The Epic Romance of the Sassy, Dorky... Badass Superspies.

Day Four

August 20, 2019

8/20/14

8:46 am

The next time that I see Ezekiel, it's in training. We have to meet every day, besides weekends. And it's in the morning. Ezekiel's teaching me punching techniques.

There is an obvious difference in today's training session that wasn't there the first time.

He laughs more. But we haven't mentioned the date in the first hour of training.

Ezekiel likes to spar me.

We have our boxing gloves and mouth-guards on. He swings a punch at me, and I dodge it.

"So I was thinking about driving up the coast," he says. "Work's been pretty quiet, so being away for a few days should be fine."

I swing a round house kick to the side of his chest, and he grabs my foot, throwing me backwards. I do a kick up, silently proud of myself, and aim a jab at his mouth. He blocks it.

"You're allowed to take vacations?" I ask, faking another jab.

He shrugs. "Once in a while. I hear Cornwall's nice this time of year."

"I'll have to train myself," I say.

He aims a jab at my shoulder, which I fail to block. I try to pretend it doesn't hurt.

He laughs, but I think it's at my comment, not at the expense of my pain. I think.

"...Or you could come."

I haven't registered what he's said when I risk it and take a punch at his nose. He grabs my fist, reaching for his water bottle. "Session over," he says simply, and sits down on one of the 2 chairs in the large room. I lower my fist, and sit down next to him.

"So what do you think?" he asks.

"I think I have to work on my sparring."

"Not about the sparring." He sighs. "Don't you think it would be fun? Have you ever been to Cornwall?"

I shake my head. "I've never been... but we've just met."

He smiles. "There's a first time for everything. Like... second dates, for example."

"But... all the way to Cornwall? I literally met you two days ago."

"It was three days ago, and who cares? It'll be like- a week, by the time we go." He sighs. "But if you think it's a bad idea, you can forget about it. Maybe it is weird. I don't know."

I smile. "I don't know either."

"What are you saying?"

I don't know what comes over me, but I'm beaming ear to ear. Going to Cornwall with Ezekiel sounds like the best idea ever. "I'm saying... what the hell. I guess so. I like you, and I like roadtrips. I guess. I've never been on one."

He breathes a sigh of relief. Looks at me. "Thank you. You're probably the only girl on the planet crazy enough to say yes."

I shrug. "That was a compliment, right?"

He nods. "Duh."

I laugh.

He brushes a strand of hair from my face. "Natasha, can I have permission-"

"You don't need permission," I interrupt. "Ever."

He laughs as our lips touch.