Page 139 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“How many of these do you know?” I asked.

“A lot. I think they’re funny.”

“I thought you were googling them just to tell them to me.” I mentioned, but he shook his head.

“Mom gave Dad a book of jokes as a gag gift for Christmas once. I thought they were the funniest thing ever, so every year after that, she put a new one in my stocking until I told her I didn’t want them anymore, because kids thought they were annoying.”

“Is that why you never joke around with people?” I asked, wanting to go back in time and tell those kids off.

He shrugged and twirled a loose piece of my hair in his fingers.

“I just don’t generally have anything clever to say. These ones are funny and easy to remember. I like the play on words.”

“You’re adorable.”

“Yeah?” he asked, his eyes lighting up at the compliment.

“Yeah.”

He flipped us over until I was lying on the bed again, and he was looking down on me from the side.

“Will you choose me again, today?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered.

There was not a single doubt in my mind that I would choose him every day. He smiled wide and dropped a small kiss on my lips.

“Let’s get going then. Can you ask Elim to meet us in the training arena in half an hour?”

“Okay,” I answered and grabbed my phone to text.

Me

Can you meet us in the training grounds in half an hour?

Elim

Sure. Everything go okay?

Me

We cleared things up. Thank you.

Elim

Good. He better make you happy. I didn’t like seeing you sad for the last two weeks. See you in a little while.

I nodded up at Chris in confirmation, and he went back to his room to change his clothes. I stood and did the same, leaving the room once we were ready to meet up with Elim and train. To my surprise, when we reached the ground floor, he took my hand and held it as we walked together. I said nothing, but squeezed his hand to show how much I loved it. Before he broke up with me, he was always so stoic and professional whenever he was out in public spaces.

Elim was already waiting for us when we entered the training grounds. Instead of heading his way, Chris guided me to the arena seats.

“Give me a few minutes to talk to him?” he asked.

I nodded and pulled out my phone to browse while keeping my eye on them.

His back was to me, so I could only see Elim’s reactions to whatever they were talking about. There was confusion at times, surprise and shaking of heads from both. After a few minutes, they gave each other one of those half hug, half pat on the back that guys do, and Chris walked over to me.

“Do you mind if we have a spar tonight? I’ll pick up your training again tomorrow.”

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