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Chapter Ten
Maggie
“Arms up higher,” hesays, adjusting my hands in front of my face. “That’s better. You have to protect your face.”
I nod.
“Take a swing at me,” he says.
I laugh. “Really?”
“Well,tryto take a swing at me.”
I throw my arm out in a punch, trying to put my whole bodyweight behind it like we’ve been practicing. He easily dodges it.
“That was better,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Hardly.”
Wylie climbs into the boxing ring. “Sterling, I’m taking over here. Tim wants to spar with you.”
He jerks his head toward the other boxing ring where Tim is waiting. Declan’s eyes linger on me for a moment and then he says, “Keep it up, Buttercup. You’ll be kicking my ass before I know it.”
I snort and watch him exit the ring. He’s not wearing a shirt, and good god, you’d think I’d be immune to that image since I see him shirtless all the time, but it honestly never gets old.
Wylie holds a punching block in front of me and says, “Time to focus, Collins. Eyes over here.”
I just smirk and get to work. Declan started bringing me to his boxing gym as soon as we got back from Milwaukee. He says it’s not a substitute for real therapy, but it’s a form of therapy. He’s right. It’s done wonders. I’ve gotten stronger. I’m learning to defend myself. I’m letting out that rage that’s been brewing inside me since Cole showed up on my doorstep with a gun pointed at me.
Declan helped me find a therapist too. I see her once or twice a week. I think it’s helping, but it’s exhausting work. I like it better here.
I slam my fist into the punching block. This is mindless – the only place right now I can turn off my brain.
Declan has been staying with me since we got back from Milwaukee. It should probably be weird that he’s just moved in, but neither of us have spoken a word about it. All I know is that I haven’t had a nightmare since he’s been sleeping in my bed. Food has started to taste normal again with him eating beside me at the kitchen table. Each morning I don’t feel a crushing wave of anxiety as I try to get out of bed.
“Water break.” Wylie drops his hand, and I walk over to the edge of the ring. I’m dripping with sweat. Declan and Tim are sparring. I lean against the ropes and watch them.
“Don’t drool all over my gym,” Wylie says, walking up to me.
I shoot him a look. “What’s wrong with admiring the view?”
