Kai went over a few more stances. “Now strikes.” He extended his arm. “From fist to forearm should be a straight line. Only punch with your largest first two knuckles.” He gave a slow-motion example. The students observed, then repeated the action in kind.
Kai nodded once and assumed the ‘horse stance’ he’d taught them. “Now, straight punch.” He thrust his fist forward while tugging his other elbow back. “Ai-yah!” he barked sharply. “Bahro chirugi.”
“Oh, yeah. Now we’re talking,” Jegs growled, mimicking the move.
Kai glanced his way.
Jegs beamed and did it again. Kai nodded in approval. But then he looked at Breck—and waited expectantly.
Great. Breck didn’t want the guy critiquing him just yet.
And now he could feel his peers’ eyes on him, too.
Jaw clenched, he squared his shoulders and gave it a go.
Kai’s lips twitched, but that was all the reaction Breck got.
No nod, no nothing.
Not fucking cool.
His punch had been on point.
Soon the students were called onto the mats to practice in pairs, taking turns punching the hand protectors of their partners. Which, for Breck’s trio, left an odd man out.
“You and Jegs team up,” Charlie offered, already checking out the ladies. “I think I see my partner right over—”
Kai stepped in his path. “She’s too small.”
Charlie’s face fell. “But—”
Kai waved him closer. “I got you. Show me your strike.”
Charlie exhaled and assumed proper stance.
Discretely, Breck watched them as he held up his hands for Jegs. Charlie was Breck’s height, six-foot-three. Grandmaster Kai looked nearly as tall.
Nice.
Tall guys like that weren’t super common. Breck should know. Aside from his teammates, he towered over pretty much everyone.
Jegs punched his mitt hard.
Breck scowled. “Fucker, chill.”
Jegs shrugged and struck again. “Just channeling my Chan.”
“You’re an ass.” Breck tamped a laugh. A very large ass. Six foot six. One of the few who actually made Breck feel short. And yet, for a power forward, that was pretty standard height. Reggie, the team’s center, was even taller.
Breck’s gaze slid back to Charlie.
Scratch that.
His gaze slid back to Kai.
The instructor was facing away. Worked for Breck. His eyes dipped lower, past Kai’s black belt, to check out his ass.
Jegs’ fist glanced off his hand and nailed him in the shoulder.
Breck shot him a glare.
Jegs grinned. “Pay attention.”
“I am.”
“Bullshit.” Jegs laughed. “You’re checkin’ someone out.” He glanced over his shoulder and peered around. “Who? That chick with mermaid hair down to her ass?”
Kai looked their way.
Met Breck’s gaze.
Breck cleared his throat. “Uh. Yeah. Her.” He gestured stiffly. “C’mon, man. Just fucking go.”
“Knew it.” Jegs beamed. He threw some more strikes. “Can totally spot your type a mile away.”
Could he, though? Could he really? Maybe where women were concerned. But Jegs didn’t even know that Breck was bi. Charlie didn’t know, either. The thing with Socrates had stayed a secret. Breck hadn’t even told his best friend. Not that Ned wouldn’t be cool. He just wouldn’t understand, considering how obsessed he was with the ladies. Shit, out of their foursome, Tad would probably get Breck best. Not sure why. He just kind of threw that vibe sometimes.
Breck swapped places with Jegs and took a turn throwing punches.
Not long after, Kai wrapped things up with some parting directives. “Homework: get a notebook and jot down what you’ve learned. Bring it to class each week. Set aside time to practice your stances and strikes.” He glanced around, then bowed at the waist. “Hae cho. Class dismissed.”
The class returned the gesture and dispersed to the locker rooms.
“Damn.” Jegs sulked. “That flew by way too fast.”
Breck made a face. “Too fast?” He looked at Charlie. “His brain is broke.”
Charlie laughed.
Jegs grinned and shoved Breck’s shoulder.
They changed their clothes, then headed for the door.
Kai was standing by the sign-in counter. As they approached, he looked up. “Thanks for coming.”
Jegs grinned. “See you Wednesday.”
“Later.” Charlie nodded.
Breck just tipped up his chin and kept on walking. He couldn’t place it, but there was something about that guy that rubbed him weird. Made him feel ‘less than’ or something. Put a kink in his crown. So, no, there’d be no getting friendly, no matter how hot he found Grandmaster to be. He’d appreciate the man at arm’s length and that was it.
They exited and hit the sidewalk in the direction of their frat house, peers from the dojang closing in on all sides. Guys, fellow sports fans, keeping pace to talk basketball. Girls with starry eyes, all batting their lashes.
Breck smiled, strutting tall, the admiration like its own kind of high. And yet, as they ambled down the sidewalk and readied to take the turn up ahead, he found himself looking back.
Back at that dojang.
— FOUR —
Kai watched from the front counter as his class’s three tallest students strolled out the door and headed down the street. Several girls exited behind them, their eyes locked onto the trio like heat-seeking missiles.