“Oh, I can’t wait for Gabe to start. Did you see his tattoos?” Claire swoons beside me.
I shake my head, laughing. “Claire, if you don’t act cool, you’re going to scare him off.”
She pouts, throwing her head back in a groan. “Ugh, you’re so right! Okay. I’ll stay cool. How’s this?” She pretends to look nonchalant, throwing her pony behind her back and batting her eyelids.
“Do you have an off button?” I laugh poking at her sides. She squeals, batting my hand away before walking to the kitchen to run food.
3
Elijah
“You’re going to be the death of me.” I pant, hands on my knees.
“Come on, you said you’d be running laps around me by September.” Tobias laughs, breathless and alive as he runs in place. “The clock is ticking.” He teasingly taps his non-existent watch.
“You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” I groan, straightening back up. I run my fingers through my damp hair, moving the strands out of my eyes. I can’t help but smirk as I notice Tobias staring at my arms and chest while I do it.
Okay, so he’s rubbed off on me this past year. Going to the gym and going on runs isn’t so bad when you’ve got a hot piece of eye candy to look at the whole time. It only took one morning of him begging me to join his run for me to get hooked.
My body sure doesn’t mind.
“You’re staring,” I smirk, regaining my pace.
“You’re hot…and I’m proud of you.” He grins back at me with one of those dashing, “Prince Charming was inspired by me” smiles.
I can’t help but feel the heat radiate from my cheeks. Making him proud of me has got to be one of my favorite pastimes.
We round the corner and run along the path Tobias loves near our house. The tunnel of trees swallows us whole as sunlight beams through the cracks in the leaves. It’s gorgeous.
I feel my lungs burning as we keep up our pace. The only thing keeping me going is the reminder that we get to share a shower at the end. It’s the best reward.
“Hey. Wait.” Tobias comes to a stop. I skid to my toes, almost knocking into him as I balance myself.
“What’s up?” I pant heavily. “I was on a roll.”
He gives me a sarcastic eye-roll as he pulls his phone from his side pocket. “I want to take a picture with you. I want to remember you like this.” He swipes a few times to open the camera app, holding the phone above us and wrapping one arm around my shoulder.
“Okay, you sap.” I laugh, leaning in. He positions the camera above us so we’re looking up into the sun. I cover my eyes to protect my face while Tobias squints at the screen, flashing a peace sign. I smile, and so does he. He snaps a couple of pictures, and we quickly swipe through them. We look good. Sweaty and sun-kissed—but good.
I can’t help but grin. I’m usually the one taking pictures of us, but he’s gotten more comfortable with photos ever since I showed him the album I made for his birthday. I think it showed him just how precious photos can be.
I watch as Tobias quickly sets one as his screensaver and slips his phone back into his pocket.
“I’m going to miss you, you know?” he mutters, continuing down the path. I guess we’re done running now, which is nice because everything hurts.
I exhale heavily. I haven’t wanted to think about returning to school at all. In a couple of days, I’ll have to pack my things up and go back, and I’m dreading it more than he’ll ever know.
Honestly, if it weren’t for my incredible father, who basically begged me to finish school before he passed, I’d probably drop out. Okay, that’s a lie, but I’m seriously on the edge of at least switchingcompletely to online classes. I haven’t been away from Tobias since everything happened, and the thought of being so far from him is giving me anxiety.
“You okay?” Tobias nudges my shoulder. I give him a quick smile, hiding how much I’m second-guessing school. He’s so proud of me for going back, and I don’t want to ruin that.
“Yeah…just thinking about how many times a day I’ll probably call you. You’re gonna get sick of me.” I pout, making sure he notices.
“We spend ninety percent of our day together already. I don’t think that could ever happen.” He shakes his head, laughing, and I can’t help but melt a little.
“I’m still working on that last ten percent.” I joke, nudging him back.
His laughter bursts out, warm and deep, and I feel it right in my chest. “Considering that’s when we go to the restroom, I’d say it’s for the best.” Tobias slings an arm around me, pulling me in close. Sweat-darkened strands of his blonde hair fall across his glistening blue eyes, and I can’t stop staring. “Don’t worry about it. People go long-distance all the time. We’re going to be fine.”
