I step back quickly, catching myself.
"That would have easily been your jaw," he says calmly.
"Oh good, we’re doing comntary now."
I swing again, this ti faster.
He dodges and my knuckles pass right in front of his chest. He counters imdiately, tapping the side of my arm.
"Open."
I grit my teeth.
"I know."
He doesn’t give ti to reset, his foot sweeps lightly against my ankle. Nt enough to knock down completely, but enough that I have to hop backward to stay upright.
Okay. Now I’m getting annoyed.
"Seriously?" I mutter.
"Focus."
"I am focused."
"Then stop reacting late."
I move again, trying to close the distance faster this ti. I try left hand then right, then a quick elbow toward his ribs. For a second I think I might actually land it but Zane catches my arm mid-motion and shifts sideways , the movent pulling off balance again.
Before I can recover, his foot presses lightly against the back of my knee and I d drop onto the mat with a soft thud.
I stare up at him.
He’s looking down at like this is the most normal thing in the world.
"Again," he says.
I push myself back up, brushing my palms against my leggings.
"That was cheap of you ."
"It was basic."
"Oh please."
We circle again, this ti I’m more careful. Lucas’ voice floats into my head again like it always does when I’m trying to fight.
Don’t rush, watch the shoulders and look for an opning.
I take a breath and step forward slowlt with Zane watcheing the entire ti.
I feint left, he shifts slightly to block and that’s when I swing right.
My fist connects with his side hard, as his breath leaves him in a short grunt.
For half a second I grin.
"See?" I say.
Then he moves, faster this ti his hand catches my wrist and he twists just enough to break my stance and nudges my shoulder.
I stumble again and before I can recover he taps my chest with two fingers.
"That’s three tis you left yourself open."
"Yeah well you’re being annoying."
"Adapt to it and learn."
"I am adapting!"
I swing again out of frustration.
He blocks and counters. His forearm nudges my shoulder again and I lose my balance a second ti, catching myself just before falling.
"Seriously?" I snap.
We reset again.
Amd I wipe a strand of hair away from my face, breathing a little harder now even though this fucker doesn’t look tired at all, which is extrely irritating.
I step in again, determined to actually land sothing decent this ti. My fist flies toward his shoulder.
He catches it but mt other hand swings toward his ribs.
He blocks, then his hand taps the side of my head lightly.
"And you’re dead../" he says.
"What..."
His foot sweeps under agian and I drop to one knee this ti as the mat thuds under .
I stay there for a second, staring at the floor. My chest rising and falling much faster now.
Partly from the workout..... mostly from frustration.
I push myself back up again.
"Okay," I say.
Zane tilts his head slightly.
"What?"
"What is wrong with you today?"
He doesn’t answer as we circle again.
I swing.... He blocks and counters.
My shoulder gets tapped again.
"That would’ve dislocated sothing if I ant it to." he says calmly.
"Stop doing that."
"Then stop leaving openings."
"I wouldn’t if you’d stop knocking on my ass every two seconds."
"You’re the one attacking."
I throw another punch but the fucker blocks it again. This ti he counters by hooking his arm around my shoulder and spinning sideways.
I stumble two steps before catching myself.
That’s it.
I turn around sharply.
"What is your problem today?"
He pauses just slightly and his hands lower a little.
"My problem?"
"Yes, your problem," I snap.
"You’re sparring."
"No, you’re bulldozing around."
"You asked to train."
"Yeah, train, not get tossed around like a rag doll!"
The room goes quiet for a second as Zane studies , his expression is still controlled, but there’s sothing tight around his eyes.
"You want to go easy on you?" he asks.
"That’s not what I said."
"Because I can."
"That’s also not what I said."
He takes a step closer.
"Then what exactly are you saying?"
I throw my hands up frustrated.
"I’m saying you’re clearly pissed about sothing and you’re taking it out on ."
Silence....
Zane doesn’t speak, he just looks at .
And for the first ti since I walked into the room earlier, I see sothing crack through that calm mask of his.
Just for a second, then it’s gone again.
For a few seconds after I call him out, the room stays quiet. Zane just stands there across from , breathing slow and controlled, like he’s deciding whether or not I’m worth the effort of answering.
I fold my arms.
He does that thing he always does.....where he just stares at you like silence itself is supposed to make you drop the subject.
Not happening.
"So?" I say.
Nothing.
He bends down slightly, adjusting the wrap around his knuckles like I didn’t say anything at all.
I stare at him.
"Oh no," I mutter. "You’re not doing that."
He doesn’t look up.
"Doing what."
"The ignoring thing."
"I’m not ignoring you."
"You absolutely are."
Zane tightens the wrap once more, then straightens slowly.
"I told you to focus on training."
"And I told you sothing’s wrong with you today."
His jaw tightens a little.
"I’m fine."
I snort.
"That’s the worst lie I’ve heard all day."
"Elaine."
"What?"
"Drop it."
"No."
The word leaves my mouth instantly.
He looks at like I just volunteered for my own funeral.
"Drop it," he repeats, slower this ti.
I shake my head.
"Nope."
A muscle in his jaw ticks.
"Get back in position."
"No."
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