And not for sleeping.
“What?” I ask while gesturing to myself. “Is something wrong with what I’m wearing?” I turn around as if there could be a hole he spotted in the back of my leggings, but there’s nothing.
“No,” he breathes, shaking his head. “It’ll do.”
It’ll do, he says, I think, feeling annoyance weigh down my shoulders. Meaning I’m already doomed. He is of course dressed in tight running pants and some sort of track cleats and a long sleeved shirt that definitely highlighted his toned body. I don’t think I am ready for this, I keep telling myself while I follow him out the door. Sure, after giving him a cheap camera last night after our day out and making plans to run this morning, I of course didn’t think about the moving part. The only thing I thought of was we had such a nice time and I wanted to hang out with him again.
Like a freaking idiot.
I walk slowly down the stairs, while he bounds down them, all ready to shoot off into the rising sun. I’m instantly reminded of some of those girls who pick up a hobby to impress a boy they like. But I don’t like him, I tell myself.
You just want to do him. I groan and rub my temples. Two days of waking up impossibly early. Ugh. What has my life come to? And now I can’t even think straight.
He’s running in place while he waits for me. He will probably be doing that a lot on this run.
“Alright, so the key to running is all in the breathing,” he says to me while running in place as if it’s the most natural thing for him. “You keep a good breathing rhythm you’ll have a good run.”
I make a face. What is that supposed to mean?
“Since you’re a beginner you don’t need to worry about speed,” he says. “Keep your hands at your hips while you run and keep them easy. Don’t fist them like you’re going to punch someone in the face.”
I might just punch him in the face for making me get up this early. But a deal is a deal. I try running and he tries photography. I just don’t know what’s going to happen if I hate this. Which I suspect I will.
“Alright, let’s go!” He says, sprinting down the sidewalk and towards the stop sign.
I groan and move my legs into probably the slowest jog anyone has ever done. I keep my hand at my hips and try not to fist them, but it’s probably only been like thirty seconds and I feel like giving up. Don’t most people do like a couch to a 5K challenge for this? Shouldn’t I run one minute and walk five minutes?
Watch me hurt something.
Seth is already waiting at the stop sign while I run towards him. He’s still running in place like the freaking marathon man and hasn’t even broken a sweat.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I say between gasps while running in place. My legs move sluggishly underneath me and I wonder if I ever moved them this quickly outside gym class.
“Let’s just do ten minutes,” he says while running. He’s not even gasping. He could probably make pancakes while doing this.
“How long has it been?” I whimper, sounding like a pathetic child about to throw a tantrum.
He looks at his watch. “Two.”
I groan and he laughs. “You can do it. Look we’re almost at three,” he says while showing me his watch. I watch it click away, reading 44, 45, and 46 before he runs across the street and sprints to the next stop sign.
Oh my God he really is going to be the death of me.
Several stop signs later I am walking behind him, having reached my ten minute mark while he dashes back to the apartment. There is no way I can keep up with him, but having run ten minutes in one go has me feeling like a freaking queen. Like I can accomplish anything. I can actually run ten minutes. I died the whole way, but still ten minutes is definitely a win.
I stomp up the stairs, not able to control any part of my body as I swing open the door. It’s still early. No one is up and Seth is probably already back in his room, planning our next running date. I really hope he isn’t planning on me doing this tomorrow morning with him. Or lengthening it anytime soon.
I drag myself into my room and grab my towel and a sweater set before continuing to drag myself through the hall and towards the bathroom. I throw the door open and stifle a scream as I see Seth standing their completely naked. He stares back at me with wide eyes while yanking for his towel hanging over the shower door to cover himself with.
“For fuck’s sake,” I hear him mutter.
I should go, yet my legs won’t move. His body is made up of lean muscle without an ounce of fat. I am completely captivated. And his dick… definitely a good enough size for me. “I am- I am so,” I stutter as I try to turn around.
Once again my body completely betrays me.
“Well, are you staying or going?” He asks.
I glance back at him. I should go, but I’m stepping towards him. My hand is pushing on the door, clicking it close and locking it behind me. But I’m not on the right side. I’m standing in front of him and I know there’s no way I’m letting this opportunity escape me.
I want to kiss him again. I want to feel him again.
“Staying.”
16
SETH
I stand in the middle of the bathroom and stare unblinkingly back at Rachel. I don’t really know what to do with myself since I got here first. But she’s still
