Your Ghost

Chapter 45:

Please read the Writer's note before continuing with this chapter.

RANSOM:

"You need to put more effort into it. Punch higher this time." I hold up the strike shields a little higher.

Evelyn exhales and positions herself, and punches each strike shield, but I know she isn't even trying.

"You aren't even trying. Punch harder." I bark.

"I am punching harder." Evelyn says breathlessly.

"No you are not. You are punching like a girl." I snicker.

Evelyn narrows her eyes at me. "I am a girl."

"Just punch harder. I know you can punch harder." I lower the strike shields this time.

Evelyn punches one strike shield and then flops down on the mat. "Can I stop now? We've been at this for..." Evelyn looks at the clock. "30 minutes."

I crease a brow. "Which means we still have 30 minutes left. Now stand up."

"Ransom!" Evelyn whines.

My shoulders promptly tense.

I cringe whenever Evelyn whines.

She sounds like a little whiny girl who cannot get her way. I cannot take it!

"Get up." I say with a clip voice.

"Couldn't I just go on the treadmill instead?" Evelyn points her boxing glove to the treadmills in the corner of the gym.

"Didn't you want to try out kickboxing?" I point out.

Evelyn tilts her head up and bumps her brows together. "It's only because you forced me to do another form of exercise." Evelyn counters.

"That's only because you need to work on strengthening your muscles; otherwise you will slip and slide everywhere." I fire back. "Like you did after our hike. Now get up." I move around in a small circle to position myself, and I hold up the strike shields.

Evelyn purposefully stands up slowly and positions herself to start punching.

"I did offer to help you with the weight lifting..." I look at the rack with the weights stacked on top of each other. "...but you wanted to go for kickboxing instead." I taunt.

Evelyn mutters under her breath, but I cannot hear what she is saying.

But I'm guessing she called me an "asshole" somewhere in her muttering.

Evelyn punches the shield harder this time, but it still isn't hard enough.

I know Evelyn can punch much harder than that.

I've seen it.

"Harder." I order.

"I am hitting harder." Evelyn says through gritted teeth.

"No you're not!" I snap and drop my hands.

She needs to actually put effort into her punching.

She needs motivation!

I sigh and walk around the room...thinking about what I can do to make Evelyn use all her strength in her punches...I walk back and forth for just a few minutes until...

Ah! I know what to do!

It isn't the best idea, but it's an idea Evelyn might follow through.