Page 65 of Zach
kitchen to get me a bowl.
“Jesus, Holly, you sound like you’re shooting porn over there. Try to keep it PG, lady.” Holly
shoots the woman behind me a dark look, but dissolves into bliss again with her next scoop. I turn to
the woman, hiding my smile from Holly.
“I’m Maya,” I say, sticking out my hand. She smiles, shaking my hand firmly, her grip strong and
confident. “I’m Becca. I’m married to….” she searches the room, finally pointing, “Kade, right
there.” I haven’t spent much time with him, but this confident woman being married to him makes
sense. Of all the brothers, he seems like he’s the most uncomfortable in his suit. And his language…
I’ve never heard so manyfuckscome out of one person in my life.
“I heard you’re newly married. Congratulations.”
She smiles, and she’s beautiful. “Thank you. I’m pretty happy about it. So…Bree tells me you
think you’re some kind ofKarate Kid. Care to come down to the dojo and try out your moves?”
My jaw drops, and I spin, looking for Bree, finding her in the corner with another of my bosses,
Nick. She catches my glare, and with a cackle, ducks behind Nick. He smiles at me, then reaches back
to tickle Bree. She laughs and dances away from him, slapping his hands.
“She’s doing so much better,” Becca says thoughtfully, staring at Bree.
“Better than what?”
“She was attacked by her boyfriend a few months ago. She’s been struggling with it, but she’s
healing.”
“Attacked,” I repeat dumbly. I’ve had two dinners with the sisters, and both times, I thought about
how blessed their life seemed. How worry-free. “What happened?”
“It’s her story to tell. But it was bad. Cara was there, too. They’re lucky to be alive.”
Dropping my head, I let the idea that the two women, my new friends, were nearly killed wash
over me. I might never have met them. The idea is inconceivable.
Becca nudges me. “Hey,Karate Kid,I’m serious. I teach self-defense, and the girls come to my
class. So does Holly. You should come too.”
“I’ve never done anything like that.”
She nods. “There’s a first time for everything. There’s a class tomorrow afternoon. Come.
Colton’s volunteered to be a sparring dummy for us.”I can do hard things. I can do hard things.
Looking around the room at the laughter and happy shouting, I jump.
