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Imogen moves toward the door before swinging her red hair back around. “We’re all doing things you wouldn’t do, Mads. One of these days, you’re gonna see what you’re missing out on,” she says on a laugh just before she disappears through the front doors.
My friends love to tease me about my lack of a love life. Like I’m single by my own choosing. Dating sucks in general. And when your brother is a pro football player who’s more protective of you than anything in the world, it can get kinda... sticky. That, compounded with my own personal demons, and it’s just not worth it sometimes. I go through phases where I try to put myself out there, but most of the time, I’d rather just be surrounded by my friends.
Life is easier that way. Less complicated.
A noise from the back of the building stops me as I spray down the mats. “Hello...?” I call out, wondering if someone may still be in the bathroom.
Although, my students were all accounted for.
The gym should be empty.
Maybe something fell over.
An uneasy feeling washes over me as I look around the empty gym, then jump when the chimes over the front door sound.
It swings open a moment later, and Hudson walks through. “Mads... you still here? I forgot my phone.” He scans the room, looking for me.
I raise my shaking hand to cover my pounding heart. “Oh my goodness, Hudson. You scared the heck out of me.”
“Maddie,” he hollers, his eyes growing wide as he spots me across the gym. Then he roars, “Move!”
I’m not sure what scares me more... the way his voice booms through the entire building or the look on his face as he charges me.
Instinctively, I move toward him. “Hudson—”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement behind me a split second too late.
Like the world has switched into slow motion and quicksand is holding my limbs hostage, I try to move, but fear freezes me in place.
Until Hudson knocks me out of the way with a rough shove backward.
I fall to the floor while my scream reverberates from the rafters.
There’s a man in a black ski mask running from Hudson.
Oh my God.
Hudson catches up to the attacker easily.
The guy grabs a kettle bell and throws it behind him.
My scream gets caught in my throat when I watch Hudson jump over the black kettle bell. It’s like a horror movie happening right in from of me, as Hud comes down and slips on the mat I’d just washed, landing on his knees.
The guy in the mask takes advantage of Hudson’s misstep and moves like lightning through the hall and out the back door.
With my heart racing, I scramble to my feet and fly to Hudson’s side.
Kneeling next to him, it’s impossible to miss the pain etched on his face. “Oh my God. Are you okay?”
He reaches around me and cups the back of my head. “I’m fine, Mads.” His eyes frantically search mine, and I think I’m seeing this tough MMA fighter petrified for the first time in the three years I’ve known him. “Areyouokay?”
I nod, but the adrenaline begins to wane, and the world starts to spin.
I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around what almost just happened.
Once he’s satisfied I’m okay, he clenches his jaw. “Call the cops, Mads. Tell them to meet us at the hospital.” He closes his eyes and tilts his head up to the ceiling. “I think I busted my knee.”
With trembling hands, I make the call.
