Rachel stood for a second, then stretched out her arm, hand extended.
From hugs to a handshake… Jack felt an ache in his chest, but took her hand in his. The familiar tingle he’d always felt at her touch was still there. And if her widening eyes were anything to go by, she felt it too.
He inhaled the familiar scent of her shampoo. He was hit with a mix of nostalgia and hope. Jack wanted it to mean so much more than friendship.
“I didn't realize you'd gotten home,” Rachel said, pulling back but staying close. “You didn’t say you were coming.”
Jack couldn't bring himself to break the contact, keeping her hand in his. “I didn't tell you,” Jack admitted quickly when he saw a flash of hurt cross her face. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“A surprise.” Rachel's smile was small, with caution in her eyes. “Well, you succeeded.”
“There was a lot to say and an email or text just couldn’t explain it all.” He glanced around the gym, then back at her. “I had no idea you’d be here.”
She scoffed lightly. “Oh, Jack. There are lots of things we don't know about each other.”
Her words could have sounded snarky, and he would have deserved the sentiment. But in true Rachel fashion, it was simply an honest comment, said gently. He couldn’t deny what she’d noted, but he definitely wanted to rectify the situation.
She shrugged, adding, “I joined the gym about a year ago. Helps clear my head. I try to get here early on Saturdays before the weekend gets away from me.”
“Yeah, same reason I came this morning. I had nervous energy to get out.”
Rachel scrunched her nose in a familiar gesture that made Jack's heart squeeze. “I didn't think you'd care about stuff like my gym habits and weekend routines.”
“No, it's okay.” Jack forced himself to release her, though every instinct screamed to pull her closer. “And you're right. There's a lot about us that we don't know anymore.”
“Yeah.” Sadness flickered across Rachel's face. “There is.”
“Do you want to keep running?” Jack asked, gesturing to the treadmills.
Rachel nodded, and they climbed back onto their machines, setting them to the same pace. For the first few minutes, neither spoke, just ran in companionable silence. Jack was hyperaware of her presence beside him… the rhythm of her breathing, the way her ponytail swayed with each step, the occasional glance she threw his way.
Finally, Jack broke the silence only to find her speaking at the same time. “It's good to be?—”
“When did you get?—”
They both laughed, and he had to focus on not tripping over the way her face lit beautifully when she smiled. He always remembered that from the first time she'd smiled at him. “You go first.”
“I was just going to ask when you got home?” Her smile dimmed slightly, and he wondered if it was because she thought he hadn't planned on getting in touch with her.
“Just a couple of days ago. I started work and planned to call you after my workout this morning to see if you’d like to meet up.”
“And so we did, even if this wasn’t planned.”
He nodded, but hoped she didn't think that just meeting at the gym and running side by side on treadmills was all he wanted. He started to ask her out when she looked over at him and spoke first.
“So,” Rachel said finally, a little breathless. “Um... what have you decided to do? Now that your time with the Navy is over. Or… um… is it?”
Jack held her gaze while running, trying to read her expression. Was she just making conversation, or did his answer matter to her? Would she be happy that he was staying, or would it make her life easier if he left?
“That's part of what I was going to talk to you about,” he said. “How about we go to breakfast? Talk about it over food? Joe's Diner still slings the best breakfast in town, right?”
Rachel's smile was genuine, lighting up her whole face. “They do. Let me go home and shower first?”
“Same. I could pick you up.”
“I’ll meet you there,” she said, caution still on her face.
They slowed their treadmills to a cool-down pace, then stopped. Jack grabbed his towel, and Rachel collected her water bottle and phone. They walked toward the exit together, still close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
