Page 40 of Dating After the End of the World
“No,” I say defiantly.
He leans down so he’s inches away from my face again. “That’s fine. I can sit here all day. It’s rather comfortable, actually.”
“What is your obsession with training me?” I groan. “Do you just need to be in control or something?”
“Not at all.”
“Then what’s your deal? Is this another attempt to torture me? Did you not get your fill of that in high school?”
He creases his brow. “You think I’m doing this to torture you?”
“Why else would you be doing this?” I squirm beneath him.
Blake leans in a little closer. “To keep you safe, Doomsday.”
In an instant, he releases his hands and gets to his feet, leaving me lying on the floor, staring up at him.
“I don’t need you to keep me safe, Blake,” I call out as he heads for the door.
Pausing, he glances over his shoulder at me. “I know you don’t, but I want to.”
I give him a confused look, but he leaves the room without another word, which disappoints me because there are things I want to do to him too. Like fight him. Yell at him. Punish him for all the years he made my life miserable. I don’t care how much time has passed; there are some things you never get over, and Blake’s one of them.
Determined, I rise to my feet and quickly change into clothes I can kick his ass in. A pair of leggings, tennis shoes, and a long-sleeve athletic top should do the trick. As they say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em and then beat their ass later ... or something like that.
The house is dark and quiet as I make my way through the hall and down two flights of stairs. No one’s awake yet, and I wouldn’t be either if it weren’t for stupid Blake. My dad said everyone has to train, so why am I the only one being woken up for this? Clearly, Blake’s just enjoying his favorite pastime ... torturing me. Well, two can play at that game.
Out on the porch, I find Blake standing at the bottom of the steps with a shit-eating grin on his face. He presses a button on his watch and says, “One minute and five seconds.”
I walk slowly toward him, squinting. “What are you keeping time for?”
“Oh, just wanted to see how long it would take you to wise up and realize that I’m right about you needing training. Looks like it didn’t take long at all.” He smirks.
I cock my head. “I’m only here to kick your ass.”
“Good, because that’s exactly what I want you to do.”
“What? Why?” I ask, caught off guard by his answer.
“Because that would mean I trained you right.”
I roll my eyes and throw my hands on my hips. “Whatever. What are we doing and why are we doing it so early? The sun hasn’t even risen yet.” I gesture to the horizon, where a streak of red and yellow light stretches across it, the sun just now starting its ascent.
The air is still and quiet, peaceful, like the earth forgot the world ended or perhaps it’s just moved on without us. I look back at Blake. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me, and he appears almost amused by my frustration.
“What?” I grumble.
“Nothing. I’m just waiting on you to be done complaining so we can get to work.”
“I’m not complaining.” I let out an irritated sigh. “Let’s get this over with.”
“All right, we’ll start with a run. You’re in good shape, overall. I can see the remnants of strong muscles, and you’ve kept yourself lean,” he says as his eyes glide up and down my body.
I stand a little taller and fiddle with my hands because I don’t know what to do with them. Should I place them back on my hips? Or do I clasp them in front of or behind me?
“Stop examining me.”
“I gotta know what I’m working with, and I’m guessing your leanness has more to do with a lack of sleep and calories than it has to do with exercise.”
