Page 78 of Sugar & Shadows

“Eight and a half, why?”

“You’re welcome to borrow some anytime. I have more than I can realistically wear.”

Her only response was a tight smile.

Okay, then…

“Can I throw now?” She turned and headed for a rack of small, carefully lined up axes.

“Frankie,” Nina chided. “You have to be cold.”

“If my arms looked like that, I’d never wear sleeves either,” Stella said.

I nodded, thinking the same thing. I’d never seen biceps that defined on any person.

The plan to throw axes in a drafty barn still confused me, but I was intrigued, so when Nina invited me, I quickly agreed.

As the other women warmed up and practiced throwing, I stood off to one side, studying their moves.

Stella went first, throwing several times, swearing and stomping a bit between each one.

“Jeez, Stell. You’re usually a lot better,” Nina hissed, taking a big step back. “Who you aiming for today?”

Sniffling, the blonde tucked a lock of wayward hair beneath her headband. “Men. Does it matter which one?” she said. “They all suck.”

Nina raised a brow and padded over to her friend. “Fair.”

“I could put up a photo of Chief Foster,” Frankie said, her eyes flashing with excitement. “I was saving it for after I’d warmed up so I could slice his ears off one at a time, but it looks like you need this more than I do.”

Internally, I chuckled. Frankie Dunne was just as unhinged as everyone in town had suggested.

“I think I love you,” I said.

She bared her teeth at me.

“That’s how she expresses affection,” Nina said without taking her eyes off Stella. “Talk to me, Stella.”

Frankie strode over. “Did you download Tinder again? The only thing you’ll find there are STIs and identity theft. We told you that last time.”

I blinked, taken aback. From my experience, that was largely correct.

With another sniffle, Stella shook her head.

“Okay,” Frankie said in what was probably a gentle tone for her but was still pretty gruff. “I’ll let you throw again if you tell us what happened. And who I’m fighting today.” She cracked her knuckles. “It’s been a while. I’m getting soft.”

“Ignore her,” Nina said. “You don’t owe us anything.”

I took a step back, feeling like I was intruding.

But Stella turned straight to me and pinned me with a look. “You’re one of those women men are afraid of, right? The kind they worship and never fuck around with? How do you do it? Can you teach me?”

I coughed out a laugh. “Me? Oh, sweetheart, no. How do you think I got like this?”

Her eyes went wide. “Really?”

“Oh yes. Guys love the idea of snagging a badass who has her shit together. But once they realize I’m smarter, meaner, and make more money than they do, they talk down to me and treat me like shit.”

The three of them gaped.