I hadn’t decided what to do yet, but that…thatdecided me. “I see cockiness runs in the Kolanefamily.”
He scowled as he backed out of my bedroom. “You know what? Go for it. Challenge me.” He rolled his fingers into fists and cracked his knuckles. “It’ll be my pleasure to teach you a littlehumility.”
I felt the color rise in my cheeks. When he left, I slammed my door shut and stared at the wood paneling until my breathing no longer came in roughpants.
* * *
Idebateda long while whether to head down to dinner. Going would show Liam I didn’t care that he’d come inside my bedroom to threaten me. But going also meant having to bust out small talk, and I was in too foul a mood to carry on anyconversations.
I yanked off my jeans and black swing top, then pulled on leggings, sneakers, and an exercise bra. Sticking my hair into a ponytail, I tore through the empty hallway, down the deserted stairs, and straight for the cavernousgym.
I shut the door then flooded the room with light and music. I dragged the dummy from where it lurked in the shadowy corner like a stalker and thrust my hands into a pair of boxing gloves. Jeb and Lucy stocked this place with more exercise gear than the shoddy gym I’d spent hours in before Mom gotsick.
I squinted at the dummy, replacing its blank face with Liam’s. I kicked and jabbed at it. It shifted on its springs as I pummeled my fists and feet into it, but it didn’t bleed and it didn’tbruise.
Liam thought I didn’t stand a chance. He waswrong.
Wrong.
Just because I was a female didn’t mean I wasweak.
Asshole.
I pounded my fists at dizzying speed into the dummy. Sweat slicked down my spine, soaked the back of my exercise bra, dripped down the sides of my face. I swiped my forearm over my brow, then wound my arm back and let my fist fly. A hand hooked around my bicep and wheeled me around. I reacted with a direct punch to the gut. A breath whooshed out of August’s mouth as my glove connected to his abdomen. He released me and rubbed thespot.
“I’m so sorry,” I yelled over the thumpingmusic.
Tearing my gloves off, I crossed the room toward the water fountain to saturate a towel with ice-cold water, then brought it back to him, but he shook his head at myoffering.
A crooked smile replaced his grimace. “Where’d you learn to punch likethat?”
“Self-taught.” I used the towel on my face and neck, chilling my flushed skin. “Is dinner alreadyover?”
“No. We’re at the maincourse.”
“Then why are youhere?”
“Because the seat I saved you wasempty.”
I lowered my gaze to the black rubber flooring. “I wasn’thungry.”
“You’re not hungry or you’remad?”
“Maybeboth.”
“What did Liam tellyou?”
I whipped my gaze back to his. “How do you know he came to seeme?”
“I heard him ask your aunt for your roomnumber.”
So that’s how Liam knew where to find me… The fact that Lucy had doled out this information peeved me. Did she think his visit would be pleasant, or was she happy to encourage his intimidation technique? Probably thelatter.
“Yeah. He droppedby.”
“Look, I didn’t come down here to discusshim.”
“I hope you didn’t come down here to drag me to dinner, because I’m notgoing.”
