“Ugh.” I pull a face, and sink onto the spot beside Lena. “Can we not go there please?”
She laughs. “Sorry. Like Syd said, he’s intriguing. But then”—she grins—“so are you. It’s not every day we meet a female fighter. What’s it like?”
“Amazing,” I answer truthfully. “I love it so much. I get to do my favorite thing all day every day.”
Both women’s brows shoot up.
“But doesn’t it hurt?” Sydney asks. “Aren’t you worried something will go wrong?”
Lena helps herself to a piece of cheese from the platter on the coffee table, and I reach for a carrot stick and dip it in hummus while I consider my answer.
“Yes, and no. The pain aspect isn’t as bad as most people think. Your body gets used to the kind of impacts that happen during training. Shins toughen up and after a few months, you stop bruising so much. Sparring is usually gentle—at least, it was in Thailand, because people fight every few weeks and can’t afford to be injured.” I smile in memory. Some of my favorite moments have been spent sparring with friends. “It’s almost playful, really. People over here tend to go a bit harder, but still not enough to do real damage, and during a fight, the adrenaline is so strong, you don’t feel much of anything.” Glancing up, I find that they’re both watching me, enthralled. I laugh. “Sorry, I can ramble about muay thai for hours.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Sydney rests her chin on her palm and leans forward. “We’d love to hear.”
“What was it like living in Thailand?” Lena asks. “Was it different from here? Where were you based?”
I grab another carrot stick, warming to the topic. “I lived in a complex attached to a gym in Phuket, just outside of the more populated area. It was beautiful. Really hot, but the climate grows on you.”
Lena whips out her phone and taps at the screen. A moment later, she brings up a picture and shows Sydney. They both sigh.
“It looks gorgeous,” Sydney says.
“It is.” A pang of homesickness shoots through me, tugging the corners of my mouth down. “And the lifestyle is so simple. At least, it was up until the end.”
“If you don’t mind us asking, why’d you leave?” The question comes from Sydney, whose expression is cautious. “You don’t have to explain if you’d prefer not to, but it sounds like you miss it.”
Sighing, I tug a hand through the damp strands of my hair. I’m not going to tell these girls the whole story. I’m not sure if I can trust them to keep it to themselves, but I suppose an abbreviated version couldn’t hurt.
“My coach asked me to throw a fight. I didn’t, and he was furious and kicked me out. Not that I’d have wanted to stay anyway. I don’t represent cheaters.” Or sleep with them, either.
“Fuck him.” Lena’s eyes flash with icy fury. “What an asshole. You’re better off without him.”
“I know.” But somehow that doesn’t make it easier.
We sit in silence for a moment, and I continue to munch on carrot sticks, then Lena speaks. “Can you tell us more about what it’s like to be a female fighter?”
“It’s very satisfying.” I wipe my hands on a napkin and sit back, drawing my knees up to my chest. “Don’t get me wrong, there are challenges. I have to work twice as hard to get people to take me seriously, but once I punch them in the face a few times, they usually come around.”
She laugh-snorts, and her hand flies to her mouth. “Maybe I need to try that.”
“Make sure it’s people you’re allowed to punch,” I warn. “You can’t go doing that shit to just anybody.”
Sydney snickers, and I can’t help feeling pleased. For some reason, I want them to like me. I miss having women in my life.
Lena nods. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“But yeah,” I continue, “being a fighter is all I want. If I can make enough money to pay the bills and keep doing it indefinitely, then I’m happy. It’s rewarding, and even though it’s not always easy, there’s nothing I’d rather do. Plus it’s amazing for self-confidence. I wasn’t what you’d call assertive when I started. I was used to Seth fighting my battles for me, but when he left, I didn’t have much chance other than to start fighting them myself. In the end, it turns out that’s how I prefer it.”
“Wow.” Sydney is shaking her head, although she doesn’t seem to notice. “That’s kind of inspirational.”
A blossom of warmth unfurls within me, and I duck my head, embarrassed by the praise even while I revel in it. “Thanks.”
Lena steeples her hands together. “Would you teach me some basics? I want to surprise Jase.”
“Absolutely.” I grin. I love teaching martial arts nearly as much as I love doing them. “Except for training, I’m free any time, so just say when.”
“Seriously? You’re the best.” She turns to Sydney. “Can you believe it took us this long to meet a female version of Jase?”
