“We’re going jogging before dinner.”
My laughter dies immediately.
“You said that if you’re too exhausted you just fall asleep and have no nightmares. What better way to make you tired?”
I open my mouth wide.
“Actually I know of another way to make you tired, but we’ll talk about it later.” His voice has a playful note in it, and my pulse triples in pace.
“You’ll be responsible, then, if I break my legs. Because I’m not athletic at all.”
“You’ve been telling that to yourself long enough you now believe it.”
“No, really. Alek is the athletic one. I’m the one who does well in school. I didn’t join sports in high school on purpose. I used to fake painful periods to get out of PE.” My cheeks become warm. “Sorry, too much info.”
“You’re adorable when you blush. And you got out of PE because you were afraid to fail and maybe you didn’t want the other students to see you fall on your sexy butt.”
I open my mouth to argue but then shut it. Why does he have to go all Buddha on me?
I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this, but I nod.
Victor leaves and I’m left to my own devices. I clean the apartment. At least I can pull my own weight here. I don’t want to be a burden. I use my laptop to do research on my upcoming classes and campus jobs. Read. Listen to music.
Close to six o’clock, Victor calls me from downstairs.
“Let’s go, Tia.”
I’ve already changed into my running shorts and a blue T-shirt. I meet him downstairs.
“I can’t believe you work out so much and you still need to avoid carbs.”
We start jogging slowly, and I mean slowly, and within three minutes I’m panting hard. Victor doesn’t leave my side, and he’s almost walking.
We’re surrounded by tree-lined paths occupied by bicyclists and other runners.
“My heart is going super fast.” I’m out of breath but still manage to talk.
“Our heartbeats speed up for many reasons.” Victor is not even breathing hard. “Sometimes it’s from fear or anxiety, but sometimes it’s evidence that our hearts are getting stronger.”
Before I can make a sarcastic comment, my legs choose exactly this moment to trip.
“Ouch,” I whimper and stop running. Victor freezes next to me.
“What happened?” His eyes roam my body, checking for injuries.
“I just stepped funny and I think I sprained my ankle.”
Victor scoops me into his arms and I yelp. “What are you doing?”
“I’m carrying you home.”
“Ohmigod, Victor. You’ll drop me.” But then I laugh at my silly comment.
“Not a chance, lightweight.”
My hands drape around his neck and my eyes focus on him. One of his arms is wrapped near my butt and the other is around my back. His eyes meet mine and without words, he tells me everything will be okay.
And he walks like that until we get to the apartment. He sets me down at the front door.
