Page 91 of Rules of Association

I didn’t know what the hell that was supposed to mean, but I took the flyer anyway and let her take my information so we could set up a time to start lessons.

And now here I was, shadow punching for an hour with wobbly arms.

“One, two—jab, cross. Three, four—hook, up,” Jenny chanted along with my slowing swings. “Keep that wrist firm—Good. Again. Again. Again...”

Jenny’s voice faded to the back of my head as I ran through the same motions over and over again. The repetition of it settling me into a steady rhythm of control. The fact that every punch I threw was better than the last, every movement a step in the direction of something better spoke to something in me. Each sequence powerful yet controlled. Something I’d never been simultaneously. The feeling drove me forward to throw the next punch. And the next and the next.

My instant appreciation for the exercise didn’t exactly correlate to instant mastery though. And my sore arms could attest to that as they faltered on about my bagilionth punch.

“Jesus, when is it going to be over!” I groaned.

Jenny laughed. “Just for that, you’re starting your five hundred over again.”

My mouth dropped.You’ve got to be kidding me! I didn’t dare say it out loud though, because Jenny had a glint in her eye that reminded me of me.

Evil, I thought as I dejectedly started again. And damn, I kind of liked it.

* * *

“I think your man is outside waiting for you, Selena.” Nina said as we worked on packing up another movie night. It was officially becoming a “thing”—the fact that the shelter was not able to book actual events for event night. It concerned me.

Ever since I started coming here, the staff has always had a consistent rotation of productive events to host. It was important for everyone lodging here to be able to get that outlet and escape. And the fact that it was currently being overlooked was not lost on me. It seemed like an ode to an end, but what did I know?

I tried to ask Nin and Chris if something was going on, but they just waved me off telling me not to worry about it. Which only made me worry about it more. But what could I do with no details or even the slightest idea on how to help?

Not much.

I could continue to pitch in where I normally did, adding on an extra day here and there, and maybe I could make the check donation that I “mailed in” every month a little larger, just in case. I’d have to remember that when I dropped it in the mailbox next time.

“My what?” I asked at the same time Christine ran toward the entry way and practically gushed, “It’s Connor!”

Oh yeah. Con was here to get me for our second self-defense class. He still insisted on picking me up just like last time even though I knew where the gym was now.

And I didn’t hate it, if the burn in my cheeks was any indication.

Still, I rolled my eyes as I whipped my phone out to use the camera as a mirror. In it I began working on my ponytail. Braiding the long thing so it was out of my way during class.

“Christine, you need to work on your listening skills. Connor is myfriend,” I said.

“Your friend who you love,” she cooed

“In a friend way, sure.” I shrugged.

“In a fix your hair and check your face before you see him way,” Nina corrected with a damning finger pointed my way. Christine gaspedagain.

“I’m fixing my hair for class. I told you guys where we’re going,” I grumbled, snapping my ponytail in place and grabbing my stuff.

“Yeah sure,” they said, waving me off. They might as well have been kindergartners the way they “oohed” and “ahhed” as they walked me to the door. Giving Connor girly little waves as he stood on the curb leaned up against his car waiting for me.

“Hey,” Con said as I bounced down the steps to get to him. His eyes tracked me slowly, his mouth not frowning, but not quite happy either. Bags under his eyes solidified it, he looked tired. I frowned as I noted dark circles under his eyes.

“Hey,” I said as I eased up under him. “You know you can skip a day if you’re tired, Con.”

Frown lines marred his pretty plump mouth as he looked down on me.

“Don’t be crazy. I’ll never skip a day of being here for you Ceci, now come on,” he said it so simply, like it was just something normal that anyone would say. But really, no one was like him. No one else could make my heart do this squeezing thing it kept doing. Or the bursting thing in my chest when he reached over and slid his hand down the length of my ponytail, testing the weight of my braid. No one but him.

Dammit Ceci,rules.

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