The air in the gym smelled like rubber and old sweat. Heavy bass rattled from a speaker somewhere near the back, but it barely cut through the quiet tension hovering around the mat.
Faye leaned her back against the cool metal frame of a squat rack, her thumbs hooked into the waistband of her track pants. Her lungs pulled in a slow, steady breath. She let it out just as slowly, watching Malo shift his weight from foot to foot in front of her.
Throughout the week, she hadn't set her eyes on Malo or her other friends. She had been with Princess and her pups, enjoying family time. Even school wasn't included. They stayed indoors, and even Princess's friends weren't allowed in.
Just a family moment. Until Saturday, when both girls had other things to do.
"So, you're telling me that we should go to those loan sharks and… kill them?" Faye asked.
She kept her voice flat, waiting to see if his face would crack into a joke.
"Yes," Malo said.
