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I’d given this particular speech plenty of tihter or nodded their heads as they let the words sink in, Jude see all over the place and he began tapping his fingers against his thigh in that pattern that was unique to hi and still had the h before we entered the space where the guys would all be training or working out, so I took advantage of the quiet

"Jude—"

"I got it," Jude interrupted as he reached for the handle of the second set of doors I stepped in front of hi the door He immediately dropped his eyes and tried to step back I used that to e and followed him until his back was in the corner of the small vestibule

Jude quickly realized he was trapped and tried to h to put one are him in the corner He refused to ht to escapehi else because he kept shifting from side to side

I bent h thatfor," I said softly As soon as I said the words, Jude flinched He also nodded, but he continued to refuse to make eye contact with me

It tookTo the outside world, Jude appeared to be one of theto clients and staff He spoke with knowledge and confidence and never got rattled Never in a uessed he had issues with his self-confidence But he clearly carried scars on his psyche… ones that ran deep and colored his ability to understand his own self-worth

"You are worth fighting for," I repeated

Jude nodded again and this time said, "Okay"

"Jude," I breathed right before I used ers to tip his chin up so he was forced to look atto find so else to look at besides me I was patient and waited him out When his eyes finallyfor"

The words hadn't come out exactly like I'd intended They were supposed to have been a simple statement, but they'd come out more like a plea

A plea for him to believe them

A plea for him to see the truth

Jude's eyes stayed on h for a little soft breath to escape It seemed like his whole body shuddered I swore he seeet a chance to confir because the doors behind us suddenly flew open as one of the guys left the building

I juretted it because Jude turned away fro that looked a lot like disappointment

"Hey, Nik," the guy said with a wave

"Morning, Brad You heading out?"

The man nodded "Yeah Proood workout, you guys"

I gave hi into the building I didn't say anything to Jude as he one

Since it was still pretty early, there weren't tooout As Jude and I an explaining so Jude see on around us A couple of guys stopped what they were doing to greet me as we passed but Jude kept his eyes averted froh-profile job, Jude seeround

I sought out a quiet corner on the far side of the boxing ring There were a couple of mats that would serve us well for some of the different moves I wanted to teach hier tapping thing, but the more I spoke, the more he seeood fifteenseemed to shift within hi session By thirtyit his all