I came up with absolutely nothing I hadn’t said already. It hadn’t worked before and it wouldn’t work now. Will moved to stand in front of us. He was still ignoring me in favor of staring Ryan down. “So. What part of one good punch did you not understand?” “I had to make it look real.” “I made it look real, and I didn’t have to hit you to do it.” “You drew blood. That wasn’t part of our deal.” “I think you cracked my rib.” Will’s face was still stony. Then, suddenly, he grinned. “Good work.” “Likewise.” Ryan put out his hand, and for the second time that night they shook hands, though this time it was an altogether friendlier experience. “Wait. Wait a second…” I was looking from one of them to the other. “That was planned?” Ryan looked sheepish. “Not all of it. Just … when we knew we were going to have to fight. Will didn’t want to.” “You didn’t either,” Will said. “True. But if I’d known what you were going to do to me I might have hit you for real.
