Almost two years ago, while he was working with one of the new recruits at the Academy’s main facilities in the city, he’d suffered a pectoralis major tendon rupture, a serious tear of the interior muscle of the chest. The horror and helplessness I’d felt when it had happened resurfaced. It took no effort to see him falling to his knees, clutching at his chest as pain etched into his striking features. It had been so bad he’d been rushed into surgery, but with rest and rehab, he’d been able to return to top fighting form.

Shaking my head, I refocused on the present. “I did those things for him because he’s my friend. I’d do them for any of my friends.”

Katie looked like she wanted to say more, but decided against it, and I shifted uncomfortably on my seat. Katie never held back, so if she was holding back now, it couldn’t be good.

Then again, none of my friends really got the whole Brock situation, and not a single one of them thought it was a good thing.

I took a deep breath and lifted my chin. “And Brock did ask me to come home this weekend. He wants to go out to dinner tonight, just him and me—an early celebration in honor of his fight next week since he leaves tomorrow night with my dad to train there.”

Abby’s eyes widened. “What? You’re just now telling us this?”

Biting down on my lip to stop myself from grinning, I shrugged. “I really didn’t get the chance to explain since someone—” I paused, shooting Katie a pointed look. “—has been lecturing me for the last thirty minutes.”

“I am not ashamed of this piece of knowledge,” Katie replied.

“Is this a date?” Abby demanded.

My stomach tumbled again. A date? Oh God, just thinking about tonight like it was a date made me want to laugh and vomit at the same time, and that would be rather impressive . . . and gross. “It’s not really a date. I mean, he didn’t call it a date, but it is just us.”

Abby opened her mouth and then looked over at Katie. I waited, knowing that whatever Katie was about to say, I probably didn’t want to hear it.

Katie plopped her arms down on the table, rattling the silverware. “If you don’t know if it’s a date, it’s not a date.”

The grin I’d been fighting slipped away. “I don’t think it’s a date, Katie.”

She sighed heavily. “Sometimes I really hate that man.”

I deflated like a balloon that had been pricked. Katie didn’t understand. Time to change the subject. I glanced over at Abby. “Are you and Colton still planning to go to the Poconos for your anniversary?”