Page 168 of The Off-Limits Play

“Get dressed.” His wink and little smirk kind of melt me, and I shuffle to my closet, pulling on my clothes and fighting serious doubts that are raging through my system.

I can’t run.

Why did I think I’d be able to?

Taking the scarf off my head, I arrange my hair into a ponytail and shove on my beanie before tying my shoelaces.

“Don’t worry. He strikes me as the kind of guy who will catch you if you fall,” Jolie mumbles, still sounding half asleep.

I glance at her, and she gives me a small smile before rolling over in bed.

“Have fun, kitty cat.”

I snort and rise to my feet. “If you start calling me that, I’ll have to fong you.”

“And in turn, I will eviscerate you in fiction.” Jolie giggles. She really did loveA Knight’s Talewhen I made her watch it with me. I think she was more enamored with the romantic bits, whereas my favorite part of the movie is all the side characters. Paul Bettany makes that movie for me. And so does Alan Tudyk.

Leaning down, I kiss her cheek before creeping out of the room.

Carson’s waiting for me with a sweet smile on his face, his eyes dancing as he takes my hand. “You didn’t tell me you were into fonging.”

I laugh. “Watch it, or I might just fong you too.”

He wiggles his eyebrows, which only makes me laugh harder.

Stepping into the elevator, I take it slow, trying not to jar my knee before forcing it to run. This is seriously going to be the slowest plod ever.

“Are you sure about this?” I double-check when we step outside.

I was right about the snowfall and how picturesque it looks. The ground is sprinkled in white powder and highlighted by the glow of the streetlights. The sun is already starting to rise, and I should be stoked to be out in this still beauty, but?—

“I say we try for half a mile.”

“That’s it?”

“We’ve got to start someplace, right?” He points down the road. “So let’s go for a quarter mile down that way, turn around, and come back.” Turning to face me, he brushes his knuckle down my cheek. “Think you can handle it?”

I pull in a breath and try to dredge up the strong determination I usually fuel myself with. Where the hell has it gone this morning? Why am I finding this so intimidating?

“Unless you think you seriously can’t do it.” Carson stares down the road, tutting and shaking his head. “I mean, it is a whole half mile. Might be a bit much for you.”

“Oh shut up.” I slap his chest with the back of my hand and start a slow, awkward shuffle down the street.

Carson runs beside me, but he’d probably be just as fast walking.

Honestly, this is embarrassing.

“You’re doing great, kitten. Just keep going.” Moving in front of me, he spins around and jogs backward, smirking at me. “You know, if you work up a sweat, I might just be willing to soap you down in the shower. You know, get you all clean for your first class.”

I raise my eyes at him, ignoring the twinge in my leg and picking up my pace. “Youmightjust be willing?”

“Well, you know… willing… begging… They’re the same thing, right?”

With a soft snort, I shake my head and chase after him when he picks up his pace a little more.

At the quarter-mile mark, I’m actually feeling pretty good. I nearly suggest we go farther, but after we turn around and start heading back, my leg really starts to complain. I grit my teeth and keep going but am super grateful when the dorm comes back into view.

Having not exercised like this in a really long time, I’m puffing like a dinosaur when we dribble to a stop outside Buckley Hall.

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