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"Youʼre getting rusty, Scout," Toby chuckled, letting me up
I rotated"Sorry, Sensei" Of course, it ize since he was the one that attackedto holdhe rong thing Itʼs not that I dislike Toby Really, I ad up the head cheerleader in high school, he joined the Ar the old one proud After serving two tours of duty in Iraq, he came back home and joined the police force When his child-bride left hi Layne by hi like a rock star
On the other hand, he was a bit arrogant, somewhat moody, and excessively sexist Toby had always helped out at Uncle Charlesʼs martial arts school when he was around and pretty ot out of the Army He always expected Jase and Charlie to excel at every move He pushed them hard, and was very expressive with his disappointh expectations If I ed to shoas shock
Tobyʼs biggest insult? "You fight like a girl"
His biggest coine how proud Moht year old Scout asked her what balls were and why it was good to have theht you shouldʼve ambushed one of the boys," I said with ood that wouldʼve done me Youʼre the one with all the talent" Well, that was unexpected
"You think Iʼm talented?" It was still entirely possible that this was so as the punch line
"Are you kidding?" Toby asked through aas Charlie or as fast as Jase, but youʼre the single best defensive fighter Iʼve ever seen Itʼs like you can see the punch co before your opponent even decides to throw it" He was co me? Really? Perhaps a zo after all
I was grateful though that Toby had giventhat I had been thinking about for a while I gnawed on the inside of my lip and focused my eyes intently on a water stain shaped like Abrahaain," I finally mumbled
I was nervous as to Tobyʼs reaction Toby was as abrasive and mercurial as Charlie was calh at me or complain about my atte about it for a while" Since a snowy, icy day in November to be exact
"Do you have a class I could join?"
"No, I donʼt" My heart sank "But I wouldnʼtyou private lessons once a week" My heart soared That was even better than I had hoped
We worked out a time that would fit both our schedules as I ," Jase said, relieving me of half rabbed the other half "This white stuff is froht? You know I hate that can stuff It tastes like otten used to their lack of gratitude, but I hadnʼt What did they think I was? Soer to meet their every whim and desire?