Tempting. I tucked the phone into my hoodie's pocket. "So what now?"
He stared at me for a good minute with those penetrating gray eyes, then said, "Show me your wrists."
"What?"
"Wrists. Hands out."
I hesitated, then stuck them out, palms up, like a kid showing clean fingernails. He didn't touch me at first. Just examined.
"Ever taken self-defense?" he asked.
"A little."
"Turn around."
"Why?"
"Just turn around."
The adrenaline crashed all over again. I felt it crawl up my spine, cold and electric. Still, I turned, listening to the sound of his breath—or maybe just my own.
He moved behind me. Close, but not too close. "I'll show you what to do if someone other than me tries to approach you outside." I smelled leather, and something like steel. "I'm going to grab you," he said next. "Don't overthink it."
My hands curled into fists. I felt my body tighten, all instinct. "Okay."
He was fast, but not scary fast. One arm looped around my neck, the other around my waist, just above the phone in the pocket. I tensed, breath catching in my throat. Then I heard his voice, inches from my ear. "Freeze. Don't panic. Just listen."
His breath fanned against my skin and slipped down my neck. I shivered. "Easy for you to say."
"Here's what you do," he went on, and then, step by step, he walked me through it. "First, tuck your chin. Yes—good. That's so I can't cut off your air." His hold was strong, but controlled. I could feel the shape of every muscle in his arms, but also how he wasn't using all of it. "Second, drop your weight. Not too much, just enough to make me work. Third, find my hand—the one across your waist."
I reached for it. His glove was smooth, cool. I tried to pull, but it was like grabbing rebar.
"Now, pivot to your left," he instructed. "Good. Stomp my instep with your heel. Hard as you can."
I did it. The move landed, but he didn't even flinch. Still, I felt his grip relax, just for a second.
"That's your window. Twist your hips and pull down on my hand. Use your body weight. Not your arms."
I did, and suddenly I was loose, spinning around to face him, chest heaving.
He nodded once. "Good."
"Aren't you just letting me win this one?"
"I am because I'm teaching you and because I'm anticipating your next move, but most attackers will not."
I stretched my arms over my head for a second to release the tension. "Fine. If you say so."
"Again." He made some twirling gesture with his hand.
"Again?"
"You need not just theory but muscle memory too to be able to implement the move," he explained.
I groaned and rolled my eyes. Then regretted it. I probably looked like a brat right now.
"Let's go," he said.
