Page 23

Crew

S kar’s distracted today. He circles me in the ring, hair slick with sweat as he searches for a way to take me down. He aims for my legs, nearly knocking me back, but I see the attack and easily use the momentum to knock him over, pinning him to the mat.

Fighting has always felt natural to me. It doesn’t matter how many years I’ve spent learning to do otherwise- or how much I’ve tried to control my anger. Every time I’m back in the rink, it’s the same thrill as the first time.

He coughs at the impact, rolling onto his back and lifting a hand so I can yank him up. “I’m out,” he pants, and I smirk as I walk to the edge of the mat and tear a towel out of my bag.

I drag the material over my face. The rickety fan rattles as it swings above us, blowing small puffs of hot air every few swings. Just like every summer.

“You’re quiet today,” he comments, and my eyes find him as I reach for my water and swallow down a couple of pulls.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” I say, rolling my neck.

“Have you decided whether or not you’ll stay with the Hughes?”

I hate that the memory of Olivia last night is my first thought. I hate that the thought of our coffee and breakfast routine comes next.

It shouldn’t.

She shouldn’t.

Downing my water, I do my best to let the thoughts in my head eddy away. “No,” I say. “I still have to talk to Taylor.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “How is Josie?”

“She’s a shorter, more stubborn version of you,” he snorts with a laugh. “Viserion is safe without you. Quit worrying.”

He crosses the gym toward the mini fridge before tossing a chilled bottle of water my way. I catch it easily, pressing the cool surface to my face.

“It’s not like you to keep changing the subject,” he comments, and at the guarded curiosity in his tone, I pop an eye open to look at him.

“Don’t play that game with me, Benenati. If you have a question, ask it.”

He smirks at my reaction, leaning against the ropes. “My wife has a- uh. A theory… as to why you’ve been so distracted lately.”

I smile at that. Charlotte sums a person up in a few seconds better than most people I know. “Maybe you should keep it to yourself.”

He actually laughs. “I dunno. She might be onto something.” He squints at me like he’s aware of something that I’m not. Olivia flashes in my head again, and I immediately want to wipe that look off his face with my fist.

“Piss off,” I turn, glad when my phone vibrates. I dig it out of my pocket, and when I see my mom’s name, I quickly answer. “Everything alright?”

Her cheery laugh fills the line, and I feel my anxiety ease when she says, “Hi to you too, baby. Just thought I’d check on you. See how life is treating you.”

My frown softens. “Hey, Ma. I’m good. Work’s good.”

Skar shakes his head at my easy-out, but he doesn’t call me on it. He claps my back as he passes, leaning in to say, “Hey, Mama Warden.”

“Hey, baby!” she squeals, but then it’s right back down to business. I can practically feel her prying gaze. Right now, she’d be looking at me saying ‘ Bullshit .’

“Yeah, you sound swell.”

I sound paranoid. Even I know it. I roll the tension in my shoulders again. “You’re right. I’m tired. You know how the job gets. Not the kind of stuff I want to be sharing.”

“Oh, I know the job alright. And I know you too. You haven’t checked in recently, so I thought I’d do the honors.” I can hear the giant grin on her face as she teases me.

“I am good, Ma. It’s just a new job. New routine.” I narrow a look at Skar as I add, “My new boss is even more of a prick than my old one. Can you believe it?”

“Skar? A prick??” Skar grins again, and I know he can hear her voice over the line. “I don’t believe it. That man is an angel. You remember when he-“

“Mom.” I laugh, cutting her tangent short before this phone call turns into a two hour trip down memory lane.

“Oh, alright. You’ll have to tell me about your prick boss later. Your dad needs help in the guest house… Honey? Where’s the paint?” she calls somewhere distant.

I chuckle as I hear her shuffling around. “What new project have you started now?”

“Full reno of the guest house. I’m surprised I haven’t told you. Your dad can tell you more about it than I can though. Something about tearing down the drywall and ' opening the layout. ' He’s right here. You want to say hi?”

It’s been months since we’ve said words to each other and even longer since we’ve been on good terms. Civil, maybe. Stern, always. He never forgave me for leaving at eighteen and joining the military... and I’m not sure I’ve forgiven myself for the way I left things. Even if Mom and I have kept close since then.

“Let him reno in peace. He’s probably in full builder-mode right now.”

I hear a loud crack in the background like a hammer meeting concrete, and she sighs happily. “You’re right. He’s in his own world. You’ve probably gotta get going anyways, don’t you?”

“I do. But I’m glad you called.”

“Awll,” she adds tearfully. “Love you, baby. Better come and visit soon. You hear?”

“Yes, Ma’am. Love you too.” Before I’ve even ended the call, I feel Skar looking at me. “Why do I feel like we’ve suddenly changed roles?” I laugh out. “You’re supposed to be the closed-off one.”

“I’m not the one holding out.”

I twist toward him, eying him with a look that would have anyone else cowering. “You know something I don’t?”

He juts his chin toward my chest. “You lost the ring.”

Winter’s ring.

Something flares in my chest, quick and hot. I blow out a breath. In all the years I’ve known him, we’ve never talked about what happened. It’s remained an unspoken boundary.

“It was time,” I tell him easily, and it’s the truth. I feel lighter since I let it go.

Skar’s next question is careful, cautious: “It has nothing to do with a certain new client?”

I want to be angry at the implication, but I know that would only further his point.

It doesn’t have anything to do with Olivia .

But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve never felt this… anything toward anyone.

I don’t know what to call it. It’s past indifference. Beyond impassive.

I’m curious.

I expected her to be the same flowery, ray-of-sunshine I met at Skar’s wedding. No more than two minutes alone with her, and I knew she was the kind of person to smile at you, tell you what you want to hear, and make you feel like she was hanging the moon just for sparing a minute.

Instead…

I don’t let myself finish that thought.

“Winter died… and I was tired of feeling like I died with her.” I swallow down another sip of water. “Or guilty for living without her.” I clear my throat, narrowing my eyes at him. “It doesn’t have to do with Olivia.”

He lifts his shoulders in silent admission of defeat. “I know.” He claps my shoulders as he passes. “For the record, it wouldn’t matter if it did.”

“Where are you headed?” I call as he heads for the door.

“Home,” he calls. “Aleks is moving out soon, and Charlie’s helping him pack.

I raise a brow at that. “Since when did he have any interest in moving out?”

Aleks has always been a homebody- and I’ve always assumed he’d stay home and milk his inheritance for as long as possible.

“Since he got a fiancée.” He frowns.

There’s few people in Westos Skar would approve of, and I have a hard time imagining he’s alright with all of this.

“Do we like her?” I ask though from what I remember of her from the party, I already know my answer.

Skar merely throws a look over his shoulder before throwing a mock salute as goodbye and pushing through the door. I have my answer then- and I make it a point to look more into Sofia Vercelli later tonight.