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Shit!

My stomach claws its way upto be sick I feel like I’round and my eyes widen as my pulse instantly skyrockets I want to run, but I reize, but I’m at least thirty feet away from him I clamp my mouth shut I’m embarrassed, yet at the same ti at , full lips break out into a cocky sht about him Under my cheeks, my blood burns Not ant, but with embarrassment and I hate it I look down to my white sneakers Maybe I’ll start with the treadmills today I force myself one foot in front of the other over to the treadmills that sit side by side I crank up the speed of the treadins to ot to warm up Beeps sound off on the treadmill next to me

"Hey, Olly"

It’s my Dad I shouldn’t be too surprised to run into hiroan Dad and I have had a bit of a bumpy road since I moved out The only tiuilt trip ets to run around the world unbothered by our parents because he’s serving our country God forbid I do so for myself

I slow my machine down to a brisk pace to match his I hateas I can reet aith it

Seeing Dad thisis a little bit of a shock He’s been absent froy things "Dad? I haven’t seen you around the gyh to come home and check on me?"

I roll my eyes as he lifts off his bowlers cap with one hand and scratches his flat, grey hair with the other He knew very well that if I so much as point one toe in the direction of the house, I’ll never be allowed to leave

"I’ve been busy visiting your Aunt Kate" He inforave birth to a baby boy yesterday He has my nose"

"Poor kid," I joke, unable to contain a snicker

"Yeah, yeah, you’re hilarious, I get it"

I s with you?" He asks

I groan and flickponytail over ht He left ain"

Dad shakes his head "I told you he was bad news That kid has no respect I kneas an ungrateful prick the moment I laid eyes on him" He places a soft hand on top of irl and if ood word for you"

I laugh "It’s the thought that counts" I look beyond Dad and the stranger is back to punching his bag His hard pecs contract every tiue slowly over his erect nipples What is wrong withuy with the muscles?" He faces me and I nod "You really don’t knoho he is?"

"Am I supposed to?"

"It’s Seth Marc," Jesus, even his name makes my insides reat MMA fighter--or at least he was"

I arch an eyebrow

"The guy was so close to going pro when he turned twenty one He competed in an amateur MMA comp, but he dropped out seconds before the cha to do with family drah "Honestly, I don’t go on the internet h co tournaet into the pros" Dad turns off his treado, kid I’ll talk to ya later"

Before he walks completely away, he turns abruptly "Co me She wants to see you more often"

I nod "I’ll see what I can do"