“HOLD THAT PLANK, Eva. No slacking now that you’re back with your man.” Drew circled me, hands clasped behind his back, a smirk on his face. I got the feeling he was pushing me extra hard today. And I was fine with that.
A coat of moisture lined my body, exhaustion making itself known in my muscles, but I had this. Drew could sit on my back and I’d still hold my position. My brain and body were fine-tuned and on the same page for the first time since Damon walked into my bedroom all those years ago.
With my teeth bared, my lips slid into a smile. “I can do this all day. What else you got?”
Drew’s legs stopped in front of me. I craned my head and looked up. Still with his arms behind his back, his legs set in a wide part, he peered down at me as though he were sizing up how much he thought I could handle. Then, his eyebrows hardened. “Go get your gloves.”
I grinned and pulled my legs in. Hopping to my feet, I bounced and rolled my neck back and forth. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Gloved, I bounced from foot to foot, never taking my eyes from Drew, who was doing the same thing in a more leisurely fashion. I’d never seen him so relaxed. It almost gave me the impression he was done going so hard on me. That maybe he thought I’d reached my peak and it was time to take it easy.
I moved in. I’ll liven him up.
Protecting my face, my ponytail swooshed over my back as I tried to goad him into picking up the pace. He merely stared, still creeping around me. I swung hard and fast at Drew’s jaw. He jutted his head back, dodging my punch before quickly returning one to my ribs. I buckled in from the sting of it, cradling my side as I looked up at him. He still bounced in a relaxed rhythm, and it sent a rush of fire sizzling into my veins. I straightened and came at him again, covering my face, trying to decide which body part to attack first, when he landed an uppercut to my jaw, spiraling me back to the floor. I shook my head, dispersing the ringing, and glared at him before rising back to my feet.
“What, are you mad at me or something?” I seethed, coming a bit closer to him than I should have but over-eager to hurt him back.
Whack!
The air whooshed as my back smacked onto the mat, my ankle throbbing where he’d kicked out my legs. “The fuck, Drew!”
He landed on top of me in a rush, squatting over my hips and pinning down my arms. My chest heaved, my heart pounding harder than ever as my eyes searched his face for any sign of my friend, for any clue that he wasn’t about to hurt me. He used his teeth to tear his gloves from his hand and covered my neck with a light squeeze, still pinning both of my arms with his other large paw.
“See this spot right here?” he spoke through his teeth, placing pressure with his thumb. A fuzz filtered into my head, making me woozy, my heart unsure of whether it wanted to speed up or lay down. “I’ve got you right where I want you.” His finger probed deeper, sending a spider web effect crackling through my periphery and my mouth opened as my head tilted back, though no sound emerged. “Never get cocky!” he yelled in my face, releasing me to sit back on his heels.
I gasped, sucking in air as I knocked him from my lap and sent distance between us. Coughing, my thoughts raged as I tried to gain composure and air. I had never seen him so intent on hurting me. The look in his eyes ran my blood cold.
He continued to study me, the instructor in him poking through his fury. “There’s a difference between cocky and confident, Eva. Confidence will give you the bounce you need to keep your head in the game. Cockiness will give him the upper hand to take you down.” He stabbed his finger at me, deadly threats beaming from his eyes as he vibrated. “Get it straight and don’t fuck it up.” He threw a towel at me and turned his back.
I patted the back of my neck, anger simmering into humbleness, feeling as though it were melting away the tension hardening my muscles, deflating me. “I thought I was being confident. I was proud of where I was at, that’s all.” My voice was small, abashed, and quivering.
“And that is what made that,” he pointed to the mat, “where you’re at. You’re dealing with someone who already knows all your weaknesses, Eva. The day you forget that is the day we’ll be peeling you back up off the floor.” His eyes trained on me with a passionate knowledge, unwavering and unapologetic.
I propped an arm on one bent knee, contemplating Drew’s words. The thought of Damon ever gaining control of me again sent a raging shudder through me. In my mind, I would never allow it. It wasn’t a possibility. So I’d relaxed a bit about it. I had forgotten what little choice in the matter I’d had the day he tried to take me forcefully. I gulped and gave a hard nod. No matter how conditioned Drew made me, I had to remember the physical strengths of a determined man.
