“I’m not that girl anymore, Zev. You of all people should know that.”
“The more I see you come out of your shell, sweet girl, I more I see who you once were. You’re strong. Don’t ever doubt yourself.”
“So,” Sean said, clearing his throat. “I think we’ll end today on a good note. Sawyer knows those two moves, and it’d be great if you two practiced them together to have them down well. Next time, I’ll show you another one, along with adding in some exercises that will help. I think if we can meet twice a week, it’d be a great start.”
“Sounds good,” I said, feeling more alive than I had for a long time.
“Same time. Mondays and Thursdays. When I have more time, I’ll be happy to add more. But once you get the hang of boxing, you are free to come in here and practice. I’d just like to know and also see to make sure you’re using it safely. So many people hurt themselves when they don’t use it correctly.”
“Thanks, Sean.” I said.
“Anything to help. It’s what I enjoy doing. Just, don’t let the panic take you down when I hit a trigger. Because it will happen.”
“Panic happens no matter what I’m doing,” I said with a shrug. “I’ll deal somehow.”
“Until next time, then,” Sean said with a nod of his head.
“We should go out and do something,” Zevon said around a mouthful of cereal. “It’s the fourth of July. You can’t just sit inside and hide away.”
“I’m good here,” I yawned.
“Come on, pretty girl. I am so gonna drag you out today.”
“I’m sore,” I pouted. That was an understatement. I really did hurt. Sawyer was determined to get me to start exercising right away. The past two days, she’d gotten me up at the crack of dawn to go jogging. Just because I was awake most of the time before the sun was fully up, it didn’t mean I wanted to beout. I hated the idea of being sweaty—and tired afterwards, on top of it.
The jogging made my legs sore, as I didn’t even know I had certain muscles in some of those spots. Who even knew that the bottom of your butt could hurt? I sure didn’t.
I also didn’t want to admit that I was enjoying the routine.
“Too bad,” Zevon said. “Go get ready.”
“You’re lucky I like you,” I said, pushing myself up and away from the table. I needed to take a shower before I thought of doing anything else.
“Someone has to teach you the ways of having fun around here,” he winked. “Now go get ready, princess.”
“You do realize it’s not even ten yet, right?”
“And by the time you’re ready to go, it’ll give us just enough time to get to where I plan to take you for the day.”
“Fine,” I huffed, but I let a smile lift the corner of my lips.
Less than an hour later, Zevon held my hand as we walked down the sidewalk. The sun was high in the sky, beating down on the both of us. A trickle of sweat was already making its way down my back.
Most of the stores were open, despite it being a holiday. Sawyer was one of the unlucky people who had to work—but I guess most of the fun things didn’t happen until after the sun set for Independence Day. I still didn’t plan to do much other than maybe watching the fireworks from my window, if I could even see them from there. A few men on the street gave him a head nod in greeting, like they knew each other, their eyes glancing at me quickly before looking elsewhere.
“So,” Zevon began, “when do you think you’ll go home?”
“Home, as in with Ace?” When he nodded, I went on. “I don’t know. I’m starting to kinda like it here. And I’m really not ready to see everyone yet.” There, with the entire family, wasn’t where I’d call home anymore.
“Why not? They all miss you, you know. They haven’t really gotten to reconnect with you since…yeah…”
“They’ll want me to spend time with them all at once, and I know it’ll be overwhelming. I can’t willingly go back just like that. Not after everything that I’ve done, and what’s been done to me. For the most part, they’re just random people to me. I just don’t know how to act around them.”
Did they even really miss me? Other than Peyton, Dominic and Collin, I didn’t miss any of them. And I’d miss Zevon tomorrow when he went back home.
“Then take baby steps. Let one come hang out with you every once in a while.”
“It won’t be that easy, Zev,” I sighed. “Not when it comes to them. You should know that.”
