Chapter 10 #2
“We’re trying to get you to drop this bad boy persona. One liners like that will only stoke the fire.”
“But you’re my girlfriend. I’m allowed to talk dirty to you.”
“Talking dirty is for the bedroom, not the high school track field,” she fires back, but there’s a hint of a twinkle in her eyes. Ahhh, she likes the dirty talk.
“Is that an invitation?” I smirk.
Her lips turn up slightly and she says, “Only if you can catch me!” and she darts off like she’s running the forty yard dash at a football combine.
"Game on, Chessy!” I call out as I run after her. Damn, she’s fast. I figured I’d catch up with ease, even if she did get a slight head start, but I find myself really having to work for this.
But I want to win.
I always win.
I let her get ahead of me, when I call after her once again.
“I’m gaining on you!” I hear her let out a little shriek and then she makes her one mistake—she turns to glance back at me and that’s all it takes for me to throw it into high gear.
I close the distance between us and grab her waist as I catch her, swinging her around, laughing as I slow us down.
We’re both panting, and I imagine this is what it will be like when I finally get her under me.
Her ponytail is still bobbing, and I can’t help but reach up and wrap my fist around it.
Tugging her hair slightly, I whisper in her ear, “Caught you.” Squeezing her a little and pulling her back up against me. Feeling bold, I push her boundaries. “What’s my prize?” I ask.
She stills but doesn’t look back at me, still catching her breath. “What do y—”
“YOO HOO! Oh, look at you two! Hey! Over here!” We both turn to see Mrs. Baker walking her German Shepherd—or rather, the German Shepherd walking her—as she waves at us from the parking lot.
“I thought that was you and oh my gosh! After the picture I saw last night, this just confirms it!” She’s so excited and smiling from ear to ear like she just found the ninth wonder of the world.
And we’re it. Mrs. Baker owns Dashing through the Diner and is probably on her way now to open up, waiting to spread the gossip she’s come across.
“Hi Mrs. Baker! Hey Jingle!” I call out to the poor emasculated dog.
Chess has already slid from my arms and put about four feet between us.
I give her a head shake and tell her ‘show time’ as we head over to greet Mrs. Baker and her wild animal.
Chess’s face falls slightly, but with her next breath she sets her shoulders and puts on that fake smile of hers.
I’ve seen it the few times I’ve found articles of her online, at an event with that asshole Nick who worked with her at Goldman.
“Oh, you two are just the most gorgeous couple!” she swoons. “Please come down and see me at the diner. Breakfast is on me today!”
“Oh, that’s unnecessary, Mrs. Baker, but thank you. We’re just finishing—”
“That sounds great, we’ll be down once I race Chess around this track one more time. So far, she’s won each time and I have to redeem myself,” I say as I grab Francesca’s hand and tug her closer.
Mrs. Baker sees our hands join and squeals again like an elf putting together his first toy for Santa’s workshop. “Ok toodle-ooo!”
Francesca pulls her hand from mine. “What are you doing?”
“Come on, this is a perfect opportunity to show off our new relationship. It’s Sunday, the diner will be packed, and I’m sure everyone has seen the picture, so let’s make it official.”
She stares at me a little too long. “Did I say something wrong? Is this not the way PR works?”
She takes another deep breath and I try to avoid staring at the way her chest heaves when she does so. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry this is just really fast, though I should have been prepared once that picture was posted.”
“You’re still ok with this, right?”
Please say yes, please say yes.
Why am I begging?
“Yes. Fine. Everything is fine.” That wall just slammed right up in my face. How am I going to get her to trust me?
“The article? You saw the press release, right?” Again, please say yes, I don’t want this to be a surprise to her.
She exhales, “I saw it. It wasn’t bad, got the point across. We’ve got them talking now. We’ll have to follow up with an official statement.”
She takes my hand, but her fingers are stiff. “Do you want to finish your run or head over now?”
I study her face and she is looking everywhere but at me. “We can go now.”
“Yes, good idea. Let’s get this over with.” She heads to the parking lot, towards our cars.
I don’t like the way she says, ‘get this over with.’ It doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t want this over with. I want it to be just the beginning. But how do I break that news to her and her brother?
I’ll second guess those last few thoughts repeatedly for the next few weeks while I come to terms with all these strange thoughts of my own. I’m not cut out for relationships. I’m better off alone, not being a burden and sticking to my original plan, which is to leave.
She knows the deal; we agreed. I won’t go changing it up now.