“Nope. Never.” He tucked the phoneaway and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. “But you had fun, right?” He slid theglasses on and grinned at me like that little boy who had a habit of making afool of himself to make me feel better. I guess some things never change.
My throat constricted tightly,and I coughed. “Yeah.”
“And nobody made fun of you,”he pointed out softly.
I shook my head. “Guess not.”
His smile was triumphant, ashe asked, “Ready for that run now?”
***
I neverdid take my t-shirt off, despite all the sweat trickling a path down my back.My tank top bunched and I kept tugging at itshem,but apart from my own self-imposed annoyances, I enjoyed myself. Chad wasright; going for a run in the fresh air was so much better than staying coopedup in my apartment. The scenery was much more interesting, and the sound of theworld around me was a better soundtrack than whatever was playing on the TV.But what made it even better, was the company.
Inhigh school, I had watched him reach maturity from afar, as his circle offriends and admirers was too wide and dense for me to find my rightful spot athis side. I’d thought his build was impressive then, and as a teenager, I guessit had been. But now I realized that was only the start of his pubescence.Thirty-year-old Chad was powerful, strong and calculated in every step he took.His sneakers plodded against the sidewalk, as he gracefully dodged bumps in thecement and wove between straggling pedestrians and dogs. All without everforgetting an apology for zipping by.
This is nice. Thethought crossed my mind more than once during the hour we spent running, andwhen we circled back to my apartment, I asked if he’d like to hang out longer.Maybe we could grab some lunch. Hell, he could stay for dinner and a movie, ifhe wanted to. But he declined, and I fought hard to hide my disappointment.
“I’mgrabbin’ Ali from work and then we’regonnago to that burrito place you mentioned,” he told me,wiping at the sweat along his brow.
Hehad only mentioned his girlfriend a handful of times in the week since we’dbegun to hang out again. I had started to wonder if heeversaw her or if he was sacrificing his time usually spent withAli to see me instead. Their visits seemed few and far between and I didn’twant to be the reason they were spending time apart. But on the one occasionI’d mentioned it, he had brushed it away and insisted that wasn’t the case.
Ibegan to wonder what kind of relationship they must have to spend so much timeapart, even when I knew they lived in the same town.
“Oh,okay.” I nodded. “I hopey’alllike it.”
“I’mblamin’ you if we don’t,” he jabbed while pulling hiskeys out. “I’ll text you later, okay?”
Hewalked to his car and I walked to my door, as deep down, I wished we weren’twalking away at all.
8
Tourthe Country
CHAD
“IT’SNICE HAVIN’someone to run with, you know?” I dipped a chip into thebowl of guacamole and groaned when the flavors hit my tongue. “Oh, fuck me.This is amazing, right? Babe, yougottatry thisstuff.”
“Ialready did,” Ali answered. Her tone was flat with boredom, and I realized whatan ass I’d been all night.
I’dhad such a good time earlier today, on my run with Molly, that I couldn’t stoptalking about it. I had dominated the entire conversation on the ride over,then again during our wait for drinks and appetizers. Quickly, I apologizedearnestly and asked how her day had gone.
Alishrugged, wiggling her fingers contemptuously in the air. “I worked, Chad.Every day is the same.”
“Yeah,but you got a fun job,” I pressed, dipping another chip. “You get to play withdogs all day.”
Shenarrowed her eyes until all I could see was a shock of green poking out betweenher heavily coated, ink-black lashes. “I’m notplayingwith them.”
“Oh,come on,” I pushed lightly, reaching across the table to nudge her arm withplayful intent. “You’retellin’ me those dogs aren’thappy to see you? They probably getrealexcited thatthey get to chill with you for a while.”
“They’renot with me to have a good time,Chad.”
Icouldn’t stand the way she said my name like that—Chad. Like it was something disgusting between her teeth. It was awarning to tread lightly, that she was angry and ready to snap at any second. Iwondered if maybe her period was coming soon, but I didn’t dare to ask. She’donly bite my head off for not knowing, as if I should have my own calendar tokeep track of her menstrual cycle. So instead, I kept quiet and ate the chipsand guac.
Wehadn’t gone out for a real date in a couple of weeks. Not since before mybirthday. I wanted to take the blame for that, just to have a known reason. ButI had asked repeatedly over the past week, and every day, I was either ignored,or she had a new excuse not to go. She was tired. She already ate. She wasseeing her mom. But I hadn’t given up, because couples do things like go out todinner and talk about their days.
“Weshould go on runs together,” I blurted out, resuming the conversation beforeshe got angry.
“Whywould we do that?”
