Page 70 of The Finder

They didn’t waste any time. Madison started her going through her warmups; then it was time to face Kyle. Kyle spent the next two hours working with her and training her. When they were done, Emma was beat for the day.

After lunch, Emma finally decided to see if she could get ahold of Amy and see how she and Olivia were doing. She had been wanting to for a while, but hadn’t. She scrolled through her phone and found Amy’s number. When she didn’t answer, Emma left a message.

“Hey, Amy, it’s Emma. I’m sorry I’ve been such a terrible friend. I basically disappeared from your lives. I’m really sorry about that. Anyway, I just wanted to talk to you and see how you and Olivia were doing. I’d love to meet up maybe sometime in the near future, if that would be okay with you. Anyway, I would love to hear from you. Bye.” Emma hung up and put the phone down. She hoped Amy wouldn't resent her for how she had just cut out of their lives. Hopefully, she could redeem herself and continue their friendship.

Amy called her back a few hours later. “Hey, Amy,” Emma said, a little hesitant.

“Emma, it’s so good to hear your voice. Please don’t apologize. Life happens. I get it. Olivia and I are doing really well. Garrett helped us get settled into an amazing apartment. He got childcare for Oliva taken care of and offered me a job as a secretary at his firm. I can’t believe all he’s done for us,” she said. Emma could hear the tears in her voice.

“He’s pretty amazing,” Emma said sincerely.

“Well, enough about us. How are you doing?” Amy asked. “Have you married him yet?”

Emma choked out a laugh. “Uh, no, not yet.”

Amy laughed. “Well, I want an invite to the wedding.”

Emma smiled. They talked for a little while longer and ended with the promise to try to meet up for lunch sometime soon. Emma would have to talk Garrett into that. Maybe he would agree if he accompanied her. She would suggest it next time she saw him, if she ever saw him again. She sighed. She missed him; she admitted it. She pulled out her phone and texted him before she could talk herself out of it.

Emma: Thank you for helping Amy and Olivia. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. You’re a good man, Garrett.

His response came almost immediately.

Garrett: You’re welcome.

The rest of the day passed quickly. After resting for a little while, Emma went to the kitchen and helped Madison prepare supper. Then they went to bed at a good time, so they could get up early the next morning and train once again.

The next several days flew by in like fashion. Her body healed nicely, and she was getting stronger every day fighting Kyle. She hadn’t heard from or seen Garrett in all that time. Actually, she hadn’t seen Liam or Max in that long either. She figured they were busy trying to deal with pack business with everything that had happened.

Friday morning was her last training session with Kyle and Madison before the big night. Emma was still unsure about the whole thing. “I don’t know about tonight,” she said when they finished for the day.

“Tell her she can do it, Kyle,” Madison said.

Kyle came and sat next to them. “You’re more than ready, Emma; and it would be good for you, but...”

Madison turned to glare at him while Emma asked, “But what?”

Kyle shrugged. “Just not sure how Garrett’s going to take it. He might lose it.”

“Why would you say that?” Madison asked. “He lets all the females fight.”

“Yeah, but the women that fight are all shifters with shifter speed and strength. Emma’s human. And you’ve seen how protective of her he is,” Kyle said.

“All the more reason to do it then,” Emma said, making her mind up. Kyle and Madison turned to look at her. “I don’t want him worried about me all the time. I want him to know I can handle myself in a fight. Maybe it’s time to show him that.”

Madison let out a whoop. “Yeah, girl. That’s the spirit!” Emma laughed and Kyle pulled Madison close to him with a smile. “Tonight!” Madison said.

“Tonight,” Emma repeated with confidence. The time seemed to crawl by all day, until suddenly it was Friday evening. Madison knocked on her door at five thirty. “You ready?” she called out through the closed door.

Emma flung it open. “I don’t know what to wear!” she said.

Madison stepped inside. “Okay, take a deep breath and relax. We’re going to fight night not the prom. Just wear what you usually wear when we work out together.”

“My sports bra and yoga pants?” Emma asked, incredulous.

Madison looked at her funny. “That’s what you always wear, isn’t it?”

“Well yeah, because It's just you and me and sometimes your husband. Tonight, the whole pack is going to be there, andGarret.I can’t show up in my sports bra in front of everybody,” Emma explained.

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