I stop, turning to face her. “I’ll tell you what. If you can outrun me this morning, I’ll dissolve our student/teacher arrangement.”
Hannah rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “Is it a bet?”
I tip my head back, laughing. “It’s a bet.”
“Let’s shake on it.”
“Okay.” I hold out my hand, but Hannah takes off running down the road.
“Catch me if you can.” She calls back to me.
I had considered letting her beat me, but now there’s no way. “I’m coming for ya, Baby.”
It feels good running next to Hannah. “I’ve missed this.”
She glances over at me. “Me too.”
I scrunch my forehead, realizing I said it out loud. We run around the lake trail. I keep her on her toes, increasing and decreasing my speeds randomly. She never tries to outrun me, but she matches me pace for pace the entire way around the trail. When the trailhead comes into view. We glance at each other. Hannah smiles at me and winks. She picks up her pace, making her stride as long as she can.
I let her pull ahead of me, but only because I’m bad, and I want to watch her ass as she runs. I slow down even more, letting her get a more significant lead. She glances back and shakes her head with a smile. She knows me too well, but she puts all her strength into trying to win. With about forty yards left, I let go and ran as fast as possible. When I come up next to Hannah, I reach my hand out, slapping her butt. Her step falters just a bit, but she puts her head down and keeps running, determined. I should let her win, but I’m not ready for the dynamics of running with her to change just yet. Besides, if I let her win, I’d never hear the end of it. I pass her with about ten feet left. I slow down when I reach the parking lot and circle back around to Hannah, who has stopped running and has her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
I walk up to her, placing a hand on her back. “Are you okay?” I huff, winded.
She gives me a thumbs up. “I’m…good.”
“Can you walk? I don’t want you to cramp up.”
She nods, and we walk across the parking lot to the road.
“I’m impressed, Clark. You’ve made some serious improvements over the past month.”
“Thank you. Running is good for me, but running with you is more fun. You always keep things interesting.”
“Someone’s got to keep you on your toes.”
“There’s no one I’d rather have bust my balls than you, Cross.” She bumps her hip against mine.
I stop walking and put my hand on my stomach, laughing and trying to keep the cramps at bay. I don’t even have a comeback for that. It was so good.
“Are you okay?” Hannah kneels in front of me, a worried look on her face.
“I’m fine, just a little side cramp.” I help her up and, in a swift move, wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her against me.
“I’m all sweaty,” she murmurs as my lips touch hers.
“Just the way I like you.” I smile into her mouth.
She hits my shoulder at the comment but doesn’t pull away. I let her come to me. She gives me a little kiss and then another. She brushes her lips against mine and then fists her hands into the back of my shirt, pressing our bodies together and delving her tongue into my mouth. It feels like magic, and we stand on the side of the road kissing until a passing car honks at us, and we break away laughing.
“I love that you surprised me this morning. It made my day.” I kiss Hannah’s nose, then take her hand as we walk toward my house.
“I asked Jack last night if the team was still working out together, and he said not since school started. I know you don’t miss a chance to run, especially after a long weekend.”
I walk her up to her car. “Thank you. I needed this. I didn’t know how much until I saw you standing out here.”
“Can I run with you again tomorrow?” Hannah asks, playing with the hem of my shirt.
“Yes, please. Can we get together after football and cheer practice and talk?” I want Hannah back officially as my girlfriend, and I want everyone to know it. But I know her answer is no when her face falls, and she avoids my gaze.
