Page 61 of Finding London

“Fuck, London!” he calls out, his voice gravelly. His fingers firmly grasp my thighs as his face points toward the ceiling with his eyes closed.

He falls on top of me. Our chests push against each other as we work to take in air.

“Oh, London,” he says on an exhale.

The awe in his voice causes goose bumps to prickle across my skin.

“I knew you were going to destroy me,” he breathes against my neck.

I wrap my arms around his firm back and hold him tight. “I won’t,” I promise.Please don’t destroy me.

I know I told him that I didn’t care if we didn’t make it because it was worth the risk regardless, but the truth is, I do care—like, a whole hell of a lot.

London

“I’m so happy that I want to break into song, like a princess in a Disney movie, but I won’t. That’d be weird.”

—London Wright

The hot summer sun is beating down on my neck, causing me to sweat before I’ve even done anything. That, paired with the cheesy grin across Loïc’s face, is really annoying me. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?” he teases as he stands on one foot. His right leg is bent at the knee as he pulls his foot behind his ass in some sort of stretch.

“Like I’m stupid.” I attempt to imitate his stretch, but I think better of it, as I’m sure I’d fall on my ass instead of balancing on one foot the way he is. Instead, I bend at the waist and touch my toes with both feet firmly planted on the ground.

“I’m not,” he disagrees. “I don’t think you’re stupid at all. I think you’re cute.”

“No, you think I’m going to suck,” I huff out as I stand up straight.

“Of course you will.” He laughs. “But I think it’s adorable that you want to try.”

I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.

He takes a step toward me. “London, I told you that we were running nine miles. Have you ever run one mile? You have to work up to bigger distances, but I think it’s sweet that you’re out here with me. It’s fine. When you get tired, you can walk, and I’ll run around the loop and catch back up with you.”

Loïc and Cooper go running together a lot, and I insisted that I come with them today. We’re at a park that has a three-mile loop around a lake, and they run around it three times. I’m actually second-guessing my decision to come along. Part of me just wanted to hang out with Loïc, regardless of what he was doing, and another part really wanted to meet Cooper.

“I’m not going to suck,” I protest.Yes, I totally am.

“London, it’s okay. Anyone, no matter how amazing they are, has to work up to running longer distances.” He pulls me into a hug and kisses my forehead.

“Well, aren’t you two cute?” An energetic loud voice startles me, making me jump back away from Loïc.

“London, this is Cooper. He’s a bit obnoxious.” Loïc gestures toward the guy who is now standing across from me.

He’s sporting a huge grin, and I can already tell that I’m going to like him.

Cooper extends his hand toward mine. “You can call me David or Cooper. Either one’s fine. Nice to finally meet the girl who has my boy here all gaga.”

“Have I mentioned he’s extremely annoying?” Loïc says with a laugh.

I shake Cooper’s hand. “Nice to finally meet you, too. Loïc has nothing but great things to say about you.”

“That’s a lie, dude. I don’t say anything nice about you,” Loïc says to Cooper.

Cooper laughs and then turns his attention back toward me. “So, I hear you aren’t much of a runner?”

The way he says it isn’t accusatory in the slightest, and I’m surprised that his words don’t bother me at all.

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