Page 70 of Stars and Scars

I hope.

I sit on the stump and look out over the Pacific. It’s quite beautiful right now, with big, domed waves rolling toward the unseen rocky shore below. If I strain my ears, I can just hear the surf crashing.

Gray exits the cabin and approaches me. I look up, putting my phone down so I can give him my complete attention.

“What’s up?”

“I found a good place to eat, but Wyatt’s party doesn’t even start until after ten PM. We’ve got some time to kill.”

“Is that so?”

My pulse quickens, and I carefully cross and uncross my legs as I look up at him.

“Did you…have anything in mind?”

Apparently, Gray isn’t quite as good at reading people as he thinks.

“I do. I think you should learn some basic hand-to-hand skills. Just in case the gun isn’t an option.”

“Oh.”

I laugh, and he frowns.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” I suppose he’s right, I could use some self defense tips. “So, are you going to teach me karate?”

“Karate? The Kim Kardashian of martial arts?” he snorts. “No, I’m thinking of something more practical.”

“Kung fu, then? Or MMA? Are you going to show me some sweet moves so I can trash bozos in a street fight?”

I pantomime a martial arts display, complete with grunts and howls. He looks on, clearly amused.

“Are you finished?” he asks sweetly.

“Yeah, for now.”

Gray chuckles and gestures at me.

“Actually, traditional martial arts, while effective, are very difficult to learn, let alone master. Ditto for MMA techniques. We don’t have that kind of time to invest in your training.”

“Wait, I thought you were going to teach me self defense?”

“I am. Ever hear of the Close Quarters combat system?”

I shake my head.

“Doesn’t ring any bells.”

“It’s a system developed by a former intelligence agent, specifically for use by lay people who are not trained, and not necessarily even athletic.”

“I’m pretty athletic…”

He grins. “I know that firsthand. But what makes the techniques work so well is that they’re designed to use the body to its maximum potential while in a state of fear or panic.”

I tilt my head to the side.

“Let’s pretend that I don’t know what that means.”

---