“Are you bummed like me that your season has been put on hold?”
“Yes!” Nick shouts. “I watched your video, and my dad helped me set up an area in our backyard, so I can continue to work. Thanks for doing that.”
“Nice. Glad to know it helped,” Drew replies.
I sit back and watch as the students each take turns in asking questions. Drew comes off cool and laid-back, and I can see the difference he talked about between chatting with the media and with kids. He’s a natural with kids, and even ones who I know don’t follow sports are captivated as they listen to him talk.
Hell, I am too.
Only for different reasons than them. While they’re staring at someone they admire, I’m staring at someone who might just be the addition I’ve been wanting in my life.
9
Day 9
April 4
I stare outside at the rainy day. Now, not only am I stuck at my house, but I’m also stuck inside.
I thought about going for another run despite the rain, but I was afraid I’d slip and break an ankle. There’s no way I’m going to the doctor for anything, so, yeah, my pledge to start running every day lasted one whole day.
I’d like to say I’ll start back up when the rain stops, but the forecast shows it’s going to rain until Tuesday. By then, I’ll have long forgotten about the fact that, yes, Icanphysically run—plus, you know, getting back on the bandwagon is much harder the second time.
I sigh. I’ll have to fight off the wannabe WAGs with my charm and brains rather than my sexy body because, let’s face it, I’m going to gain weight while we’re in this predicament. I might as well accept that fact and move on to enjoy the snacks I bought.
When my phone rings with my favorite tune, I do a happy dance and answer, admitting my failure right off the bat, “My running streak is off, so don’t judge.”
Drew chuckles under his breath. “No judgment here. I’ll just leave you with the song by Papa Roach. ‘You gotta want it. You gotta want it,’” he sings out.
“Ugh, you suck, you know that?” I taunt.
“But seriously, don’t do it for me. I already think you’re sexy as hell. I loved working out with you the other day, but only do it if you want to and for no one else.”
“It was nice, watching you do all those push-ups …” I smile big.
“And see, I could only do them because you had to stop so many times. If you get better at running, then I won’t get the upper-body workout I need.”
“Now, I feel so much better,” I say, exaggerating. “Just know, when I’m lying on my ass, eating ice cream, I’m doing it for you.”
He laughs. “Great teamwork. But hey, you know what I learned today?” he says like he’s proud to share his findings.
“What?” I ask in the same tone.
“That you can’t spell virus withoutUandI.”
Now, it’s my turn to let out a belly-laugh at one of his jokes. “You’re too cute. Did you make that one up all on your own?”
He sighs. “I can’t take any credit for that one. I saw it online. But technically, I am your Prince Charmin because I brought you toilet paper on our first date.”
“Indeed, you did! Here I’ve always thought it was Prince Charming,” I say, enunciating the last part.
“What will all those Disney princesses do, knowing they didn’t need some guy to climb up their hair or kiss them to wake them out of a spell? Those damn girls just needed toilet paper.”
I slap my hand on the couch when I sit up as it comes to me. “Oh my God, they totally did! After the first kiss, you know they went straight to doing the horizontal tango, and they needed the toilet paper to clean up the mess! Drew, you just solved all the problems of the world right there.”
He’s laughing so hard that I can hear he’s having a hard time breathing. “Did you really sayhorizontal tango?”
“It is a Disney flick after all. I can’t just come out and say they went in there and he fucked her so hard that she couldn’t close her legs for a week,” I deadpan. “These are kid shows, for goodness’ sake.”
