See How She Runs (The Chronicles of Izzy #1)(37)

“On guard, you pigeon," Ian shouted before lunging toward Kennan.

Kennan blocked the blow with grace and swirled in the opposite direction, swatting Ian on the back as he went.

They both looked at me expectantly, like I was supposed to do something.

“What?" I asked, honestly unsure of what I had missed.

“You are supposed to say strike to whomever landed the blow. In this case it was me," Kennan preened.

“Fine, one strike to K.O," I said.

“K.O.?" Ian asked.

“Yeah, all of the girls back in Chicago called him K.O., mostly because they thought he was a knock out, but also I am guessing because of his initials," I said.

“Not all of the girls called me that," Kennan said with a knowing look.

“Whatever, I have called you K.O. before. It just feels weird," I said rolling my eyes. He did not need me to stroke his already inflated ego.

“Hm, we should come up with a nickname for me," Ian said hopefully, before regaining his stance.

“How about I.T.O.?" I asked.

“What does it stand for?" Ian asked as he and Kennan circled one another.

“Ian the Obnoxious," I said as Kennan landed another strike while Ian was distracted.

A mock look of affront graced his face as he blustered, “First, that strike does not count. That infernal woman distracted me. Second, that was not very nice Izzy. I know not if I shall ever be able to forgive you for wounding me so.”

“Two strikes to Kennan. You shouldn’t allow yourself to be distracted Ian. Really, if this were a real battle would some maiden be able to distract you?" I asked.

“If she were as pretty as you, and her tongue as venomous, I imagine she might," he said with a wink in my direction.

The two of them went back to circling one another. Blocking each other’s blows with the experience their lives had given them. They circled and blocked the strikes, becoming more aggressive the longer the fight went on. Ian circled around Kennan and finally landed a strike.

“One strike, Ian," I said, trying not to sound impressed.

Ian circled closer to me and landed a kiss on my cheek, causing blush to rise to my face.

“Kissing the judge won’t help you win Ian," I said, trying not to show how he had affected me. Kennan was the only guy that had kissed me in any way for the past few years. I looked up at the man in question to see fury brewing behind his eyes.

“Are you going to play at courting or come and fight me, man?" Kennan asked.

“Uh oh, I think someone is a little upset that I sullied his Seer’s virtue," Ian said to me in a stage whisper, only inciting Kennan more.

They went back to fighting and Kennan landed three more strikes consecutively.

“Five strikes Kennan. How many are we going to anyway?" I asked.

“Five strikes is the winning amount of blows. Sad really, I was quite looking forward to sleeping on the couch. Alas, the floor she calls to me. Who wants some s’mores?" Ian asked before practically skipping back toward the fire and food.

“You got a little serious there buddy. Everything alright?" I asked Kennan once Ian was out of earshot.

“I just don’t like the idea of the two of you. He is a player Izzy. Just be careful with him, okay?”

I burst out laughing, unable to control myself. I knew that the only reason Ian was flirting with me was to piss Kennan off. There was no way I could ever see myself with Ian. Granted, he had kind of grown on me. Much like a fungus grows on a tree. But, I would never entertain any serious notions of a future with him. He was gorgeous in his own wacky way. But I was already taken with someone else. Not that I would ever admit to that.

“What? Why are you laughing at me?" Kennan asked, stunned by my outburst.

“There is nothing to worry about there from either front Kennan," I said, before heading back to the promise of a blackened marshmallow.

Kennan followed me back to the fire with a confused look on his brow.

“Lovers quarrel?" Ian asked as we approached the fire.

I slapped him on the arm and realized how happy I was to have met him. He was the comic relief I needed and I wondered if my mother had any hand in him coming.

“Hey, did you know my mom?" I asked as I loaded a marshmallow on a stick.

“Yep, she was like a little sister to me. I loved her as much as anyone who ever met her did. You are a lot like her, you know?" Ian said in a rare moment of seriousness.

“My gods woman, what are you doing to that marshmallow?” Kennan asked disgusted.

The marshmallow in question was currently on fire and turning a delicious black color.

“I like my marshmallows blackened. They are crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside," I said before blowing the flame out and eating it.

Both of the guy’s faces cringed, like they had just witnessed something truly disgusting. I ignored them and put another marshmallow in place of the first and went about setting it on fire.

“That is really gross Izzy. Seriously, and your teeth are covered in black specks now. It looks like your mouth is rotting," Ian said.

I just chomped my teeth at him like I was a deranged zombie. Before all was said and done I had eaten five burnt marshmallows and the guys had consumed the rest of the bag and all of the s’mores supplies.