Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Never Too Careful
JAMIE
“Why am I wearing a glorified bathrobe?” Derick Hampton genuinely questioned as he sat on a gym mat, arms crossed, his hair perfect, his mood nonplussed. He looked to Jamie for an explanation. She sat next to him in a matching bathrobe. Each had a bright blue sash cinched at the waist.
“It’s called a gi, pronounced ghee, like the clarified butter, and it’s the traditional garb of the jiujitsu warrior,” Jamie explained, while she tied her hair up in a ponytail. “Come on, we’re going to learn some lifesaving moves in case I’m attacked again by a deranged killer.”
“Jiujitsu of all things,” Derick muttered, and crossed his arms. “You’re lucky I love you.”
“I’ll take you to sushi after this,” Jamie offered. “Shhh, here he comes.”
A massive man with shoulders the size of bowling balls entered the room. He was handsome with dark wavy hair, a Freddie Mercury mustache, a heavy brow, and intense eyes that were immediately offset by his toothy smile. He was barefoot and dressed in a white gi with a black sash.
Jamie noticed Derick perk up at the sight of the instructor.
“Cute, if you’re into caveman types. Maybe this won’t be all bad,” Derick mumbled.
The instructor stood at the center of the gym with his arms akimbo, self-assurance radiating off him.
“Hi, I am Joe Sousa. Welcome to jiujitsu, a martial art and combat sport that focuses on grappling and ground combat. I know a lot of you are here today to learn self-defense. So, today we’re going to teach you how to subdue an attacker with a move called Straight Armlock from Guard. ”
“Oh, right to the good stuff.” Jamie felt something release in her chest. She felt better already.
If there was a chance Melvyn Ott was coming after her, she had to prepare.
She’d bought pepper spray for her purse, an alarm for her key chain, and signed up for a self-defense class to learn actual ways to defend herself.
If nothing else, taking these measures made her feel slightly more in control of the situation.
But that was her foolish head talking. Her gut told her she would sleep with one eye open for the foreseeable future.
Crandall had promised her some protective detail, but there was a lag between when they could start.
So, for the next few days, she was on her own.
“You.” Instructor Joe pointed to Derick. “Would you mind helping me demonstrate?”
Derick arched an eyebrow, happily leaped up, and walked over to Instructor Joe.
“Thank you, and you are?” Joe held out his hand.
“Derick.”
“Thank you, Derick. Okay, this is a beginner move, but it’s an essential one. Its particularly useful if you’re on your back and someone is trying to strangle you.”
Appropriate, thought Jamie.
Joe motioned for Derick to come over and straddle him and put his hands on his throat.
Derick smirked, as if he couldn’t believe his luck, and complied as he got down on the floor.
Then, while explaining the action at every point, Instructor Joe trapped Derick’s right hand that was on his neck, locked his elbow with his other arm, rendering Derick incapable of escaping, and then clamped his impressively muscular legs around Derick’s upper body so Derick’s face was crushed into the crotch of Instructor Joe.
Jamie tried not to laugh as Derick shot her a look. The next instant, Instructor Joe released Derick, who was blushing but otherwise unharmed.
“Thank you. Now, I will teach you each how to do that move.” Instructor Joe started to break down each step one by one to the rest of the class.
Derick sauntered back trying to retain some level of dignity but had a goofy expression on his face. He sat down.
“Good job,” Jamie said under her breath. “Told you this class had perks.”
Derick sniffed and said, “I’m buying you a taser.”
“Probably a good idea.”
“And I’m coming to every one of these classes.” Derick cracked a smile.
Jamie stifled a laugh.