want. I hated lying to Daisy. It was like denying a kitten milk. "Duke and Daisy's families have been associated for generations, and Duke and Daisy decided to get married to please everyone. It was a big mess, honestly. And then Penn came back to Olive Township after being gone since he was thirteen, and he made things worse by hiding his true identity. He thought it was kinder to Daisy if he didn't interrupt her life. Only, he didn't know she and Duke weren't really in love." Just saying it all out loud makes me roll my eyes. You can't make this shit up.
Mallory smirks. "Is this where you came in and told him to break up their wedding?"
"I did all those assholes a favor," I insist, defending my choice.
"It looks like you did. Doesn't seem like Vivi and Duke get along."
"If push came to shove, they'd throw down for one another. They have really different personalities, though, so for the most part they stay out of each other's way."
"Does Vivi get along with Ambrose?"
I palm the scruff on my face, thinking of the last time they saw one another. To my knowledge, it's been a long time. "They get along great. He's always been like a brother to me, and that makes him a brother to her."
