Page 27 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
Except today.
Hill intervals are making me wish I had the ability to take my legs off and roll back down without them.
Coach blows her whistle. “Last set! Focus on form, not speed!”
Easy for her to say from the shade. I’d hate her a little more if I didn’t know she’s been in this same position.
She’s also got an Olympic gold medal to back it up.
I shift my ponytail tighter and take off again, lungs already burning. My shoes feel heavy, and each step intensifies the pounding in my head.
Yet, that pounding does nothing to drown out my thoughts. All I can think about is the meet—and Theo.
Which is a problem. I’m pretty certain fake relationships aren’t something you’re supposed to think about.
“Henley, drive your knees!” Coach yells from down the hill.
I push harder, forcing myself up the incline. Arms pumping, I try to focus on my form.
I’ve never been the kind of person who lets a guy take up this much brain space, but it doesn’t help that the race is being hosted at Hudson View. Every time my mind clears for even half a second, his face shows up.
Telling myself I need to push hard because the rest of the week will be much easier, I put all my effort into finishing strong.
I snap back to the present with my lungs on fire. When I hit the bottom, I slow to a jog before walking it off with my hands on the back of my head, inhaling and exhaling.
Lily comes up beside me, just as winded. She wipes her forehead and gives me a look. “You okay?”
I nod. “Just hot. I hate that hill.”
“Also, you’re distracted,” she says.
I straighten, giving her a sidelong glare. “I’m fine.”
She grins. “Don’t act like you aren’t thinking about your super-hotboyfriend.”
The way she says boyfriend, like a teenager teasing a friend about their crush, annoys me. Because I do have a crush on my fake boyfriend.
I haven’t seen him since game night, but he’s texted me every day to tell me good morning, and every night, I get a text asking about my day and wishing me sweet dreams.
Every time I see a text notification, I feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
It’s stupid and I hate it.
That’s what I’m pretending, anyway.
We take our time walking to the water cooler set up where the trainers are waiting. Hill days almost always result in someone needing some sort of assistance, whether it’s taping or icing an ankle or something a little more.
I smile at them all before grabbing a cup of water.
Only for that smile to fall when I hear Maddie’s voice behind me.
“Incoming,” Lily whispers. “Do you want me to step on her foot accidentally?”
Shaking my head, I turn and offer a small smile to my teammate. Things have been a little awkward since my breakup with Dakota and that picture of him and Maddie post-hookup made the rounds.
“Hey, Henley,” she says as she reaches for a cup of water.
“Maddie,” I say without emotion.
