Page 43 of Catch Me
“Sounds like bullshit.”
“Sure, but it’s just about mindfulness. There are a bunch of ways to tame your emotions, but I like how peaceful this one is.”
His eyes moved across my bare chest, then back to my face. Silently, as usual, he brushed past me toward the house.
“Come on a run with us,” I suggested.
There was a tight set to his brows when he turned to look at me. “Why?”
“It seems more your style, and you’re obviously still angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“Something’s bothering you.”
His lip curled. “It’s not your business.”
“Well, I didn’t ask, did I? Whatever’s eating at you doesn’t interest me unless you want to involve me. So, put your pissy attitude away and come for a run.”
“I’ll put on a shirt.”
“Just wear shorts. Leave your phone. Trust me.”
His tongue poked against his cheek and he noticeably dragged his gaze down my body, not for the first time. When he met my eyes, he just nodded.
I smiled. “Cool. I’ll get changed. You should know that Tessa will embarrass both of us, so don’t feel bad when she taunts you from a distance.”
As I passed, his lips pulled upward. I didn’t want him to know that I’d seen it, so I just continued into the house to put on some shorts.
*****
“You weren’t kidding,” Roman panted.
I stared at Tessa and laughed. She ran back and circled us, then darted ahead.
“She likes to gloat. The competition is what keeps me going.”
“Why not find a running partner?”
“She is my running partner. Now you’re running with us.”
I shot him a smile. He didn’t look at me like I’d shit in his cereal, so that was good, I guess.
“How far are we going?”
“Getting tired?” I winked, then sped up. I heard him swear, and when I glanced behind me, he was right on my heels.
Tessa got excited when she saw us running faster. She knew where we were going, so she led the charge. Her ears flapped up and down as she raced through the trees.
“Trust me!” I shouted.
“What?”
I didn’t have the breath to respond, so I just kept going. My lungs were on fire and my thighs burned, but I refused to lose. Plus, if he wasn’t following me at high speed, he wouldn’t do what I needed him to.
The edge came into view, and I drew in as deep of a breath as I could before I leapt off. I couldn’t tell if he followed me before my head went underwater. When I came up, I sucked in a long breath. Every time I did this, I wondered if it would kill me someday. It was too cold for this shit, but hey, I was still young.
I turned around to look for Roman. I’d felt the vibration of the water when he hit it, so I knew he’d jumped. He breached the surface in front of me and took a second to catch his breath before he slammed his hands into my chest.
