So much for starting out slow.
The faster I go, the more I can feel the pinch in my leg. I shouldn’t keep pressing, but it’s not an unwelcome feeling. It’s like my body is finally at the point where I can push it, and I don’t have to worry about falling down.
The top of the mountain of my recovery is in sight, and I’m ready to stake the flag that I’m done.
My feet are pounding the tread. Music thumps overhead as I focus on the run…and on Audrey next to me. We’re pushing ourselves to the max. If I am, I know she is. Neither one of us want to admit defeat.
“Would you two fucking knock it off?” Scott bellows, standing entirely too close to us. “I don’t need you two getting hurt because you’re trying to outdo each other. This isn’t a pissing contest.”
“We are not!” we both tell him at the same time.
Audrey turns to look at me, a smile on her face that’s quickly wiped away when she remembers it’s me.
“I don’t give a shit. Cut it out.” Scott goes back to helping someone else on their machine.
“It’s your fault.” Audrey stops her machine and grabs a towel to wipe her face. I come to a stop, hopping off and placing my feet on the sides of the treadmill.
“My fault? You started it.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Real mature, Logan. And here I thought you were a grown-up.”
“Ouch. You were the one who just had to go faster.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m a better runner than you.”
Audrey crosses her arms, stepping into my space. She’s a full head shorter than I am, but with the way she’s staring up at me, you wouldn’t know it.
“Doubt it. I had the fastest hundred-yard dash time as a rookie.”
“Easy to run fast when three hundred-pound linebackers are chasing you down, Logan.”
“There’s an easy way to settle this.” I dip my head ever so closer to her.
There’s a spark in her eyes. It would be easy to miss if you didn’t know her. But even though I haven’t seen Audrey in years, I still know her. Every subtle move she makes I’m in tune with.
“You sure you want to get beat that badly, Winchester?”
The silky smoothness of her voice washes over me and fits into every broken piece of me.
Fuck. I want to go toe to toe with her. Audrey never backs down from a challenge. Another thing that takes me back to when I was in love with…
Love?
I shake my head.That’s a dangerous road to be going down.
“Am I going to have to separate you two?” Scott sounds like an exasperated parent trying to keep his kids from fighting. “Logan, you’re done for the day. Go home. Audrey, hit the weights.”
Scott startles me, causing me to trip and fall over the treadmill.
“See? Exactly what I don’t want to happen.”
“I’m fine.” I pop up on both feet easily.
“Then take your fine ass home,” Scott bemoans.
“Aww, I knew you liked me.” I give his shoulder a playful punch.
“We’ll see how much you like me tomorrow.”
