All alone?
Carson raises a brow. “Yeah. Why? Did you want to join me?” Dammit, I said that out loud. I feel like I could get distracted easily if I went on a run with him.
But running would always take my mind off everything. I loved being a part of the cross country and track teams in high school. That was probably one of my favorite things to do. And I haven’t had time to go running because settling into college and work got in the way of any extra time I had.
Until today.
Should I stay at home and start myGilmore Girlsmarathon early? Or do I go on a morning jog with a guy who has my heart racing? Well, as good as those cherry tarts sound, I need to clear my head now more than ever.
And running always helps.
I look down at my robe and fuzzy slippers before back up at Carson. “Give me a minute to change.”
20
The Most Impulsive Thing I’ve Ever Done
Carson
Diana is both a silent and fast jogger.
The moment we started on the path around the streets of our neighborhoods, she started running like the devil was at her heels. If this is a light jog for her, then I’ve got my work cut out for me because I usually don’t start this fast.
I’ve been waking up early to jog every Sunday for years. Alone, because none of my roommates particularly enjoy waking up at this hour. This is the first time someone has joined me on a run, even if said person is a couple of feet in front of me.
I quicken my pace to catch up to her; soon enough, we’re jogging in silence. All of her dark hair—except her curtain bangs—is pulled up into a high ponytail and swishing back and forth.
“Starting strong, today?” I ask, desperate to break the silence for the first time. “You’re running like hell is at your feet.”
She scoffs, slowing down slightly. “This is a run, isn’t it?”
“It’s a jog,” I say. “Not a race against your inner demons.”
“What makes you think I have inner demons?” She challenges. This girl could be carrying the whole world on her shoulders andyou wouldn’t be able to notice just by the challenging gleam in her beautiful hazel-green eyes.
“Everyone has inner demons,” I say shrugging. “Besides, you seemed a little beaten down after that phone call. Trouble in Miami?”
The sparkle in her eye is gone almost instantly. “Not trouble, exactly,” she huffs as we reach an incline. “It’s my mom’s birthday.”
Judging by the melancholy in her voice, that’s not a great thing. “And you called your mom to wish her a happy birthday? That’s all?”
“I didn’t call my mom, Carson,” she says. “Can we drop it?”
I decide not to prod her for more details and we run in silence for a little longer. Usually, I like the quiet. Today, however, the air between us is almost a little too thick. So much so that I could barely make a dent with the sharpest steak knife in the world.
We reach a cross-section near the campus village and wait for the signal to cross. I’m watching the streets, each car passing by when Diana finally speaks up.
“This is usually just not an easy day for me.”
I turn to face her. She’s not looking in my direction but merely watching each car pass like I was a moment ago. “Terrible relationship with your mom?”
“Far from it.” She plays with the ends of her curtain bangs. “She was my best friend.”
“Was?”
Diana nods. “She died seven years ago. I know that’s a long time to be dead but I can’t help but still miss her, you know?”
The light switches and Diana and I cross the street, resuming our jog. “Of course, it’s not. She was your mom.” I may not have lost anyone close to me in the past twenty years—and I’m thankful for that—so I can’t know exactly what she’s been through.
