Page 62 of Finding London

“No worries. I think it’s great that you want to run with us. Just go slow. You can jog and then walk and then jog. But don’t overdo it, or you’ll end up pulling something. I sucked when I first started. Just ask Berkeley here. In basic, I was always one of the last ones to finish.”

“Loïc, too?”

Cooper shakes his head. “Nah, that asshole was always one of the first. I think he had lots of practice running from trouble when he was out on the streets. That, and he always has to be better at everything than everyone else, you know?”

Loïc laughs. “You’re such an ass.”

Cooper grins. “All right, let’s do this.”

The three of us begin running along the paved path. I’m able to keep up with them for about two miles—just kidding. It’s more like two football fields. That’s decent though for my first time, I think. The ache in my side is so painful that I have to stop and walk.

Loïc turns around and runs backward. “I’ll circle back around and see you in a few.” He winks, and it’s completely adorable.

“Stop being a show-off,” I grumble.

He laughs and turns back around.

I continue walking, holding my side.Motherfucker, it stings.I enjoy the view of Loïc’s backside for as long as I can before I can’t see him anymore.

Over the next hour, Loïc runs past me three times. Each time, he smacks my ass as he passes, making me first jump and then giggle. During this entire time, I’ve gone around the loop once.

Eh, I could’ve done worse.I did manage to jog a few feet here and there.

When I’ve finished the loop, I’m a sweaty, disgusting mess.Is this supposed to be fun?

The three of us stretch afterward—well, at least the boys do. I attempt to copy them.

“Where should we go eat? London, what are you in the mood for?” Cooper asks.

“A shower,” I respond dryly, eliciting a chuckle from him.

“Of course we’ll shower first. But after?”

“I don’t know. Maybe Mexican?”

“Dude! Let’s go to Mexicantown. I haven’t been there in forever,” Cooper says excitedly.

Mexicantown is an area of Detroit that is mainly populated by Latino people, and they have the most authentic Mexican food around.

“That sounds good!” I agree.

“Sure,” Loïc says.

“Will Maggie be able to join us?” I’m looking forward to meeting Loïc’s other roommate.

“No, she’s working a twelve-hour shift at the hospital,” Cooper offers.

Maggie is a nurse at Mott Children’s Hospital.

“Oh, that’s a bummer. I want to meet her. Should we invite Paige?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Loïc answers.

“Great,” I say happily.

I survived my first workout—okay,workoutmight be a stretch—with Loïc and Cooper, and now, I get to have fantastic Mexican food for dinner.

Loïc drops me off at my house, so I can shower while he goes back to his. Paige is game for a trip to the D—aka Detroit—and before I know it, the four of us are in Cooper’s car, heading east.

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