We hear the movie start behind us just as we make it to the table with refreshments. I grab two mugs, dumping a teaspoon of coffee in one for myself, while Maevyn pops one scoop of coffee and one of Milo in hers.
When we finish making our drinks, we walk around the outskirts of the group. There are probably a hundred kids here, with parents sitting in pairs, scattered around the edge to keep an eye on them. We find vacant seats toward the front, waving to Aurora when she spots us.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket. I pull it out before I sit down, laughing when I see the message from Phil.
“Who’s that?” Maevyn asks, sipping her drink.
“My best mate, Phil.” I send him a laughing emoji back, then pocket my phone. “He’s salty that I missed classes this morning.”
“Classes?”
“Yeah, I help him teach self-defence classes twice a week. Whenever I can’t make it, his wife goes, and she always humbles him.” I smile.
“You teach self-defence?”
I nod, leaning back in my chair. “At the Life Vine Community Centre.”
“Maybe I’ll come check it out. I like to keep my strength up, stay alert.”
She’s given me hints of her past. Nothing concrete, but enough to ignite that flicker of unease in my gut.
“Is that in general vigilance as a woman or something more personal?”
Most of the people we see in classes are women who have felt unsafe at some point in their lives. Some have been rattled by their own experiences, and others do it to feel empowered or confident in the fact that they have the tools to enforce their boundaries if needed. Sometimes, it’s both.
“My parents.” She hesitates for a moment, sipping her mocha and licking the remnants off her lips before continuing. “They didn’t keep the best company. I felt better being prepared.”
That has my jaw clenching and my hand tightening on the armrest. “Any time you want to practise, you just let me know. I’m only right next door.”
“You don’t need to give up any more time for me,” she says softly, smiling behind her mug. “Does your friend know about our arrangement?”
“I don’t have any secrets from Phil.” I look over at her, but her eyes are fixed on the screen ahead. “Is that okay?”
She nods. “I told a friend too. Had to make sure I wasn’t crazy.” She chuckles and rubs a hand up and down her arm.
I put my coffee on the ground and pull off the flannel shirt I have buttoned over my Henley.
“Here.” I hand it over to her, and she stares as if it’s gonna bite her. “I can see you’re cold.”
“Thanks.” She threads her arms through the sleeves and crosses it tightly over her middle.
“Looks good on you.” Too damn good.
The chill running up my arms has nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with seeing Maevyn in my clothes.
“What was the verdict with your friend? Are you crazy?” I ask.
“I’m not sure if she’s a reputable source of judgement. She’s crazier than I am.”
I chuckle. “Phil was convinced I had ulterior motives.”
“Like what?”
“Wanting to get closer to you.”
“Could have just asked me out if that was the case.”
“Would you have said yes?”
