AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Yeah, and the water will be cold, jerk.”
“I can’t keep up with my schedule and yours. Get home before me if you want a hot shower!” I clean up fast and get out. “All yours, little man.”
“Man, I can’t wait until you move out.” He huffs on his way to the bathroom. “Then I can finally have a room to myself.”
Laughing at him, I get dressed and crawl into bed. My alarm is going to go off early, and I can’t wait to see Marcus after my run.
Marcus
My alarm goes off earlier than normal and I drag my ass into the shower, then gear up and walk to the place I agreed to meet Evie. She’s dancing around, her ponytail swinging as I walk up.
“First, you’re nuts. Second? No one likes bouncy people in the morning. Knock it off.”
“I brought you a coffee, and I know my plan is brilliant.” She smiles. “Let’s sit and let your grumpy butt wake up.”
“I’m not a stalker.” I pout.
“Oh, Marc, no one thinks you are. I’m not even trying to make you into one. You have plans to meet Shane after his run, yes?”
“Well, after his training.”
“Exactly. I have it on good authority that he passes this way every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow.” She flips her wrist. “Drink some coffee, get your stretch on, and run the last mile into the locker room with him.”
“I still can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
“Face it, I can sell a heater to someone in hell.” She brushes her shoulders off. “I’m good.”
Laughing, I finish my coffee, stretch out and we jog back towards town so she’s closer to home.
Her small hand slaps my ass as she laughs. “Betta’ get a move on it.”
I tip a nod in her direction and head back toward campus. The cool morning air feels good on my skin and as I round a corner on the trail, I hear footfalls catching up to me. Not a group, it sounds like just one set, and soon they catch up completely and then just before they pass me, Shane looks at me and smiles.
“Good morning, teach!”
“Morning, Shane.”
“I didn’t know you were a runner?”
“Mostly a jogger.”
He nods. “How far you going?”
“I was going to try running a mile.”
“That would take us to the locker room.” He paces himself with me. “Let’s do it!”
“Let’s do it.” I smile back at him and together we pick up pace, running the last mile into the locker room.
He didn’t make me feel inadequate. He didn’t tease me when I needed to slow down. He just encouraged me and stayed with me.
Outside, we jog in place for a few to slow down our hearts, and he offers me his water bottle. Grateful for the drink, I gulp down some water and hand it back to him.
“You showering here?” He motions his head to the locker room.
“Yeah, I got stuff in my locker.”