The bell above the door chimed, indicating someone’s presence. Drew grabbed a towel from the floor and slung it over his shoulder without looking up. “We’re closed.”
A throat cleared. “I’m here to see her.”
Drew turned, pushing a thumb into his opposite palm as he addressed our visitor, his eyebrows set in a stern line. The tension between his eyes settled, but his jaw clenched as he dropped his hands. “Well, well, well. I do believe you’re the reason we’re still here.”
I twisted to find Blake hovering in the doorway. Pushing to my feet, I brushed the backs of my pants off. “You came.”
Blake’s cool gaze that was focused on Drew glided back to me and softened like a child seeing his parents returning to pick them up from school. I scooted over to him. He smiled down at me. “I told you I would. I was happy you wanted to give me a glimpse of what you’ve been doing all this time.” He wrapped his arms around me and dropped a kiss on my nose.
“I’m sweaty.” I squirmed.
“You’re sparkling.” His lips tapped mine in a quick peck before he tucked me under his arm and looked to Drew. I could practically see the hackles raised on the back of Drew’s neck like a cat.
Blake tensed beside me. Both guys seemed to be sizing each other up, unsure of what reaction they were going to get from the other. I stepped out of Blake’s arms and laced my fingers with his, urging him forward, but speaking to Drew. “I invited Blake to see how you torture me.” I smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
Drew’s eyes cut to mine, though his words were meant to cut into Blake. “Did you tell him you got your ass kicked because your head is in the clouds now?” His gaze bounced back to Blake. “She’s a bit too lacksey-daisy for my taste ever since you guys got back together.”
I looked up at Blake. “He’s being dramatic.” Then I looked at Drew, narrowing my eyes with a silent threat. “Message received. Now get the stick out of your ass and come play nice with my boyfriend once and for all, or we’re gonna roll around on that mat for real.” My look warned him I was only partially joking. I needed them to be friends. They were both too important to me.
Drew could have reacted a number of different ways, but I was pleased when a grin appeared on his face. “There’s the Eva I want to see.” He made his way over and stuck his hand in Blake’s direction. “Told you she loves you.”
A smile crept across Blake’s face, becoming wider and wider by the second. The tension in his grip on my hand relaxed before he clapped his free hand with Drew’s in a firm handshake. “Thanks, man. For taking care of my girl when I couldn’t. I was bitter about it at first until Jace reminded me ever so Jace-ly that it was what she needed.” Blake looked down at me, though his words were still for Drew. “Thanks for bringing her back to me.”
“She’s a good girl.” His voice was soft as it drifted to a pause. Then it hardened as he brought his line of sight back to Blake. “Treat her right, or I’ll have to use you as a test subject.” Drew outwardly smirked, but I caught the serious glint in his eyes.
“No worries there.” Blake tucked a few hairs behind my ear. “I’ll guard this girl till the day I die.”
Drew nodded, and in that quiet couple of seconds, a blanket of comfortability seemed to drape over the three of us as the unspoken tension ebbed away and something normal appeared. Blake acknowledging the strength in our relationship status and the friendship between Drew and me. Drew solidifying his role in my life—protector and friend—and stepping back to allow me and Blake our happiness.
“I think we’re done for today.” I brushed a piece of lint from Blake’s shirt.
“That’s too bad.” Blake frowned, genuinely disappointed. “I wanted to witness you in action.”
Drew’s smile turned cunning. “Oh, I think we have time for one more throw down. What do you say, Sunshine? You game?”
His cocky-ass grin spoke to my inner lioness. No way was he backing me down.
“I’m always ready to shut your smartass mouth up. Game on, Rainbow.” I clapped my hands together and hopped from foot-to-foot, cracking my neck.
“Easy there, whippersnapper.” Drew threw up his hands with a short laugh. “Don’t scare your boyfriend.”
Blake laughed with the lightheartedness that I had missed so much finally shining in his eyes. “Before I forget.” He glanced at Drew. “I’m having a thing at my Hamptons house next week. You should come.”
Drew nodded. “Sure thing.”
And all was right in my world as I landed the first punch to Drew’s gut.
Oof!