I laugh.
“You need to make contact with this part of your foot,” she crouches to show me, “and with this part of your fists.” Her balled hands punch the bag so hard it sways.
My eyes widen.
“If I can do it, you can do it,” Brianna says.
I want to laugh again because no way can I perform the way she does. She’s all lean muscle.
I throw few punches and kicks, each with more force than the previous one. “This is kind of cool.”
“Doesn’t it make you feel stronger?”
I nod and my pulse quickens. If I learn enough, perhaps I can fight off an attacker. I love being here and taking fitness classes. It feels right. This place saves me from isolation and despair. It takes my mind away from my mountains of problems. I’m breathless and place my hands on my thighs, bending over slightly.
“You had a good run,” Brianna said.
“Thanks.” I hang my head, trying to catch my breath.
“Turn around, Tia.”
Something in her voice makes me do so immediately. My eyes meet very familiar green eyes. Victor shoots me a wolfish smile.
“Wait… How long has he been watching?”
“Enough. I didn’t want to tell you. You shouldn’t feel self-conscious about it.”
Too late. I straighten my back.
“So the bad boy falls for the good girl.” She smiles.
“I’m hardly a good person. And he’s actually full of goodness.”
I feel the need to defend him.
“Oh, he’s bad. I don’t know him well, but I know his reputation. He’s fought at the secret fight club on campus. Merciless.”
My eyes are about to pop out. Brianna seems to know more. Has she slept with him? And how many other girls have there been?
I want to keep punching the bag.
As if she knows my thoughts, she says, “He’s never dated a girl on campus or hooked up with one. He keeps to himself, but often lashes out if tempted.”
I wonder if guys tempt him just because they want to fight him, to win against a real MMA fighter. And Victor is testy and falls for it, I bet.
“Well, I’ll leave you and Victor to undress each other with your eyes. I’m going back to my spot. Hope to see you around more often.”
“Thanks for the lesson.”
By the time class ends, Victor is nowhere to be found. Is he back to ignoring me? Isn’t that what I wanted? So then why don’t I like the reality of it?
Brianna’s words about Victor not sleeping around with the girls on campus get under my skin and stuck in my mind. Where does he go on Thursdays?
Chapter Eighteen
Abi and I are sitting at the kitchen table. My hands are around a warm mug of coffee. My legs under the table are aching, but in a good way, from yesterday’s kickboxing class.
“We should hang out more.”
