Page 64 of Running
“You won’t regret this, golden girl,” he whispers in my ear before kissing my forehead.
I giggle as I look up at him. “Anothernickname?”
“I think we’re going to retire ‘Little Battle.’ I don’t need that reminder anymore. Instead, I’m going with ‘golden girl.’ No, actually,Goldie.”
CHAPTER 20
Grace
Goldie.I like it.
He brings a hand up to lightly stroke the length of my hair. “Let’s watch a movie or something?” he asks.
“Actually, the Surge have a playoff game tonight. Can we watch that instead?” Sarah and the rest of the Orlando team are fighting to get out in the first round against a tough opponent.
“One hundred percent.” He grabs our drinks. “Leave the dishes, I’ll deal with them later.”
We spend the next thirty minutes half watching the game, half chatting.
“So how did you become friends with Sarah?”
“You remember that Fall Carnival fundraiser we all went to downtown? A few weeks into the season last year.”
He chuckles. “I remember. You avoided me all night, while dancing with three of my teammates I believe? Wearing that light blue dress.”
“Were you jealous?” I tease him without thinking twice. I’m definitely at theno-filter Gracelevel of comfort with him now.
“I was still in the stage of thinking that it was better if you stayed away, so I couldn’t get in trouble with Landon. That dress…you were a smokeshow that night, Goldie.”
“I do love that dress.” It makes me feel so pretty. “Anyway, I’d run into Sarah at a few things before then, but we ended up dancing together for a few songs and then talking a bunch, really connecting. Before her season started in May, we were hanging out once a week almost.”
“So you’re good friends?” I notice his left hand has crept next to my right.
“Yeah, when we see each other, it’s like we’ve known each other our whole lives. She likes that I’m an athlete, but not, at the same time. She says it’s refreshing to have a normal person to talk to.”
“Youarean athlete, though, even if not in a professional capacity. A fucking amazing one.”
I smile, feeling his sincerity. “Thanks. Some days I feel that way more than others. After a long ten-mile run, for sure. Anyway, Sarah’s been largely MIA since the season began, which she warned me about. So we’re not hanging out a ton right now. Although I’m so busy myself, it’s hard to keep my head on straight.”
He starts playing with the top of my hand, stroking my fingers with his. Tingles sprout up my arm, and I can’t help it—I shiver. Which, of course, he picks up on.
“You okay? I can turn down the AC.”
“I’m fine.” I look down at our hands. “I just haven’t been touched like this in a while, and my body likes it, I guess.”
His eyes intensify at my confession. “Oh yeah? Are you comfortable talking about that?”
“About—?”
“Well, it’s not a big deal to me one way or another. But when you’re ready, it might be good to know what you’ve tried, what you like…”
How transparent should I be?“I mean, I’ve tried pretty much everything else other than the one thing you know…”
“Come closer,” he interjects. “You feel far away.”
I scooch down so we’re only a couple of inches apart, and he begins playing with the length of my hair again.
“But everything’s been pretty vanilla.” I can’t help but blush, and he grins back. “I’ve dated a couple of guys, but not anyone serious.”
