Wish Upon A Sunset

Krav Maga

Emma

Faster than I could blink, the man's fist flew towards the other guy's face, heading towards his jaw. The other guy deflected the punch by pushing against the outside of the man's elbow with his left hand and forcing it to the center of his opponent's body, while stepping into the man's space and kneeing him in the crotch. As the man doubled over to protect himself, the other guy jabbed his fist into the side of the man's head before lunging backward out of arm's reach.

Overwhelmed, I almost backed out of the door and retreated to my car. A wave of nervous energy crashed against my chest as I watched the sparring partners, both male and female, moving with such speed and efficiency that it left me breathless.

Doubts clawed at my mind. Was this the right step? But then the memory of last night's incident in the grocery store parking lot flashed before my eyes. Someone was definitely stalking me. The man in the black hoodie from the hospital had to be connected. A tremor wracked my body as I remembered the ghostly sensation of someone's presence behind me, so close I could almost feel their breath.

I clenched my fists, refusing to let fear take hold. This was the right choice. Learning self-defense would not only build my confidence but also empower me to face my stalker and the town bullies. I would no longer be a victim.

The studio was large and immaculate. Whoever had designed this space had put in considerable time and effort. The lights dotted around the arched ceiling made the white walls gleam, and gray rubber mats covered every inch of the floor. Multiple heavy bags hung along the back wall, and to the right of those was a large boxing ring. The place was clean and smelled of bleach and rubber.

The shrill blow of a whistle cut through the noise, and everyone in the room came to an abrupt stop.

"That's time!" Logan's deep voice rang out, commanding attention. A current of excitement buzzed beneath my skin at the sound, but I forced myself to focus.

Pressed against the wall next to the door, I watched as the class dispersed, sharing laughs and friendly banter. Some shook Logan's hand or clapped his shoulder in camaraderie as they grabbed their bags and towels.

My eyes drifted over Logan's muscular form, taking in his strong jawline and broad shoulders. He looked effortlessly good in a pair of black sweatpants and a matching T-shirt. The Semper Fi tattoo peeking out from under his sleeve only added to his appeal.

I briefly checked out my attire and tugged at the hem of my shirt self-consciously. Black leggings and a black Beatles t-shirt made up the ensemble, along with a pair of white sneakers. Removing my calf-length sweater, I compared my body to Logan's.

He had a well-trained, muscular body from his service in the military and his time spent teaching self-defense. My body, however, had changed from having two babies, and even though I knew it was normal to have some extra padding as a woman, like a softly rounded tummy and thighs, I still tugged at my clothes with embarrassment. Under any other circumstance, my body didn't bother me, but today it did.

Especially now, when Logan's warm brown eyes landed on me, where they lingered, taking in every detail. Heat bloomed in my cheeks as his gaze roved over me, and I resisted the urge to squirm under that intense scrutiny, still not used to having his full attention. There was an intensity there that made me feel exposed in a way I hadn't experienced before.

Finally, our gazes locked, and for a moment, the world around us disappeared. My breath caught in my throat as I drowned in those deep brown pools. An unexpected yearning took root inside me, leaving me flustered and off-balance. What was this connection between us?

Needing to break the tension, I smiled and gave him a little wave, attempting to regain my equilibrium. His irises turned a molten shade of caramel as his lips tilted up into a grin, causing a warm tremor to spread beneath my ribs. The foreign but pleasant sensation only added to my confusion. I barely knew this man, and yet he was evoking feelings in me I couldn't begin to untangle.