By the time I’m done showering and ready for class, I have to run to reach Sydney or I’ll miss her exiting her residence hall.
As I make my approach, she’s scanning her surroundings before taking the first step onto the sidewalk.Was she looking for me?
Her dark brown hair bounces with every move she makes. Tight spirals of curls graze over the top of her bare shoulder. My lips crave to do the same thing. Her loose fitting cream blouse exposes just enough of her dark brown skin to tease me.
Her body relaxes as soon as she realizes I'm close by. “You’re running late this morning,” she says as I slow my pace and fall in line with her shorter stride.
She smells like warm vanilla and whatever essential oil she’s testing this week. I try to figure it out but I’m usually unsuccessful. Raking my teeth over my lower lip, I stare at the side of her neck. I wonder if she tastes as sweet as she smells.
“Good morning to you too.” I swallow down the term of endearment that begs to be said. I haven’t called her anything other than Sydney or Syd in years. Not to her, but God do I want to. I want her to know exactly what she is to me. She’s my girl, my baby, my little trouble maker.
She peers at me from the corner of her eye. “It doesn’t sound like a good morning. Is everything okay?”
Everything is great. I met the new guy you’re dating. He’s nice. I hope you break his heart.“Yeah.”
“Why are you late?”
That’s better than her asking why I’m here. It makes me think she might not mind me walking with her even if she acts like she hates it. “Are you tracking me now?” I ask. My question is comical considering what I’ve done to her the past few years. She knows it, too, as she snorts a laugh.
“No. I don’t care what you do. You’re going to do what you want anyway,” she says, readjusting her backpack on her shoulder. “Like walking me to class. I told you I didn’t need you to do that. Yet, here you are anyway.”
“I thought you were walking with me,” I joke. We both know I’m the one who goes out of their way to see her. It would be much faster for me to go straight to my class from the gym, but I can’t seem to stay away. “If you must know I was late because I got caught up talking to Nash and one of our athletic trainers, Joe Clark. Do you know him?”
Sydney bristles at the mention of his name.Interesting.
“I know him,” she says matter of fact.
“He’s a nice guy,” I remark. Sydney narrows her eyes. “What? He is. But I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
I’m edging near dangerous territory with her. I don’t comment on her dates. I have plenty of thoughts about them but I’ve never voiced my opinions out loud.
Unlike all the other guys she’s dated, this one runs in my circle. Not exactly out of sight out of mind. I thought maybeshe was avoiding all athletes. Turns out she’s only avoiding me.
“Nothing. I overheard him talking to Nash about your date. That’s all.” I shrug.
“Let me guess. Nash told him he couldn’t date me.”
“No. He got the green light.” Nash might as well have rolled out the red carpet for the guy.
“Good. Like you said. He’s nice. We have a lot in common.”
The vice on my heart tightens with every word. Does she even care how it makes me feel seeing her with other guys? I don’t blame her if she doesn’t give a fuck. It kills me that we’re living in this emotional battlefield with each other.
I don’t want to hear about Sydney and this guy but she’s talking to me. It’s a rare event especially with half a smile on her face. I’m going to pretend she’s smiling because she’s aware she’s making me jealous. Not because she’s looking forward to her date with Joe.
“Right, like running club.”
She smacks my arm. “Shut up,” she says laughing. My brain starts recording the sound so I can replay the melody in my head the rest of the day. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“Did you actually run?”
“What else would you do at running club?”
“Pick up guys apparently,” I grumble. “Maybe I’ll go to the next one. I need to see you in action.”
“Do you think you could keep up with me?” she teases. The challenge in her eyes reminds me of the old Sydney.
