Chapter 6

On my knees, I throw my arms in front of my face, dodging her kick. I stand up quickly and try kicking her in the head! She blocks it with her arm.

I am out of breath! I feel like I have been doing this for an hour, and I still have not landed a single blow.

The tiny woman laughs as she jumps on top of a wooden crate, doing a black flip off it. I try punching the back of her legs but miss. Landing perfectly and turning to me quickly, she comes towards me, throwing more punches.

I step to the left and then to the right, dodging them. My opponent then spins around and tries to backhand me, but I duck, narrowly getting hit!

The door opens to the room, and I see a moment of hope with my distracted opponent. Still on my knees, I put my hands on the floor and kick her feet from underneath her. She falls back, hard!

She looks around and exhales, doing a kick-to-stand.

"Wow! Nice!" LeAnn says as she catches her breath.

I am also out of breath as I stand up. Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I smile at LeAnn. We walk to the table and grab a bottle of water.

"You only got the drop on me because Fallon here distracted."

Fallon freezes at LeAnn's words. "I am so sorry! I was bringing you both some fresh towels." She has a basket of folded, white towels in her hands.

I smile at her as I take a sip of water. "Don't worry about it, Fallon. LeAnn is upset because if this were an actual fight, I would've kicked her ass."

"Oh yeah?" She laughs while grabbing a towel and wiping her face.

Fallon hands me a towel as I turn to LeAnn.

"What do you always tell me? It can take one second to win or lose the fight. Use it to your advantage or fail miserably."

"Ahh! The student becomes the master," LeAnn says as she winks.

We both mockingly bow at each other.

"Okay, so punching bag time, Sam! Let's go!"

I groan.

She runs to the other side of the room and holds the bag in place. I walk up to her adjusting my hand wraps, and begin to punch it.

"I still can't believe that woman was obsessed with Joe. Doesn't she know he doesn't like her? Or any womanly flavor?"

LeAnn has been training with me every day for a week now. It is one assignment she was happy to take.

Ever since the Santorini incident, she has nothing to do. She flies in every other week to teach me knife tricks and shooting. We are discussing her possible move to Utah.

Hit, hit, duck! Hit, hit, duck!

"Good form, Sam!" LeAnn says as she continues to hold the bag. "Just remember to bend further down. Use your knees, not your back. You want to be able to see your opponent's next move."

I nod. "I don't know if she knows he's gay. I didn't ask Freddie. But I'm sure he told her at some point. I mean, come on, she was very persistent. Sooner or later, he would have snapped and told her the reality," I say out of breath while continuing my dance with the punching bag.

"Or maybe she can't take the hint and is desperate?"

We decide two hours of combat training is enough. We head to the kitchen, where Freddie is preparing us some lunch. LeAnn jumps on Freddie's back, startling him.

"Oh, my God! You scared the shit out of me, Lee! Don't do that!" He takes a serving spoon and smacks her in the arm.

"Hey!" She yells in pain, rubbing the point of contact.

We take our seats as Freddie serves us our chef salads. He sits with us.

"So, how are you feeling, Freddie?" I ask him as I dig into my plate.

"My nerves are still wonky. Even though it's been a whole week since the attack, I'm still scared though. Is that normal?"

I feel horrible for him. Yeah, he works for Ryder, who deals in blood and fighting all the time. However, Freddie has always been behind the scenes, guarded by electronics and Ryder.

"Of course it is, Sweetie! Something like that is traumatic. Everyone handles it in their own way, you know?" LeAnn asks, taking a fork full of lettuce and putting it in her mouth. "Your nose looks a lot better too."

Freddie holds up the back of his phone to his face. His phone case is a mirror. Looking at his nose, he touches it gently. "Really?! Are you sure? I seriously think I need surgery."

"Oh, geez, stop! You needed it before, and that never stopped you."

I choke on my water at LeAnn's insult.

"Really? So what are you going to do about your fat ass?" Freddie asks slowly as he puts his phone on the table, crossing his arms.

LeAnn turns to look at her behind. "What?! There is nothing wrong with it!"

Freddie sucks his teeth. "Now there isn't! Why do you think I've been serving you a salad for lunch all week?"

LeAnn's mouth drops. The three of us start laughing hysterically.

"You two are insane," I say, giggling.

LeAnn smiles. "Yep, but he knows I love him to death and want only the best for him. Oh, and speaking of the best, where is Joe?"

"He had some things to do. And he's stopping by his place to get some clothes. We talked about moving in together. Whether it be his place or here."

I kook up at Freddie. Ryder is not going to like this.

"I want it to be at his place only because living near you guys is a death warrant! And Darryl is annoying. Even though lately he's been doing good and staying away from me," he says with a smile.

