“I know,” I straightened, backing out of the kitchen. “I’m going down to the basement.”
“Will you stay for dinner?”
“Maybe,” I shrugged.
“If you don’t I’ll package up some food for you to take home.”
“Thanks,” I said as I headed down the hallway. I opened the basement door and my feet thumped against the steps as I stomped down them.
I flicked the light on and the space illuminated. I grabbed a pair of mesh shorts and changed so I didn’t get my regular clothes all sweaty. I chose to forgo a shirt, knowing I would only drench it in sweat. I needed to work off some of my anger and confusion. For me, exercise was the best way to do that.
I got on the treadmill, forgoing a warm up since I didn’t need it, and ran at a full sprint. I could feel my muscles flexing and pulsing with the movement. Sweat dotted my skin, but I didn’t stop. I was running nowhere but in the process I was releasing my demons. I might never be okay again, losing my dad, nearly losing Sophie, and then having my pack members die had taken its toll on me. Maybe the elders were right and I was too ‘sensitive’ for this position. I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders and my knees were buckling under the pressure.
“Dude, slow the fuck down.”
“Watch your language,” I warned Bryce in a fatherly tone.
He came around the front of the treadmill and rolled his eyes dramatically. “Are your little virgin ears so sensitive to bad words that I must filter myself?”
“Words like that are disrespectful,” I panted.
“It’s just a word,” Bryce reasoned. “Saying it’s bad makes it bad.”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing. Mom told me to come down here and check on you. She said you were acting weird,” he picked at invisible dirt under his nails.
“I’m not acting weird.”
“That’s what mom said,” he raised his hands in surrender. “Want to spar?”
“Sure,” I answered, slowing the speed of the treadmill. Just before it came to a complete stop I hopped off.
We headed over to the mats and it was nice to have my mind only focused on the technicalities of sparring and not on anything else.
It felt good to release all this tension. Bryce didn’t say anything as I fought him harder than normal. Even he knew I needed this.
I threw a particularly brutal punch towards his face and his arm shot up to block it. Our heavy breaths filled the air, echoing around the basement. I got through his defenses and my fist slammed into his stomach. Anger flashed in Bryce’s eyes and he fought harder. Punch after punch, I let the pain consume me so I didn’t have to think about anything else.
Spent, we both fell onto the mat, looking up at the ceiling. Neither of us could catch our breath.
“Better?” Bryce asked after a moment.
“Much.”
“Boys?!” Mom opened the basement door and called down to us. “Have you killed each other?”
“Hardly,” Bryce answered.
“Caeden, I really hope you’ll consider staying for dinner,” my mom said, making me feel guilty. I needed to get back to Sophie, but it had been a while since I’d had a meal made by my mom. I would take Soph some leftovers so I didn’t feel too guilty.
“Sure, why not?” I sat up, draping my arms over my legs.
Bryce wrinkled his nose and stood up, staring down at me. “If you’re staying for dinner, you better shower, you stink.”
“Thanks, Bryce,” I chuckled.
“Just tellin’ you like it is,” he shrugged, taking his shirt off and rubbing his sweat off with it. “Not everyone can sweat and still smell this delicious,” he dropped his shirt on my face so I got a whiff of his body odor. That kid was never growing up, but I loved him anyway.
I threw his shirt at his back and he chuckled as he started up the steps.
Since the clothes I had been wearing were down here, I opted to use the shower here as well instead of going upstairs to what had once been my bedroom.
When I was showered and dressed, I jogged up the steps and into the kitchen. Mom already had the table set and my stomach rumbled.
“I’m glad you decided to stay,” she stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “I’ve missed you.”
Ugh, moms always knew how to make you feel guilty. I knew it had to be hard on her with me being gone. Dad wasn’t around, obviously, and Bryce was with Charlotte all the time. I’d hate being in this big old house by myself, so I knew she had to be feeling the effects.
“I’ve missed you too, mom,” I sat down at the table.
Bryce sauntered into the room like he was king of the world. “Where’s my dinner, woman?”