The sound of J.T. and Matt’s sparring drew attention within the first fifteen minutes and the pair drew an audience not too long after that. Tala was the first, wandering up after feeding everyone and cleaning up after them. She appeared wrapped in her parka and a fleece blanket, her cheeks ruddy from the cold, a huge grin on her face.
“Sparring match?” she called.
“Yes,” J.T. answered, then swore as Matt’s kendo stick smacked against his ribcage. Tala laughed.
“Point to me,” Matt said.
“Match to you,” J.T. corrected, unzipping his coat to rub at his ribs. The layers of fabric had lessened the sting, but not erased it fully. He stepped back, grounding the tip of his kendo stick in the crust of snow beneath their feet. “Give me a minute. You swatted me good, there.”
Matt grinned. “Payback for the touches you’ve scored. My bruises will have some bruises.”
“Nothing we can’t take care of later,” J.T. assured him. He glanced at Tala. “Anyone missing us down there?”
“Jac was wondering where you were, other than that, no one’s really asked.” She shrugged slightly. “I don’t think she actually needed you for anything. She just wasn’t sure where you were.”
That eased some of the sudden concern that had popped up when Tala had mentioned that Jacqueline had been looking for him. He cursed inwardly, wondering when he’d hit the point that he’d appointed himself responsible for everyone’s health and well-being.
I’m not responsible for everyone’s safety, just putting them back together again after something’s happened. With a few people healing from injuries and illness, any mention of Jacqueline—his partner in crime, for lack of better terminology—looking for him was enough to set off alarm bells in his head.
“As long as that’s the case, let’s get back to it, Matt.” J.T. zipped his coat again and picked up his kendo stick, then glanced at Tala. “Want to keep score for us? You’ve been the best at it for a while.”
Tala chuckled. “I’m thinking I can handle that. Objections, Matt?”
“None at all,” he said, grinning. “Better than the two of us trying to hit each other and keep score.”
“All right, then,” she said. “Three touches?”
“Three touches,” J.T. confirmed. “And tell us if you spot Thom coming.”
Tala laughed again and nodded. “Of course. Lay on!”
Thanks for keeping my mind working on the fantasy parallel lives going here. I love the whole concept.