“You don't watch movies?”
“I watch movies at home sometimes. While I work. As background noise.”
“That doesn't count, Julian.” I shook my head, genuinely appalled. “Okay, well, you can't be too busy for your new friend. There's a new thriller I've been wanting to see. Wanna check out a Saturday afternoon showing with me?”
“You asking me on a movie date?”
“I'm asking you to be a normal human being for two hours.” I grinned. “And don't wear a suit.”
“What is it with you and my suits? I haven't been living under a rock, Alyssa. I know how to dress for a movie theater.”
“So is that a yes?”
“Alright.”
“Good, and I'm paying.”
He shook his head. “You really can't let this go, can you?”
“Nope.”
“I'llpay. You can buy the popcorn since you want to spend your money so bad.”
I nodded. “Fine.”
“You know… I run most mornings. Five AM. You said you run too?”
“I do, but five in the morning though? That's not fun, that's torture.”
“It's peaceful. No one else around, just you and the road.”
“And you want company for this peaceful torture?”
“I want to see if you can actually keep up.”
My competitive instincts flared immediately. “Oh, I can keep up.”
“We'll see then. Tuesday morning, I’ll meet you here. Be ready out front.”
“Five AM?”
“Five AM.”
“Ok. But if I die, I'm haunting you.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
As I watched him head toward the door, I realized something had fundamentally shifted between us. A few hours ago, I'd wanted to throttle him. Now I was making plans to spend more time with him. Go figure.
julian
Five in the morning,and most of Lennox Falls was still knocked out. I didn’t do running partners. Running was my reset, my time to outrun noise, people, and demands.
So when I invited Alyssa, I halfway expected her to roll over in bed and forget the whole thing. But there she was, standing in Simone’s driveway, stretching in the dawn. Black leggings and a cropped tank that rode up when she reached overhead. Long limbs, lean muscle, and a flat plane of waist I had not been prepared to see.
I almost stopped mid-stride but kept my face flat as I slowed to a walk.
“Morning.”
