Me: Me being filthy is a turn on to you?
Drew: . . . you have no idea.
My bandage-wrapped palm scrubbed down my heated face. I peered into the mirror next to the couch and was surprised to see a smile still stretching my cheeks. He was getting to me—or had already gotten to me—and I was still dead set on denying it.
Me: You’re sweet to check on me. If it makes you feel any better, I’m done for the night and just put a fresh bandage on it.
Drew: It does. I was worried and knew your stubborn ass wouldn’t rest unless someone told you to.
Drew: Which is what happened, right?
I scowled at the screen.
Me: Maybe.
Drew: You can never admit when I’m right.
Me: Because who wants you more full of yourself?
Drew: I’m letting that golden opportunity slip right by . . . can you drive, or do you want me to come get you?
Me: I can drive, thank you. See you in the morning at the track?
Drew: 6 a.m. Get home safe, Caldwell.
Me: Thank you for checking on me.
Drew: What are friends for?
Friends didn’t give you a case of the butterflies with a text message. I eyeballed my throbbing hand and let out a long sigh. In my old life, I would have never allowed a close friendship with anyone, much less someone I was fighting an attraction to. I was happy in my solitude—or so I forced myself to believe.
So what if we were spending more and more time together and he checked on me? It didn’t mean anything.
Too bad I didn’t believe me, either.
Drew
“GET THOSE LEGSup, Caldwell!” I chided Sara over my shoulder.
“Seriously?”
I cracked up at her breathless and frustrated reply.
“You said you were a runner.” I turned around and jogged backward as she ran toward me. “Gotta say, not so sure now that I’ve seen you in action.” I arched an eyebrow and could’ve sworn I’d heard a growl erupt from her throat. Wisps from her ponytail licked her damp cheeks as she glared at me.
“I said . . . I liked to run . . .” Her words were stilted as she tried to catch her breath and tell me off at the same time. “I didn’t say anything about being a track star . . . jerk.”
A laugh rumbled from my chest after she whispered the last word. This was the second time this week I dragged her to the running track on campus. She struggled to keep up last time but refused to admit it. For a second, I thought she would collapse and I’d have to carry her back to her dorm, not that I would’ve minded—at all. When I asked if she wanted to slow it down next time, she answered with a scowl of death. It was fucking adorable.
The running track used to be my solitude in the early morning hours and a place to clear my head. I gladly traded that peace for breaking Sara’s chops.
“Hey, we have two more laps left!” I yelled as she jogged off the track.
“I need a break. I should’ve known you were a fitness freak.” She craned her head and glowered at me before plopping onto a bench.
“Should’ve known how?” I sat beside Sara and nudged her ribs with my elbow.
Her eyes rolled before she unzipped her hoodie. “Look at you. There isn’t an ounce of fat anywhere. You’re probably here every morning. I told you I was aweekendrunner. I’d get a few laps in during Victoria’s dance class on a Saturday. I don’t have your endurance, Drew.”
