I don’t want to hurt him.
“Think of it as a favor,” Alex says. “Otherwise, I know you’ll spend the next ten years drawing up more and more business plans. You have to live once in a while.”
I swallow, nodding. He’s right. Our business has expanded massively lately, both the gyms and our real estate ventures. It’s a lot of work, and I could and should delegate some of it and hire an assistant to free up my time.
But that’s the thing. I don’t need time.
Time lets me think about Becca and fantasize about her every little detail.
“Sure,” I say, even if I know better. “As long as it stops you from pouting at me.”
Alex chuckles, holding his hands up. “It’ll be a no-pouting zone. You have my word.”
Once he’s gone, I turn toward my car, but then I keep walking. I walk past my car and then break into a jog, run, and sprint. I’m sprinting through the streets, the wind rushing at my face, stinging my cheeks.
I duck my head and run even harder, my legs aching, my fists clenched.
And then my cell phone starts to ring.
I stop, realizing I’ve been running for longer than I thought. I’m near the pond; the evening air is cool.
My chest rises and falls, and my heart begins to hammer. It’s like I thought I could outrun my thoughts. But it didn’t work.
I see Becca in the mist over the water, her face forming, tempting.
The number is unknown.
“Hello?” I say, answering.
“Ben.”
My hand tightens around the phone.
Becca’s voice is so much sweeter than I could’ve imagined. It’s like the past month has disappeared. It no longer matters. We are back in the hallway again when we kissed before she ran, and the elevator doors closed her away from me.
“Becca,” I whisper.
She seems to take a moment to compose herself, then says, “We need to talk.”