AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 5
Embracing the new year, Maya had joined a running club. There was a meet every day, including Saturday mornings that Maya couldn’t usually make, so she intended to make the effort this particular Saturday, thanks to her parents giving her a break.
Her mum and dad had invested in an annual membership at Bristol Zoo, which wasn’t far from where they lived, and both her kids thoroughly enjoyed visiting. They would probably come back with their faces painted, even if Amber was getting too old for it. Her parents deserved a medal, because this weekend not only were they taking out Amber and Lewis, they were also allowing them each to bring a friend. Amber had invited Chloe, and Lewis had chosen Emma’s son, Owen. Maya supposed it was her dad’s way of making use of his seven-seater car.
Maya enjoyed running on her own, but decided there would be something supportive and encouraging about running with a group of people. It might give her more motivation to get out there, with the added bonus of meeting new people too. This had been Emma’s hint and probably why she’d agreed to join her this morning — to make sure Maya didn’t chicken out. Being a mixed ability group, it pushed her to run faster and further. She’d only been a few times so far but had thoroughly enjoyed it. Depending on the day, the meetings were structured to practise and improve certain elements of your training. Today was a general run, with an option to run a longer distance, and take it at your own pace.
“Promise not to go too fast. My boobs aren’t cut out for fast running,” Emma said, stretching out her calves one at a time, then pulling up her ankle behind her to stretch her quads, copying Maya. “In fact, I’m not even sure I’m cut out for running.”
“You just need to get yourself a good sports bra. Come on, it’ll do you good.”
There were about thirty runners of all shapes, sizes and ages, and about a fifty-fifty split of men and women. It being January, some wore running gloves, headbands to keep ears warm, and brightly coloured jackets. Some were in tracksuits, some in running gear, like Maya. Despite the sun being out, it was still cold, and their breath misted as they chatted. This was an easy pace run today, so she knew it would be slow enough for Emma. Probably too slow for Maya, but exercise was exercise and the catch-up with Emma would be good. As they ran with their small group, Maya told Emma about her online dating activities. It had been a week since she had taken Selina’s advice and set up a profile on Find My HEA. Selina had mentioned this one and Soul Mate Search, but Maya thought it best to stick to one site for now.
The messages she had received! A lot of men only put Hi. Maya wasn’t sure how to respond to those. Some sent ‘wow, you’re really pretty’ kind of messages. She wasn’t sure how to respond to those either. A couple commented on some of the things she’d put in her profile, and so at least this reassured her they had read it. In fact, she was starting to add to it a bit more, now she was seeing what other members had written. She couldn’t be bothered with those who wrote ‘just ask me’ on their profile. If they couldn’t make the effort to write a bit about themselves, what sort of effort would they put into a date?
After half an hour of deliberating over her username, she had chosen LoisLane38. Lois was her favourite heroine: a strong, independent woman, a risk-taker, who had Superman as her hero… Was Maya holding out for a hero…? She’d liked that line so much she’d updated her profile with it.
“I can’t believe how many men have messaged me,” Maya told Emma as they ran side by side.
“Of course they have, you’re gorgeous. And when they find out what a fantastic personality you have…”
“I don’t want to appear rude, so I’ve been replying to them all. It takes forever.”
“Maya,” Emma laughed, her cheeks rosy from the exertion now as they jogged, “I don’t think you need to reply to everyone.”
“Okay, that would make life easier.”
“I think in this game,” Emma puffed, “they’ve got to accept that not everyone is going to reply. Some of those guys are just fishing, probably messaging every woman on there to see who bites, and if they’ve been on there a while, then you’re like … fresh meat.”
“Thanks.” Maya shuddered as she ran. But considering some of the messages she’d received, it now made sense.
They were running along the promenade now, the sea to their left, the sky clear, the wind cold and unforgiving. Maya and Emma’s favourite café was to their right. It would be so easy to slip off and take refuge…
Maya giggled. “There was this guy — MrGrey19 was his username.” At the time, Maya had rolled her eyes at yet another username referring to FiftyShades.
“Oh, please, I bet he thinks women all want that,” Emma scoffed. “You’d think he’d use something more original.”
“Yes, I was tempted to write, ‘sorry, not into BDSM’. But I just said, ‘thanks for contacting me, but I don’t think you’re my type’. I didn’t realise he was online, and he replied immediately, with something along the lines of ‘that’s a shame, I liked your profile’. Then he pretty much accused me of being shallow for having a type. I was only trying to be polite!”
“Idiot!” Emma said. “Not you, him. As if telling you you’re shallow is going to help his case.”
This was the first time Maya had had a hostile response. Usually they simply didn’t reply or were polite, signing off, ‘happy searching’. Maya wasn’t shallow. Or at least she hoped not. But looks were important. She usually went for nice eyes. She’d been mesmerised by Kyle’s the day she’d met him. And his cheeky smile. It had been like looking at George Clooney, in his younger ER days. She didn’t think she really had a specific type, but MrGrey19 definitely wasn’t for her.
Once back at the sports centre, they stretched and warmed down. Sweat trickled down Maya’s hairline and neck, but the January chill made her shiver. She hadn’t taken her water bottle with her; for such a short distance, she didn’t need it. She’d stored it in a locker with her handbag. She would shower once she got home. Emma was visiting the ladies as Maya retrieved her belongings from the locker, taking a large glug from her bottle. Quickly, shutting the locker, she turned and oomph! Something hard jabbed her ribs, knocking her off balance. She fell heavily on her bottom and winced.
Chloe’sdad. Holding a badminton racket. She held in her cry of pain as best she could.
“Oh, gosh, sorry,” she said, not knowing where to look, still sprawled out on the floor, the water bottle rolling away from her.
“No, no, I’m sorry,” he said, a mixture of initial shock then concern etched across his face. He held out his hand to haul her back onto her feet. She stumbled into him, her legs still not balanced. He was wearing an immaculate white cotton T-shirt and shorts and smelt clean and fresh. The stunning brunette from the pub stood beside him; his (much younger) girlfriend and badminton partner, Maya assumed, as she also carried a racket. The woman rocked in skinny bright sportswear, hair tied back immaculately, make-up in place.
Maya had no make-up on and was all sweaty. She stepped away from him quickly, releasing his grip, realising her hands were horribly sweaty too.
The glamourous brunette was asking if Maya was okay, too, handing back her runaway water bottle, but if Maya wasn’t already red-faced from running, she certainly was now, and couldn’t answer her.
“Are you really okay … uh?” Chloe’s dad asked, frowning.
“It’s Maya.”
“Maya, yes… I’m Sam — Chloe’s dad.”
She knew who he was. She just wanted a portal to open, so she could escape to another time or realm.
“Yes, yes … I’m fine,” she stuttered. Before either of them could say anything more to her, Maya bolted off down the corridor and out of the front entrance towards the car park. Chloe’s dad was shouting something about seeing her later.
Oh God, she would too. She waved a hand but was too embarrassed to look back.
Outside, she caught sight of her reflection in a window. Ponytail askew, strands of hair all over the place, she looked like her head had been in a plasma ball. Cheeks redder than a clown’s.
Shit! She really knew how to make a good impression on Chloe’s dad.
