Earlier, Brenda had mentioned Nadine and Ashley in front of Helen, and Seb noticed how Helen had looked sheepishly to her feet then, too. He gave her arm a little nudge now. “It wasn’t your fault they pulled out. It was just … unfortunate.”
“That’s my middle name.” Helen stopped at the boxing arena. As with most of the activities, the little kids had had enough, and the big kids didn’t want to look uncool in the impending rain so it now stood empty. Helen stepped inside. “I really hope the campaign gains more momentum when the word spreads.”
“I hope so too.”
“And contrary to what it looks like, it doesn’t rain all the time in England.”
“You’re right.” Seb liked Helen’s positive attitude. “And Brenda is sharp and knows her stuff. She’ll find a hook to boost awareness.”
“Something other than you dating Nadine Charming?”
“Who knew someone like Brenda would wanna pimp me out like that, eh?”
“You’re a big boy. I’m sure you would’ve handled it.” Helen gingerly poked one of the punchbags hanging to the side, surrounded by crash mats. “What’s this thing made of anyway?”
“Sand and leather,” Seb said, and Helen struck the bag with her bare knuckles. “Hey, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. It’s pretty solid. You’ll hurt yourself.”
Helen rubbed her hand. “Have you got any, like, knuckle-protector things I could use?”
“You mean, like …boxing gloves?”
“Yeah, those things.”
Seb chuckled and tossed her a pair. “Knock yourself out—and I don’t mean that literally, by the way. Boxing is a tough sport to master. It takes practice and technique.” He watched her fumble with the gloves, hiding his smile at her clumsy-handed way. He didn’t want to discourage her trying out a new sport. “Here, let me help you with those, then I’ll show you a few moves.”
“Thanks, I’d like that.”
Seb pulled his own gloves on and walked Helen through a quick limbering up routine. “It’s important to always warm up, especially the arms and shoulders.”
“Okay.”
“Now, this is a jab and this is a cross. Jab. Cross.” He slowly punched the air in front of him. “You start from the chin, like this. Guard up. Always guard up, remember that.”
“Got it.” She raised her hands to her chin. “Guard up.”
“Now rotate your fist when you punch, stretching your arm out long. Good,” he added, when she copied him perfectly. He brought in some leg work. “Keep your knees soft, now watch as my hip follows through. You try.”
“Like this?” Helen stood, feet hip-distance apart as she punched the air just like he’d shown her. “Or like this?” Her leg kicked up high, displacing the air next to his face.
Seb slammed the mat, barely registering that Helen had swept his feet from under him.
She towered over him. “Whoops.”
Of all the sneaky …
He sat up, feeling well and truly had, and absolutely loving it. “You fight dirty, Hobbs.”
“Thank you.”
“Got anything else?” Seb jumped back up.
“How about this?”
She lunged for him. Seb sidestepped, but she anticipated the move, punching his ribs and following with a kick that dropped him to his knees.
“Not bad.” Seb got to his feet, and now he’d seen what she was capable of, launched his own skilled attack, sparring, ducking, dodging punches, until he caught her on the backfoot.
Helen slammed the mat.
