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My best friend Kate used to give azines to stuff beneath my mattress Men of all shapes and sizes, colors, and looks We poured over theerous Surely, the sazine cover was different He was kind and sweet Never raised his fist to a woman Respectful

Funny to think I’d found hiiant stonethose men had seemed and more I was so lucky to have him

“How’s the training going?” Ashley leaned back to look up at the lights hanging above “You’d better keep it up You’re not going to beat me next month, you know”

I clenched my jaw, too upset to spill the news

“Lizzy’s grounded to the manor,” Raquel offered up for me “Indefinitely”

I glared at her, but she just shrugged

“What? It’s true”

“Seriously?” Ashley leaned forward to glare at me “Without you, I have no competition out there What did you do?”

Nothing, I wanted to shoot back But that wasn’t quite true

“I otten a little out of control” I murmured

Raquel guffawed and leaned against the wall “She let a feral knock Gabe out and stab her in the shoulder”

A single eyebrow rose on Ashley’s face as she stared atlike a little child I didn’t need more lectures Luke had fulfilled that quota for the day

“Well, if it was me, I’d still find a way to train” Ashley reached doith a wicked grin and shoved Raquel’s head under the water “You can’t get soft out there That’s what kills you”

Raquel burst above the water, sputtering and cursing Ashley laughed and slipped back into the pool The two of them raced off to the other side to join Ada I watched the in the water

Ashley had a point I couldn’t get soft Not after all the progress I’dto feel like a warrior I didn’t want that to fade Not when Gabe needed me to be his equal partner I had to find a way