Page 99 of Tempted Hearts
“Same to you. Thanks for the tip.”
I continued my workout, trying to think about my story, or my conversation this morning with my mother about a possible fall trip with her and Dad—or basically anything except for Cole. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working very well.
Checking my phone and seeing no texts, I shoved it back into my leggings.
Turning up the music, I abandoned a half-hearted weight-training workout and headed upstairs to the treadmill. There, I could walk-jog out my jitters. It worked pretty well—until Delaney called.
With no one around me, I figured it was safe to answer and talk quietly.
“Hey. What’s up?”
“You sound like you’re running up a flight of stairs.”
“Probably because I’m on the treadmill at the gym.”
From down below, I could see the few Tuesday-morning stragglers making the rounds around the equipment.
“Cool. So… how was your night?”
I knew she didn’t necessarily agree with this whole thing, but Delaney was a good friend and trying to be supportive, which I appreciated.
“Uneventful. After the bar, I went home and wrote an article. Had crackers and cheese for dinner. I guess it’s not a surprise—I woke up starving today.”
I pushed up the elevation a bit. Had to get these hamstrings singing.
“Wait. You didn’t spend the night with Cole?”
“Nope.”
“Why?”
Good question. If it were up to me, we would have. “My guess? He got spooked.”
“So it was his idea not to get together?”
I tried to sound unaffected. “Pretty much.”
Pretty much equaled yes.
“You don’t sound upset.”
I debated turning down the speed or incline, but hung in there.
“Like I said, I don’t have expectations here. I know exactly what I’m getting myself into.”
Silence.
I probably did as good a job convincing her as I did myself.
“Interesting.”
Time to change the subject. “I just saw Boots and Bruises, and Kitchi Falls is having a bull riding night on Friday. Any interest in a girls’ night?”
“Hold on. Let me check.”
That was enough torture. I turned down the speed just a bit.
“I have nothing. Sounds good. I’ll see who else might wanna come.”
