"Wow," Lila calls after . "Abandoning us again."
"I’ll co back later!"
"You better!"
I hurry down the hallway with Aaron walking beside . The closer we get to the training room, the faster my heart starts beating, because if Zane has been waiting thirty minutes already... it’s is not going to be pleasant for .
By the ti I reach the training room, I’m slightly out of breath. Not necessarily because the walk is long but because I know exactly who and wht is waiting for inside.
Aaron opens the door for and steps aside as I I walk in.
Zane is already on the mat...Of course he is.
He’s shirtless again, dark sweatpants hanging low on his hips, with one hand wrapped in the training tape he uses for punching drills. The heavy punching bag beside him is still swaying slightly like he’s been hitting it and hard too.
His head lifts the second he hears the door.
Those sharp, cutting eyes land on imdiately and I feel the temperature in the room drop.
"You’re late again."
No greeting... just that
I grimace slightly and step onto the mat.
"I know."
He just looks at , waiting for an explanation maybe? Or an apology."
I sigh quietly.
"I’m sorry."
The words leave my mouth easily enough, but his expression doesn’t change.... Not even a little.
His jaw tightens slightly.
"If you’re not serious about training," he says flatly, "you should tell , just let know "
I blink.
"What?"
"Let know So I can stop wasting my ti."
"I have other things to do than stand here waiting for soone who can’t freaking show up on ti."
A flash of irritation sparks in my chest.
"I said I was sorry."
His gaze doesn’t soften
"You’re apologizing now."
"Well yes unlike you I apologize when I’m in the wrong." I take a deep breath. "I was with the girls," I explain quickly. "Tessa, June and Lila. I haven’t seen them properly in like days and we were just talking and I simply lost track of ti."
Zane exhales sharply through his nose, like that explanation doesn’t impress him and like it’s not a good enough explanation.
"Co to the mat," he says.
And just like that training starts.
I step forward, rolling my shoulders slightly to loosen up while he moves into position across from .
He looks... different today, so how he looks tighter and Colder, lik sothing inside him is wound too tight.
Great.
I mutter under my breath while raising my hands.
"His hot yesterday... cold today. It’s confusing"
"What was that?" he asks sharply.
"Nothing."
We circle each other and he attacks first and his fast with it. His hand shoots forward in a controlled strike and I barely block it in ti.
The impact rattles my arm.
"You are too Slow," he says.
My teeth clench as he moves again, then he hits another strike.... Then another, each one quick and precise, forcing to react faster than I’m comfortable with.
I dodge the third one and step back.
"Are you even trying at all? Put in so effort at least" he asks.
Oh?. That’s what what we are doing today ? Apparently that’s what We’re doing this today.
"Maybe you’re just moving too fast for your own stupid ego," I snap back.
His mouth twitches but it’s not not in amusent.
"Your stance is weak. Fix that."
He taps my leg with his foot.
"You ar off balance."
Then he shoves my shoulder lightly.
I stumble half a step.
"And you are distracted."
My irritation grows with every word.
"Do you always talk this much while fighting?" I ask.
"I wouldn’t have to if you improved."
There it is.... His taunting and it’s starting to really really pissed the fuck off.
His strikes start coming faster.
I block on but I miss the second. The third clips my shoulder and sends a hot sting down my arm.
"You are too slow," he says again.
My frustration starts boiling over.
"I’m not fuckin slow."
"Yes you are."
"I just hit you like yesterday."
"You got lucky."
That does it anger flares hot in my chest.
Fine.
If he wants aggressive training, he can have it.
I charge forward instead of backing up this ti.
Zane clearly doesn’t expect it as I swing.
He blocks the first hit easily but the second one lands square against his stomach.
Hard.
His breath punches out in a grunt.
"Shit....."
He actually stumbles backward a step and drops to one knee.
The sight shocks both of us for half a second, then a grin spreads across my face.
"Oh?"
I step closer.
"Who’s weak and slow now?"
His head lifts slowly.
Those grey eyes narrow at dangerously, then he stands fast, before I can react, his hand catches my wrist and twists, pulling forward. In one smooth movent he turns and drags against him, locking my arms behind my back.
My back hits his chest and I’m trapped.
"Careful," he murmurs against my ear.
His grip tightens slightly.
"You’ll start believing your own hype."
I struggle.
"Let go."
"No."
"Zane...."
Then sothing clicks in my brain... this sa position, the hold. My brother used to do this exact move when we trained.
I’d forgotten all about it..... until now.
Instinct kicks in.
I shift my weight suddenly and slam my heel back hard against his shin while twisting my shoulder sharply the way Lucas taught .
Zane clearly doesn’t expect it as his grip slips.
"Fuck...:"
I break free and spin away just as he stumbles backward two steps.
For a mont we both freeze, breathing harder now.
He stares at and I glare right back.
"What the hell is your problem today?" I demand.
He doesn’t answer imdiately, instead he straightens slowly. His chest is rising and falling faster now as his eyes lock onto mine
Then he snaps.
"Why won’t you fucking talk to ?"
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