Ava’s POV
“Pair up.”
Nobody moved.
They were still staring at me.
I put my hands on my hips.
“Did the fight knock the hearing out of all nine of you?”
Josie pointed at me.
“You've been holding out.”
“Pair. Up.”
That finally worked.
Mostly.
I put Mom with Sonjia, Nettie with Tootsie, Cloe with Josie and True with Brielle.
Timber stayed with me.
“First thing we're learning has nothing to do with hitting.”
Timber looked surprised.
“What?”
“How to get somebody's hand off you.”
Her eyes dropped to her wrist.
I kept my voice easy.
“Yesterday he grabbed you here?”
She nodded.
“Grab me.”
Her fingers barely closed around my wrist.
“Timber, I'm not a baby bird.”
A tiny smile appeared.
She tightened her grip.
“Harder.”
She did.
I looked at the others.
“Your instinct is us
