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Oh.
Oh!
Well, fine. If Finn wants to make this a race, then we’ll race.
My mouth twists into a challenging smirk. “I’m letting you have a head start,” I holler. “You’re gonna need every advantage you can get,” mumbling that last part more for myself than him. So sure he’s about to be outrun.
“Mmhmm, I don’t think so, because from my vantage point I’m already winning.”
“Not for long!” I spitfire back, roused and ready to go.
Not. For. Long. Brother.
“Still winning,” he yells further now. “I thought the new shoes might give you a fair shot, but I guess you’re proving me wrong.” Tone goading, coaxing.
I suck on my teeth, swallowing down whatever mood swing this is for Finn and decide to just appreciate that he’s currently doing something other than being pissed off.
Obviously, he’d gotten me these new shoes for a purpose, and that purpose is still up for debate.
My crooked smile reaches my cheekbones as my toes curl in excitement. Challenge accepted.
Bouncing, my feet take off, already ready, knowing the drill. Unfortunate for Finn because he’s about to be outmatched.
eighteen
Rory
Therunisexactlywhat I needed. Plus, factor in me making Finn eat his words for the majority of the time, I’d call it mostly successful. My endorphins were on fire by the time we'd slowed to a jog.
My muscles relaxed as we eased into a comfortable rhythm. That’s how it is after every time my feet hit the ground. Everything else slips away.
I’d let him take the lead after he’d mentioned a path I’d never been down before. The spot wasn’t that far from the main house and I’m not sure how I missed it in the past. An ornate pavilion buried in the woods of the Casper mansion.
We took our break there. Keeping a decent time before turning around and heading straight back to the house.
Finn may or may not have also nudged the back of my heel while I was hunched over trying to catch my breath. To which I fairly responded by kicking out his foot after the backyard came into view.
The miles Finn and I put in weren’t easy, but they’d been earned, that’s for sure.
I’m a sweaty mess and in much need of a shower. Inside my room, I’m about to head to the bathroom when I remember I still have Finn’s one earbud in. He’d let me borrow the other half of his pair after complaining my running was too loud.
We’d been in the woods running over limbs and dead leaves,notpavement. Of course, it was loud.
Coincidentally though, it was right after I’d asked him what was going on with him and Hailey that he’d tossed it. That and the stiff grunt the only other response I got.
Yay for communication.
Overall, though, I gathered running with someone isn’t as bad as I expected it to be. Finn’s fast and we kept a good pace with the other. Which is great because I didn’t feel weighed down, trying to make sure he could keep up.
All those years of him running up and down the court working in my favor.
Letting myself into his room, same as I had earlier, I hear the water running from behind his closed bathroom door. We had similar ideas, only music also blasts from the other side of his.
My intention had been to drop off the earbud and leave. And I would have done just that had I not spotted the printed email on his desk.
“What are you doing?”
I jump, pulling the finger from my mouth, from where I’d been nibbling on my nail. In my distraction, I must have lost track of time. Reading and rereading the paper, my chest swelling with each new pass.
