Read Online First We Take Manhattan by Mina MacLeod - Free Book Online Page B

resolute. He folds his arms, red tank-top emphasizing his impressive build. His white sneakers stand out against his black track pants, red stripe making a connection from his shirt to his shoes.
    Gabe resists the urge to stamp his foot. "Damn it, Dave, the physical exam is two weeks away. I need to start pushing my limits."
    "I'm not doing it." Dave glances at the clock. "Ask someone else."
    "I'm asking you ," Gabe says. "I only trust you."
    He can see Dave's resolution waver, moved by the admission. He recovers quickly, though. "No, Gabe. What if you get hurt and we're back to square one?"
    "I'll tell you if it hurts," Gabe promises him. "The second it starts to be too much, I'll tell you. But I need to know, Dave. I need to know that I'm good enough."
    Dave scuffs his shoe against the practice mat, scowling. "You know you're good enough."
    "Then help me prove it."
    The request hangs in the air for a moment. Finally, Dave nods. He bends to take off his shoes, and Gabe does the same. Soon they are barefoot in their gym clothes, facing off for the first time in eighteen months.
    Dave rubs his buzzed hair. "I mean it, if you get hurt …"
    "Worry about yourself," Gabe quips, and he darts in.
    Dave reacts on instinct, pivoting out of the way and making a grab for Gabe's arm. Gabe twists out of reach, turning on his bad leg out of habit. The sudden movement sends a zing of pain up his thigh, but he tries not to let it show. Dave keeps coming, keeping the pressure on. Gabe leans back, letting Dave's fist get close enough to grab. He pulls, using Dave's own momentum against him. Dave goes down, thumping onto the mat without grace.
    "You let yourself go while I've been out of the game?" Gabe asks, teasing. "Used to be, you'd spend more time working on yourself than you did working on your mech."
    "Really? Trash-talking during floor grappling?" Dave rolls to his feet, a gleam in his eye. "All right, Dumas. If that's the way you want it, I won't go easy on you." He nods at Gabe. "You've still got the form, but you've gotten a little soft around the edges. That a bit of a tummy I see there?"
    Gabe rolls his eyes, refusing to be distracted. Dave comes at him. Gabe pivots, bending and going for Dave's leg. Dave sees the takedown attempt for what it is and twists. Gabe finds himself tugged forward. He shuffles to regain his balance, and Dave gets a forearm around his neck. Gabe reacts reflexively, hooking his leg behind Dave's ankle and bringing both of them down. It's only when they fall that he realizes he'd used his bad leg.
    He cries out, going limp on the mat. His knee feels twisted, ligaments and bone both protesting the move. One of his arms is trapped underneath him. His nose is pressed into the floor but he doesn't care.
    "Gabe!" Dave gasps, scrambling over him. "What happened? Where does it hurt?"
    "My knee," he says with a groan, trying not to keen. There are lines of fire zipping up and down his veins. When he opens his eyes, he has to blink away spots. "Oh, God, I didn't think—I shouldn't have—fuck, it hurts ."
    Dave helps roll him over, stretching him out on the floor. Gabe's shirt is rucked up around his ribs; the mat is cold against his skin. "Shh, shh. It's okay, let me see."
    "Stupid move," Gabe says, staring at the ceiling while Dave pushes his track pants up his leg. The pain is slowly ebbing, giving way to simple embarrassment. "I wasn't supposed to use such a stupid move. I should've used my other leg."
    Dave shushes him again, warm fingers brushing his sore kneecap. "It looks okay. No bruising or redness. You just strained it." He rubs it, gently, watching Gabe's reaction. It spasms a little, but it's only the protests of an aggravated injury, nothing major.
    "Thanks," Gabe says, eyelids fluttering shut. With the agony gone, he feels it when Dave casually rests a hand on his bare stomach. It surprises him, and his muscles jump under the pads of Dave's fingers.
    Dave pauses. Gabe goes very still. He tries to