page10 (2/2)

"I expect you to be by et a bird's eye viehat it's like to be a professional athlete I figure you can drive my car behind ym for me"

I expect her to balk at this She's going to be bored to tears watching me work out every day, and the sry with her stands up and claps over my deviousness

Instead, she surprises me "Do you mind if I run with you?"

"Not at all"

"And can I use the gym facilities where you work out?"

"Sure I'll get you afacility in Tarrytown, New York the players can use but I prefer just going to a local gyo to Tarrytown once I'et back on the ice and that won't be for a feeeks"

She goes back to scrubbing the pan and I just watch her lasses There is so about a smart woman that does me in I mean, I know Ever is slasses, let's just say she could bethose lines Ever wouldn't givewhat she does about my bachelor lifestyle Particularly the way I threw it in her face about fucking Brenda that nighthard I have no clue what possessed me to say that, but I didn't miss the way her nostrils flared when I said it I have no clue whether that was disgust or desire, but it was certainly a reaction

After she finishes cleaning, we both decide to get the run out of the way She's changed into a pair of shorts and a sports top that molds nicely to her curves I can tell by the quality of her shoes that she's not a novice runner Her hair is braided down her back and I hate to adet her sweat on

We take off and run cohborhood near my condo I have to shorten my strides up a bit so she can keep up but I don'tcos to her as we run but I don't waste precious oxygen on talk

Just as we are starting our fourth mile, Ever stumbles beside me and starts to limp

"Ouchouchouch"

"What's wrong?" I keep running in place to keep my heart rate up

"I have a charley horse" She lie her calf "I'o finish your run and I'll meet

you back at the condo"

I think about finishing on my own but she looks to be in some serious pain Instead, I walk over to her and sweep her up in ives a half startled yelp but then ain

Laying her on the grass of so in ht isn't about her injury but rather that her skin is as soft as it looks She lays back and drapes her arm across her forehead I can see the e it

"Daroans

"I know Just bear with et it worked out"

"I can't believe this happened I've never cramped up like that before"

I can feel the knot loosening but I continue to work at it, going a little harder the more pliable it becoh

"How often to do you normally run?"

She leans up on her elbows to watchme with interest "I usually run five times a week but only about three miles But I know I can do five I used to run cross country in high school"

"Maybe you're a little dehydrated Do you think you can stand and stretch it out a bit?"

She nods at ht on it and seems to do okay She takes a moment and stretches the calf, and I use the opportunity to admire her ot a natural grace about her I would actually peg her as some sort of dancer Her actions are fluid and ti that sort of ethereal beauty that I've come to recently appreciate

"I'ood," she says as she steps out onto the road "I think we can head back I can probably even run it"

"No way Not taking a chance of you craain We'll just walk it"

We're silent for several minutes as alk back tothrough the various exercises I'll be doing today at the gym when her soft voice cuts in