Page 18 of Target Me
“Don’t fight force with force, Avery. Know when to yield and use their momentum against them,” Master William chided.
I nodded, taking a conscious breath and refocusing on my sparring partner. I was better than this, but Logan was so far in my head I couldn’t get into the session.
“Do you need a break?” Ben, my Chi Sao partner, asked kindly.
I wanted to say no and push through, but Master William was right. Taking a moment to clear my head was a way better strategy than letting Ben kick my inattentive ass all over the Kwoon. Grabbing my water bottle, I took a swig, leaning back against the wall to watch the others in the class paired off and engaging in their own sparring sessions.
I’d discovered Wing Chun Kung Fu a decade ago, after my mom left and I realized I was stuck in a house with a narcissist who regularly brought strange men home to show off his perfect life and perfect daughter. At the time, I’d needed to know that I could defend myself if I needed to. Nowadays, it was my escape from all my stressors.
Master William had asked me to start working in the children’s class as a Si-hing, or student-teacher, the year before. I loved the teaching and the learning. Today, it wasn’t going to be enough, though.
Not only had Logan left me half naked and completely worked up the night before, but to hear he thought I was a brat with daddy issues really rubbed me the wrong way. He wasn’t that much older than me, and I knew for a fact this attraction wasn’t one sided. What the hell was his problem, anyway?
I was still fuming ten minutes later when Master William called the class to a close.
“Is there anything you wish to speak about?” he asked as students filed out of the Kwoon, each taking a moment to bow on the threshold before wandering out into the midday sun.
“No. I’m just preoccupied with home stuff. I’m sorry I brought it in here.”
Master William smiled. “Meditate on it. Reconnect your mind and body and come back tomorrow centered and ready to train.” I nodded, opening my mouth to respond, but he held his hand up. “If you’re still unable to focus, beat the hell out of your dummy… the wooden one, or the one who has you distracted. Either way.”
I choked on a laugh as he turned away, a twinkle in his eye.
“Tomorrow, Si-hing Avery.”
“Tomorrow, Si-gong. Have a good night.” I bowed as I stepped through the doorway and wandered back toward the mall parking lot.
“Avery.”
I turned at the sound of my name, frowning as a dark-haired man jogged after me. I adjusted my stance, ready to defend myself if needed.
He slowed as he reached me, doubling over to breathe as though he’d chased me a ways before he caught me. “Avery, hey. I thought it was you. How are you doing?”
I frowned, edging back a step.
“Who are you?”
“Oh, sorry. Hi. I’m Damon. I used to work with your dad. I should have started with that. Weird guy chasing you down in the parking lot? Duh.” He slapped his forehead and gave a self-deprecating smile.
“So, were you shopping just now?” he asked, straightening and taking a step back in a way that made me wonder if he was trying to appear non-threatening. Or maybe I was paranoid, and this was literally just someone sayinghi, I know your parents.
“I… Yeah, just doing some window shopping. Dad’s birthday is coming up and all…”
“Oh, yeah.” He closed the distance between us, cupping my elbow and waving me on. “It’s in a couple of weeks, right? Hey, can I walk you to your car?”
Suddenly, wires connected in my mind. Damon. He was the one who… “Hey, I’m sorry about your brother.”
He froze, his hand on my elbow squeezing to the point of pain. Shrugging out of his grasp, I turned, stepping backward to reestablish the gap between us.
“Yeah. Me too,” he murmured.
“Hey—” Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by the ringing of his cell.
“Logan. Hi,” he said, connecting the call.
I’m not here, I mouthed stupidly at him. How could Logan possibly know I had randomly run into Damon while out and about?
He frowned at me but gave me a nod as he tuned into the conversation. “Sure, I’ll take a look. Yeah. Yeah, just send over what you’ve got. I’ll work my magic and see what comes up. Sure. See you soon.”
