Page 59 of Fight
"What's up, Little Warrior?"He answered the call.
"What do you have planned for tonight?"
He was silent for a moment, thinking."Nothing really.Why?"
"I need some exercise."
"Wanna go swimming?"
"I was leaning towards running."I hoped he'd get the hint.
"But you don't- Oh."He fell silent, but not for long."Do you have someplace in mind?"
"No.I hadnt' planned that far ahead."
"No problem.I'll find us someplace to run and we'll head out after dinner.How's that?"
"That sounds great.I'll see you after work."
"Later, babe."
We rang off, and I tried to focus my extra energy on the work I still needed to get done before I left, with only moderate success.The rest of the day crawled by, and I was relieved when I was finally able to head home.
I was already standing on the landing outside my door when I realized that the food I'd smelled cooking from across the courtyard was coming from inside my apartment. Suddenly wary, I inhaled carefully trying to find out who was inside.The scents I picked up were all familiar and supposed to be there, Raine, Devon, myself.
I was pretty sure that only Devon, Raine, and the landlord could get inside without breaking the lock, but I was still cautious as I thumbed the lock and opened the door.I sniffed again, staying outside, checking the air for any scent that shouldn't be there.
I could have checked the lock panel, inside the doo,r to see who had accessed the apartment but I didn't want to turn my back on the room.I eased inside, looking around for anything out of place, any clue who could be in the apartment.
"Nickie?Is that you?"A familiar voice called from the kitchen.
The tension and caution instantly fell away.I knew that if Devon was in the kitchen and he'd heard the slight noise of my opening the door, then there was no danger of anyone jumping out of my bedroom and trying to abduct me, or beat me into submission.
"Yeah," I closed the door."It's me."
Devon stepped around the corner into sight."I hope you don't mind.I thought I'd start dinner, then we'd be able leave a little earlier."
"No, not at all."I hung my purse on the door."Though a little warning would have been nice.I didn't know who was in the apartment until you spoke."
Devon cringed."Whoops.Sorry, it never even occurred to me."
"How long until it's ready?"
"A little while yet, why?"
"Do I have time to change?"
"Sure, plenty."He turned back toward the kitchen."I'll finish putting things together while you do.You want something to drink?"
"Sure."I headed into the bedroom."I'll be right out."
I changed into a sun dress, and went into the kitchen where Devon had dinner almost ready.We talked about our day while we ate and cleaned up.
Devon found us a private place to run that wasn't too much of a drive but we had to take his truck to get over the rough trail of a road.I sat on the passenger’s side of the truck angled on the seat.I braced one hand on the back of the seat, while the other gripped the oh shit handle attached over the door, as I tried to keep from being bounced all over the cab of the truck.Devon was going slow, but the road was rough and he was being bounced around too, though the steering wheel in his lap kept him mostly in his seat.
"I didn't realize the road was this rough."He said in apology.
"At least we'll have plenty of warning if someone else comes out."I tried to look at the bright side.
