"Have to be," I say. Despite that, I'm grinning, already keyed up and ready to fight.

I do know a few maneuvers that involve using his body as leverage, letting myself walk blows up his body, but now he's expecting them. I cock my head, arms up, as if it hasn't occurred to me. "I'm not going to tell my boyfriend you said that," I say, playing innocent. It's a bit of a stretch, if only because Thomas and I aren't necessarily up to that yet, but if he's going to be crass, so can I.

Instead of obviously maneuvering to climb his height, I go for his legs.