“He speaks a different language sometimes.”
Her sister pulled her down to sit next to her on the bed. “You really like him,” she said.
“I do, but…it’s complicated.”
—:—
“We wish you would come with us,” said Penelope when Ava came downstairs behind her sister. “But we completely understand that you have your own plans.”
“You take good care of her,” said Tara, punching Razor’s arm. Yes, he would, but not in the way Tara was thinking. Actually, maybe he would in the way she was thinking as well.
“Ready?” he said to Ava, who nodded and then hugged her two friends and her sister.
“See you soon, and have an amazing time,” she said, taking Razor’s outstretched hand.
“I’m proud of you,” he said when they walked in his front door.
“I hate lying.”
Razor stood in front of her, with his hands on her shoulders. “You didn’t.”
“I feel like I did.”
“Let’s go run it out of your system.”
When they got to the mile mark, Razor asked Ava if she was ready to turn back.
“Only if you are,” she said, and then kept going without waiting for him to respond.
At the next mile mark, he asked again if she wanted to head back, and again she said she didn’t.
“How far do you usually run?” he asked.
“Between ten and eleven miles, typically. But when I’m training, I’ll do a long run every week or ten days.”
“Marathon runner, eh?”
“It’s my stress relief.”
“I hear ya.”
Razor didn’t ask about turning around again until they hit the five-mile mark, and by then, she was willing.
“Taking pity on me?” he asked.
“Why do I think you could outrun me any day of the week?” she said.
When they got back to the house, Razor collapsed on a deck chair while Ava stretched.
“I need water. Can I get you some?” she asked.
“I can get it,” he said.
Before he could stand, she pushed him back into the chair.
“Rest, old man.”
“We’re back to that now, are we?” he laughed.