My fingertips skim through the beard he’s growing. “I love you, too.”
His smile is breathtaking and after kissing me again, he lays down next to me, cradling me in his arms. I’m going to have to face my mom at some point today, but it can wait until later. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here.
17
~Lily~
It’s been a solid week since the incident with Samuel and Sorina. So far, they’re both being respectful and sticking to the rules. Samuel and Rhett switched rooms, and the most they’ve done is kiss, which doesn’t bother me. Blake ripped me a new ass the night it happened, but he’s calmed down considerably since.
Today is training day. We’ve been back together for two months and it’s about time we put each other through the paces. Blake and his family have decided to watch, though I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“Two on two matches first,” Hyde says, standing off to the side.
He’s handling the organization for this, that way we get some real work in.
“Lily and Samuel against Dresden and Rhett. No weapons.”
Samuel joins me in the center of the training area, his body tense. It’s the first time he’s sparing with all of us.
“You worry about Rhett. I’ll take care of Dresden.”
“Any last minute tips?”
“If Rhett gets you on the ground, he won’t let you back up, so whatever you do, stay on your feet.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Dresden and Rhett join us, their smiles sinister but playful.
“Begin,” Hyde yells.
Several people on the side call out names, cheering us on, but they’re ignored.
Rhett and Dresden move together, aiming for the opposite of what I want. Grabbing Dresden’s wrist, I pull him toward me and kick Rhett in the side, pushing him toward Samuel. The kid’s got good reflexes and plants two punches in Rhett’s ribs before he can get his bearings.
Dresden tears his wrist from my hand and swings. I duck, his fist missing my face by an inch. The two of us sparing looks more like violent dancing, neither one staying in the same place for more than a second and the movements too quick to follow.
Fifteen minutes in, neither one of us has landed a punch. We’ve known each other for too long. Samuel grunts, pulling my attention away from Dresden. Rhett has him on his back, and it won’t be long before he’s got Samuel out of this.
Dresden’s fist connects with the area of my back that Maria stabbed. The pain is all-consuming. Dr. Monroe took the stitches out this morning, but it still hurts like a motherfucker if I bump it against anything. I go down on my knees, groaning.
“Lily!” Blake’s voice echoes from the other side of the area.
“Focus, Lily,” Dresden growls. “People die when you don’t focus.”
He stalks forward and I jump up planting two hits to his face before sweeping his legs out from under him. He hits the ground and I run full force at Rhett, tackling him to the ground.
“Get up, Tiger!”
Rhett and I roll, finally stopping with me on top of him. He pulls his knee up and launches me over his head, flipping me in the air. I land on my back with a thud, my head bouncing off the grass. The sky blurs for a second, the shouts of the onlookers echoing before I regain composure.
Kicking my body up, I land on my feet in time to move out of Dresden’s way. He turns and throws punches faster than normal it seems.
“Enough!” Hyde’s voice booms, commanding the space.
I double over, putting my hands on my knees, fighting to take a breath. Dresden rubs my back, trying to catch his breath too.
“Sorry about the hit to your back.”