Page 146 of Rules of Association

“Well,” Chris started holding my eyes for just a second longer as I tried to plead with her to not speak. She didn't understand the look, so she just continued. “Mainly she works event night. Set up, break down, restocking, and execution. We need a lot of help when it comes to making sure the ladies have a safe outlet for escape, even if it’s only once a week. But lately she’s been coming by to fill in for some…staffing issues. I know that gym is trying to get her on the hook for teaching, but if she really wanted to, she’d be great at social work.”

I’m pretty sure I surpassed my allotted usage of God’s name in vain.

“Is there no other topic than me?” I piped up finally, directing my comment at my family. “Or are you guys obsessed or something?”

“I think I’m obsessed,” Alta said, mesmerized and totally serious. She always answered rhetorical questions.

“What do you teach, Ceci?” A voice I didn’t expect to hear in the mingle asked. I whipped my eyes over to see Connor stretched out on their blanket, lazily popping grapes into his mouth as he watched this all unfold. The fucking traitor. But there was clear amusement in his eyes as he watched my two secret worlds come crumbling down around me and I wonder if this was his payback for whatever he had been frustrated about near the bathrooms earlier.

Whatever. He was still here, that’s all that mattered. I would deal with the rest later.

“Anyone want dessert?” Fergy sprang up to her knees and started to frantically unwrap her desserts from the middle of the pile. “I packed all kinds.”

Ox set a hand on the back of her leg and looked up to her as she kneeled over him. “We’ve barely eaten, Lu. Finish your plate first.”

They seemed to look at each other for a long moment, before she slowly lowered and shot apologetic eyes to me. I just shook my head. This had already gone to hell in a handbasket.So whatever.

My eyes felt murderous as I swung them over to Connor. “I wouldn’t call myself a teacher really. They just exaggerate.”

“I’m sure they don’t,” Connor said again, shrugging. “They seem to know you pretty well.”

“Uh, we aren’t exaggerating. She’s just being modest.” Christine said and ignored the snorts that popped up around the circle at the word. “We’ve been having to compete for her time lately with that boxing gym. If she spends any more time there, we’re afraid she might need to move in.”

“She gave me a lesson already!” Nina said, turning to me. “I think I’m going to sign up for more once you get your own schedule, Ceci. I told you that you have a way of empowering others, even when they have no clue how to throw a punch. It’s amazing. Maybe you could teach at event night sometime! I know you'd be awesome with the ladies.”

The suggestion lifted my eyes from their semi-permanent spot on the picnic blanket. The acute possibility of it lighting like a fire in my head. That actually sounded like a great plan. One I’m surprised I hadn’t thought of myself.

Slowly I nodded, letting the idea sink further and further into my mind. To Nina I said, “Yeah, maybe.” Yet, it sort of sounded like a promise falling from my lips. Especially as we made eye contact and she reached forward to squeeze my hand, promising me right back that she would make it happen.

A familiar voice interrupted the moment and I turned to meet my brother’s piercing black eyes. “Maybe we could all come down and see the work that you do at the shelter,Selena. I’m sure we could help out in some way or another.

Swallowing roughly, I refused to look at him any longer, unsure if he was being genuine or not.

“Maybe,” I said, smiling at my friends feeling resigned. They looked so excited by Ox’s suggestion, I couldn’t shoot it down.

Who was I even kidding? With my family looking at me like they just met me and Connor instigating things like it was his job to out me, I didn’t stand a chance of keeping this a secret any longer. And why would I want to? All these two wanted to do was brag about me, and God I loved them for it. At least they could be proud of me. At least they wanted to brag about little Selena being good at something as simple as volunteering and fighting lessons. I wouldn’t make them feel bad about being on my side. So sighing, I leaned my side into Nina’s and murmured, “My head hurts.”

“Oh hun!” Nina sprang into action. Smoothing hair away from my face and replacing my water cup in my hands. “That’s right! What were you guys doing playing so rough anyway? That was a really bad fall you took.”

“Family game,” I said. And then I explained the Three Ball tradition to the two of them.

“That seems like fun!” Nin said.

“Besides the getting hit in the face part,” Christine snorted.

“That’s okay,” I sighed.

"It is?” they both asked, disbelief in their tone.

I hummed. “Yep. You see, when we were kids, Ox made up this rule. He said that since they were older they would never hurt us. But if they did, even if it was an accident, we got free payback. An eye for an eye.”

“That’s kind of gruesome,” Nina said. Then she laughed. “No wonder you seem excited about it.”

Iwasexcited. And I hadn’t forgotten. So, with slow, deliberate purpose, I raised my eyes to connect with the party in front of us—to the two dark-haired boys in particular and smiled. They both winced in response, knowing what was coming. “So which one of you fuckers hit me?”

I took the frustration of everything that seemed to transpire after that perfect kiss out on the one free ball I got to throw at my brother’s big head.

Chapter Thirty-three

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