The conversation turns back to the various items the guys saw while wandering around. There are several things people want to go back for. Apparently, Aaron found a snack he wants. When he mentions it, he rocks against me a little bit. It was intentional, but we’re cramped together on a bench meant for two people that somehow fits three grown men. Not that Aaron or I are huge, but Matthias is a bit of a beast.
“Anyone up for an impromptu get-together at my place? I’ve got plenty of beer and snacks.”
I play with the remnants of my grilled cheese, the bits of crust that I picked off and didn’t eat. This is part of the reason my family thinks I need to work on my health. I still eat the same way my niblings do. They’ll be shocked when I tell them I’m running. Maybe I can wait to mention it until I finish my first race. Then I can send them a photo of me with my medal.
Do they give medals for five-ks? They’d better because there’s no way I’m running any further than that.
“What do you think?” Colt asks Nathan.
“Mmm…” Nathan clearly hasn’t been paying attention. Probably my fault. He’s been eyeing me throughout the conversation, turning away any time I catch his gaze. The guilt sets in, and I start calculating how quickly I can get out of here. I’ve ruined the day and probably made things complicated for Aaron.
It was a stupid idea anyway. Thinking there was any chance that I could be part of his life beyond our private time together. I should be happy with that, thankful for the little time I have with him, but I’m not.
Somehow, no matter how much of him I have, it’ll never be enough.
“What do you think about spending a little longer here and then going to Matthias’s house?” Colt asks.
“Sounds nice,” Nathan says.
“How about it?” Matthias looks at me, and it takes all my control not to look around to see who else he might be talking to. “Want to come over? There’s plenty of room.”
“I—”
“Please? It’ll be fun.” Aaron’s voice is soft but pleading. How am I supposed to say no to that?
“Sure.” I plaster a big smile on my face. “Sounds good.”
CHAPTER 9
OLIVER
No. Absolutely not. There’s no way that I’m going running with Aaron when he looks like that. We’re going to have a serious problem. Mainly, I’m pretty sure I can’t run with an erection. I haven’t tried, but I’m pretty sure my assessment is accurate.
“You about ready to go?” he asks while grabbing his foot and pulling it back toward his ass. Everything—and I do mean everything—about his body is on display. Where am I even supposed to look? At the bulging thigh muscles? His round ass? Or at the clearly visible bulge? “Oliver?”
“What?” I’m definitely supposed to be doing something, but I forgot what. For once, I’m pretty sure my ADHD isn’t the problem.
“I asked if you were ready?”
I look down at what I’m wearing. A pair of joggers, an old college t-shirt, and a sweatshirt. He might be comfortable inshorts and a long-sleeved tee, but there’s no way I’m going outside in fifty-degree weather in shorts.
Scratch that. I’m never going to be caught dead wearing shorts like that. Aaron’s pulling them off, but my knobby knees won’t look good on display.
“Yeah, I just need to grab my shoes.” The offending black ones that I’ve kept in the box since I bought them. Part of me didn’t believe we’d end up running together.
“You’re going to get hot.”
“I doubt it,” I say. Aaron doesn’t argue with me, which must mean I’m right. It takes me a bit to get the shoes on and laced up properly, but eventually, I’m out of ways to kill time. I’m also very thankful I put on a pair of tight briefs. The running part I’m sure of, but at least my sweatpants haven’t become obscene. My neighbors will appreciate that, even if Aaron doesn’t.
“Alright, let’s go.”
It’s not quite that simple. First, we have to take the elevator down—Aaron suggests the stairs, but I’m not even sure you’re allowed to use them unless there’s a fire—and make it out the front door. Immediately, the spring chill hits me. It’s not cold, per se, but there’s a decent amount of wind today. I shiver a little and wrap my arms around my body. Too hot, my ass. I might freeze to death.
“Alright, we’re going to start nice and slow. We’ll walk for five minutes, then do a series of run-walk intervals to get you started.”
That doesn’t sound so bad. Walking, I can do. I don’t more than is strictly necessary, but I can.
He hits a few buttons on a complicated watch before declaring that we can start.
