“Say ‘no’ to me.”
I snort a laugh. “No.”
He shakes his head. “Not like that. For real, say no in a loud, firm voice.”
“No,” I repeat.
“Louder, Lily. Take up space.”
I want to giggle but hold it in. “No,” I say, a little louder.
“Again.”
Now I’m getting annoyed with him. “I already said it!”
“Again, Lily!”
“No!” The word leaves my mouth in a shout, and I blink in surprise at my own voice.
Ryder applauds. “There it is.”
I roll my eyes. “You were just being obnoxious.”
“And that’s what you need to think if you’re ever in a situation when someone is physically assaulting you. Don’t shrink back in fear. Don’t hide away. Say whatever you need to so your message is clear—you do not want their touch, you don’t want them near you.” He tilts his head. “How do you feel, after beingfirm with me?”
I pause and think. “Stronger, I guess? A little proud of myself. Youwerebeing annoying.”
“Good.” He lifts the side of his mouth in a smirk, but then it falls. “But that might not always work, you know.”
My face sobers, too. “So, what then?”
“That’s when you need to learn how to break out of a hold.”
I swallow. “I don’t know if I’d be able to do that.”
Ryder narrows his eyes at me. “Yes, you can. You can absolutely get out of someone’s grasp. You’re small, which means you can fit in narrow places. But I can teach you how to use your body to leverage an escape. Remember, the goal here isn’t to win a fight. I’m not saying you’ll be able to beat up a guy who’s six-three. The goal is to get out. You just need one solid move to cripple him, and then you run as fast as you can. Got it?”
The idea still makes my stomach turn, but I nod. “Got it.”
“Is it okay if I pretend to grab you?”
I nod. “Yeah, that’s okay.”
He reaches out one hand, his fingers circling my wrist. I know we’re pretending this is a scary, dangerous situation, but my body doesn’t know that and has involuntary reactions every time his skin touches mine. Warmth shoots up my arm and down into my belly, and all I want to do is lean into his touch.
“No, don’t sway into me,” he says.
Whoops. “Sorry,” I whisper.
“Don’t apologize. This is all new to you.” He nods his head down at his hand and my wrist. “Okay,” Ryder says calmly. “I’m holding your wrist. Not tight. This is just pressure.”
I nod, even though my pulse spikes. Now I’m actually imagining what it would feel like if someone tried to grab me, and my body lurches away from him instead.
“Don’t pull back, either,” he says gently. “That’s what everyone does.”
“Then what do I do?” I ask, my voice quivering.
“Turn toward the opening,” he says. “Where my hand is weakest. Slip out. Your body goes with your arm.”
