Page 32 of Collide
He’s quiet the whole way down, until I’m turning onto my usual path. “Walk me to my car?”
“Scared?” I follow him into the parking lot.
He appears deep in thought. “Something like that.”
“Don’t worry, Crawford. I won’t let the boogeyman get you.”
When we reach his car, Aiden tosses his bag in the back seat, and locks the doors.
I stare at him. “What are you doing?”
He stretches his legs and moves his head from side to side. “Running.”
“You just had practice.” He walks past me. “Aiden, I’m not running with you.”
“Don’t. I’m just running the path over there,” he calls over his shoulder.
“That’s my path!”
“What a coincidence.”
I stare at his back. “You said you were exhausted.”
“Did I? I feel great.”
Before I can protest again, he takes off, and reluctantly, I go after him.
11 | AIDEN
THE INCESSANT BANGING on my bedroom door rips me from my exhaustion-induced sleep.
“Cap! You’re late, man.”
Pulling the comforter over my head isn’t enough to keep Kian’s voice out. I shouldn’t have gone up against him for this room. I’d be better off downstairs.
“Aiden!”
Fuck. I throw off my comforter, my muscles screaming in agony. I’m accustomed to dealing with body aches after practice. Today though, I feel the pain in my fucking jaw, that’s how deep it is.
I open the door and lean against it for support. “What?”
Kian gives me a once-over. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” I grumble, going back to bed.
Kian follows. “What the hell happened?”
“Went for a run last night.”
“No, you didn’t. We had practice last night.”
“After,” I say, wincing as I lay down.
“Why would—” He watches me curl back into bed and bursts into laughter. “You went to Summer’s last night. You ran with her, didn’t you?”
“It was late and she was alone.” My voice is muffled by my pillow.
“Oh, man. This is too good.” He barks out a laugh that somehow hurts my bones. When he pulls out his phone, mine dings from the nightstand and I know he’s texting the group chat. He’s still typing when he glances up. “By the way, you’re going to be late to the rink.”
