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“I’m going to be so damn proud of you if you beat me, RJ. Come on. Show me up.”
She sighed and stood. “I’m not dressed for this, and we didn’t warm up.”
“We’ll do a quick lap around the block at a jog.” Mac ushered her out of the apartment before she could change her mind.
Soren eyed the door then me. “Should we follow them?”
“No, we have at least ten minutes. Riley absolutely refuses to run without warming up.”
“Smart girl,” Vi muttered.
Soren wrapped his arm around his fiancé, tugging her closer. “D said to tell you he’s sorry he and Nadia can’t make it. He’s flying his family out to New York so they can spend the holiday together.”
Noah shook his head. “That first round bonus must be nice.”
Eva tossed a throw pillow at him, missing entirely and hitting Soren. “Don’t be bitter.”
He shrugged his massive shoulders. “I’m not bitter—D earned that money. With his sister at that fancy private college, I’ll bet his parents are thrilled to get a vacation they don’t have to pay for.”
Soren threw the pillow back to Eva. “Speaking of Chloe… she’s transferring to TU for the spring semester.”
Noah stiffened next to me, but before I could ask him about it, all our phones buzzed and chimed at the same time. I checked the screen to see Mac had sent a group text to get outside or miss the show.
We filed out the door, and I promptly forgot Noah’s weird reaction at the sight of my girlfriend stretching her mile-long legs. The tight leggings she wore showed off every muscle, and for once, I let myself stare.
“Full sprint from here, around the parking loop, and back to the big man.” Mac jerked his chin at Noah.
Riley nodded and took her ready position at the imaginary line. “Parker, count us off.”
A warm buzz filled my chest when she said my first name, but now wasn’t the time for PDA. I gave them a four count, and they both took off. Watching Riley run had to be one of my favorite pastimes.
She took an early lead, and it only increased as her stride lengthened. We cheered as they circled the parking lot, disappearing behind the detached garages and appearing again on the far side. Her eyes locked on to Noah, who hadn’t moved, and she put on a burst of speed at the end that she’d held back during the first race.
Mac had no chance. He was the fastest guy I knew, maybe except for Soren who could fly when he wanted to, but Riley put him to shame. She crossed the Noah-shaped finish line a full two seconds ahead of Mac.
She slowed to take a bow, then slapped Mac on the back as he hunched over wheezing. “Come on, slowpoke. Cool down lap.”
“Damn, girl,” Mac panted. “How’d you get so fast with a linebacker daddy?”
“My mom was an Olympic sprinter. That’s how they met.”
Mac groaned. “So unfair.”
Riley chuckled, heading for the loop again, and Mac followed her at a much slower jog. With the excitement over, Eva dragged Vi and Noah back into the apartment to get first dibs on the pie Mac had brought home.
Soren came to stand next to me, rubbing his chin. “She’s seriously fast.”
“She can catch too. Knows the game inside and out. Reads the defense like they took out a billboard.” I watched her pace herself to Mac. “I think I’m in love with her.”
Riley chose that moment to look over her shoulder. She met my gaze with a smile, and even from a distance, I could feel the spark.
“I think the feeling is mutual,” Soren said quietly. “Does she plan to keep going? Try for the draft?”
I shook my head. “She won’t talk about it. Every time I bring up her plans after college, she takes her top off.”
Soren nodded sagely. “A fine distraction technique.”
They rounded the garages again and headed back toward us. After her admission about her dad, I had a much better understanding of her reason for not discussing it. Probably the same reason she hesitated to call the non-profit lady about hanging with the kids.
