Page 141 of Run
I huff out a breath and run my hand down my face. Lizzie looks up, and I follow her gaze to see Ari and Sophie coming down thehall from the bathroom, so I take the folded up paper from her and slip it in my pocket. “Thanks.” She touches my arm and gives a tight smile before heading back over toward Knox.
Ari comes bounding over toward me and I greet her with a kiss. “You seem happy,” I say, seeing a little more of her usual brightness peeking through the dark cover she’d been under.
“I am. I’m so happy for Lizzie and Knox. And …”
“And …”
She goes up on tippy toes, which brings her closer to me, and bites her lip before looking me in the eyes and whispering, “And I want you to take me home now.”
I growl at the insinuation in her voice, take her hand in mine, and call over her shoulder to the table, “We’re leaving. Bye!” as I tug her away from the group.
“Oh, real subtle,” she says with a giggle.
***
Ari grips my shoulders as she ungracefully slides off the bike, and I dismount on the other side. When she pulls the helmet off, her hair is wild from static cling and the wind. She looks savage, and I can’t help laughing.
“What?” she asks, but I just shake my head.
I place our helmets on the shelf in the garage and turn back to see Ari pulling her hoodie up her torso, leaving her in a tank top and jean skirt. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” She tosses it at me, then gives methe look.
I allow the balled-up material to hit my chest and fall to the floor, then reach down and grab the hem of my own hoodie and pull it over my head and let that fall as well. “You know Fonz is inside, right?” I lean my knuckles on the seat of the bike that stands between us.
She nods and lays her palms flat on the seat between my fists, leaning closer to me. “Mmhmm. That’s why …”
“That’s why what?”
Ari kicks off one flip-flop, then the other. “That’s why you have to be ready.”
I tilt my head at her, our faces close together. “Ready to do what?”
She closes the distance between us, leaning over so her mouth is next to my ear. “Run.” She pulls back, spins, and darts away from me.
“What—” I try to reach for her as I step around the bike, but she’s too fast. Picking up speed as I follow her toward the door to the house, I slap it with a palm to keep it from closing behind her.
A rough curse comes from inside as Ari squeals, “Fonz! Help me!”
When I enter the kitchen, I find Fonz standing next to the island in only gym shorts, about five feet away from me, with Ari ducking behind his back like she’s hiding. He has a bowl in one hand and a box of cereal in the other. Ari is giggling like a lunatic, her hands on his shoulders.
I take a step toward them, and Ari shrieks and pulls Fonz backward a step. “Oh, for the love of God. Please do not involve me in your sexcapades,” he begs.
“Then help me!” Ari pleads from behind him.
“Don’t you move!” I order Fonz.
He sighs. “I just want a midnight snack. Can’t I have a bowl of cereal in peace?”
“No!” Ari and I yell at the same time.
She spins again and makes a run for the dining room.
I try to move past Fonz, but he goes left when I go right. Then we both correct ourselves and block each other again, beforeFonz flattens himself against the counter and I can finally dart around him. “You better not be running from me!” I yell to Ari.
As I get to the dining room, I catch a glimpse of red hair trailing behind her as she turns down the hallway and I follow. In a few strides I’m right behind her as she turns into our bedroom and tries to slam the door in my face—but I’m quick to throw my leg out and catch the space with my boot.
Ari squeals again.
