The Rules We Defy

Chapter 9

I hesitate. The trail goes deep into the woods and nobody seems to be on it. I normally would play it safe and insist we run on the track instead, but there’s something about the way Dominic looks at me that makes me feel like I can trust him. I don’t know what it is.

“If you don’t want to go on the trail, we can go back to the track,” he says, keeping hold of my hand. “Or we can drive into town and run there.”

“It’s okay. We won’t be in there very long. I’ll race you.” I rip my hand away and take off, running as fast as I can.

“s**t!” I hear him yell. “Jessica, wait!”

I keep running, the warm breeze rushing past me. The soft ground feels good under my feet, much better than the hard surface of the track. I hear Dominic behind me, racing to catch up. After about 2 miles, I slow down. “Had enough yet?” I take a seat on a fallen log on the side of the trail.

His face is dripping with sweat. “That’s it,” he says, trying to catch his breath. “You’re going on my turf next.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Pool,” he says as his breathing returns to normal. “You and me. In the pool. Tomorrow night.”

“I’m not a swimmer.”

“You don’t know how to swim?”

“Of course I know how to swim. I’m just not a swimmer.”

“I’m not a runner and I’ve raced you twice now.”

“I can’t beat you in swimming. I swim for fun. I’m not very fast.”

“So you’re afraid to try?” He stands in front of me, arms crossed over his chest. “Afraid of a little competition?”

“All right. You’re on. Tomorrow night.” I agree more because I want to see him in swim trunks than because of the challenge. “Wait. I can’t. I don’t have a swimsuit.”

“They have extra suits in the girls’ locker room. Got any other excuses? Like you don’t want to get your hair wet or have your mascara run?”

I get up and punch him hard in the arm. “You just earned yourself another mile, jackass.” I take off down the trail. When I stop and turn around, I find him running a slow jog.

“You gave up awfully fast,” I say joining up with him.

“We can go back now. I think you’ve had enough.”

“Thank, God. Give me a minute to stretch.” He leans against a tree to stretch his calves then does some quad stretches.

“Done yet?” I ask, pretending to be annoyed. He smiles and comes up right in front of me, so close we’re almost touching.

“You know what, Jessica?”

“What?” Having him this close to me makes my heart pump even faster than when I was running.

“I like you. I really like you.”