LeAnn laughs out loud, whereas I try to hold it in. The sad reality is that he is telling the truth. We all are in danger being anywhere near Ryder.

Mom and dad want to see the new house, but I have reservations about it. Even the twins, my best friends from California, want to come out. I keep putting it off.

"How's the baby thing coming along?" LeAnn whispers out of nowhere.

I had confided in her a long time ago about this. She had told me it was either my body, still high on birth control, or it could be Ryder. I'm not in the mood to speak on my infertility, but LeAnn and Freddie make it so easy to confide in them. They always have my back.

"Well, he got his results back. His sperm count is healthy. So the problem might be me after all."

A quietness fills the room, which makes me uncomfortable.

Freddie then grabs my hand. "Speaking of pregnancy!" He gets up from his chair and brings me a cup that is sitting on the counter. "Your daily vitamins, my dear!"

LeAnn looks at the green drink and gags when I begin to drink it. "That doesn't seem normal, Sam. What is that?" LeAnn's brows furrow as I continue to drink.

Freddie turns to her. "Well, ever since she's been off birth control, I've been giving her tons of nutritional stuff. I started her on this drink about a year ago. It's a green smoothie-- kale, spinach, banana, and apples. Oh, and it contains vitamins! Joe taught me how to make it and what to put in it. He's a health nut! Why do you think he's so buff?"

LeAnn rolls her eyes at Freddie. He grabs his used napkin and throws it at her.

"Listen, Sam," he continues. "My friend from college and her then-husband tried for four years to conceive their firstborn. Four years! They tried everything. The moment she gave up is when she finally got pregnant. It'll happen to you. And if by chance there is something wrong with you, I will carry it for you, okay? I don't mind gaining a few inches for you and Ryder."

Tears instantly pool in my eyes. This is why I love Freddie so much!

"I'd pay to see that!" LeAnn says, chewing her food.

"Choke," Freddie says with a smile.

A week has passed by.

Freddie and Joe are feeling much better, and I decide to go shopping by myself. Ryder will take me to dinner this evening, and I want a new pair of shoes. I choose to go to Macy's, a vast department store. Before I hit the stores, there is a small Starbucks kiosk near the entrance. I order a venti, black coffee with extra sugar.

Using the word exhaustion is putting how I feel lately. It is all thanks to Ryder's extracurricular activities from last night and every night.

I am putting a straw into my drink when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around and smile. It fades instantly when I see who it is.

"Oh, I thought it was you! How are you?! Remember me? Dr. Packard!"

How can I forget it? It's the bitch that flirted with my fiancé in my own home.

"Yes, I'm fine. How are you?" What I wouldn't give to stab her in the eye with this straw!

"I'm great! So are you shopping? Looking for anything, in particular, I can help you with? I know this place like the back of my hand." She puts her hand up and waves it. Her two shopping bags are moving around.

For some odd reason, she thinks it's hilarious. I just continue to smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. "No, but thank you for the offer. I just want to relax and look around."

Her smile fades, and she looks a little serious. "No, I understand. Especially with the entire infertility thing. I'm so sorry to hear."

My smile instantly fades. "Excuse me?"

"Well, when I first got to Ryder's house-"

I stop her right there, putting my pointer finger up and closing my eyes. Ryder's home?! "Actually it's my home, but you can continue with your story."

She forces a smile on her face before shifting her bags from one arm to the other, clearing her throat. "Oh, now I understand why Ryder fired me. And here I thought I was losing my medical touch," she giggles.

I squint my eyes and shake my head. "It's actually because you might've lost touch with reality! You walked into my home, and though you could reignite a candle, you once had with my soon-to-be-husband. This is why women, in general, don't get along. Instead of helping each other in this world, made specifically for men, they are plotting against one another."

"Right," she whispers as she looks me up and down. "Before I checked Joe and Freddie, he was asking me about a specialist regarding sperm and fertility. It seems like you both are having trouble conceiving. I told him there was no way he could be having problems. That it's you and I know the perfect doctor. That's all!"

My mouth hits the floor. What does Dr. Packard mean by she knows he can't be having problems?

"Umm..." I laugh. I really want to snatch her soul through her mouth, but I have to compose myself. "What do you mean that I am the problem and Ryder isn't?"

She pretends to be stunned and covers her mouth with her hand, putting the other hand on my arm. I take a step back.

Dr. Packard takes a step forward and smiles, making me uncomfortable.

"Didn't he tell you?"

I look around nervously, scared of what will come out of her mouth.

"Ryder and I were pregnant a little over two and a half years ago. So he definitely isn't the problem!"