Chapter 11

Carter

I've started a new workout routine in hopes of pushing Ava out of my thoughts. So far all I've gotten is more muscle mass. I've been at the gym every morning before work, punishing myself when I think about her. Maverick hasn't been any help, fucker. He's been turning on World Cup when I get home and forcing me to watch the one thing that makes me think about her. One day I left to go for a run, and when I came back he'd recorded it and was watching it again.

"You're an asshole!" I barked as I grabbed a water out of the fridge.

"Maybe, but I want you to be happy, and right now this ain't it." He sighed. "Take her on a date. Fuck the rules, and get her out of your system." He stood and turned the TV off. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe the only reason you want her is because you can't have her? She might not be as perfect as you think. She's just off limits, and that makes you want her more."

"Maybe." I took a giant gulp. "But what if that's not it? What if I ask her out and it's amazing, or what if she says no?" I closed my eyes. I was miserable.

"I've seen the way she looks at you. She is not going to say no." He laughed. "Think about it." I started pacing, and the frustration built.

"Fuck this," I muttered as I turned and left the apartment once more. I put my earbuds in and jogged toward the beach. This sucked so bad, but apparently I wasn't tired enough because she still plagued me.

When I got to the beach, I turned and began running along the rocks. I didn't really have a goal in mind, I just needed to forget. I needed to be tired enough that she didn't fill my thoughts at every waking moment. I'd probably gone about a mile when I discovered that the universe must really hate me. A few yards ahead, there she was… stretching in the sand. Her back was to me, but I knew it was her. The black leggings and matching sports bra fit her perfect form like a glove.

I slowed to a walk, then leaned over and placed my hands on my knees. I was winded, and coming to the realization that this plan was not working. She must have sensed that someone was behind her because she slowly glanced over her shoulder.

"Hey." I waved awkwardly.

She smiled. "Hey. What are you doing here?" She must have realized that her question was kinda dumb because she blushed and shook her head. "That was stupid. You're running. Wait… you're a runner?" She stood and faced me.

"Not really." I began stretching so my legs wouldn't cramp up. "Just trying to stay in shape." Her eyes began to travel over my naked chest. I'd almost forgotten that I was just dressed in shorts.

"Can I run with you? My partner had class this morning and couldn't come down with me." She seemed embarrassed to ask. "I'm kinda slow still, but it's easier to have someone with you."

I closed my eyes and told myself this was a terrible idea, but my mouth didn't get the message. "Sure," came sliding from my lips as my stomach sank and reality slapped me across the face. I was out here to escape her, and my stupid self just agreed to let her tag along.

"Great." She smiled as she leaned down to touch her toes. Her perfect ass was pointed right at me. My dick stirred and I shifted my weight to try and hide what was happening. "All set." She stood and started a slow jog. "If I go too slow for you, just go on without me," she explained before speeding up.

If I hadn't already run three miles this morning, this might have been too slow, but my tired body was happy for the reprieve. We ran in silence, only glancing at each other every so often until we'd made it to the public parking lot two miles down the beach. Ava slowed down, and then began walking. "This is where I've been stopping. I walk back. My leg still aches so I don't want to push too hard." She turned, placed her palms on top of her head, and slowed her breathing. "You can keep going if you want."

"I'm good." The truth was, I was dying. I would never tell her that, though. Being near her like this was both soothing and painful at the same time. At this very moment, I wanted to ask her to come back to my place. I wanted to strip her down, and pull her into the shower. I wanted to lick every inch of her body and make her cry out in ecstasy. I wanted to forget that rules existed, and spend the next week experimenting on how many ways I could I please her.

I needed to stop. I was going to take her right here on the beach if I didn't. "Do you run here often? I've never seen you." She broke into my thoughts.

"Pretty much. I come out early, though." I refused to look over at her. I needed to keep it together.

"Like when?"

"Like 4am usually." I shrugged as she gasped. "I have to be at work by seven-thirty. Between the run, and showering, I have to get started early." It didn't seem like a big deal to me. "Didn't you have to be up early during the season?"

"Not that early." She giggled. "Seven was early for me. Ashley would never make it on time if we had to get up before four."

"It was hard at first, but you get used to it after a while. I have a hard time sleeping in on the days when I can." I laughed as I thought about it. Maverick was always teasing me. He claimed I was part robot since I never rested.

"Did you play a sport in school?" She glanced over and then back toward the water.

"Not formally, no. I play golf, and when I was a student I did a lot of intermural sports." I added. I hadn't been to the gym in months. I'd probably suck if I tried it now.

"Really?" Her face lit up and she stumbled slightly.

"Work kinda took over after graduation. I don't do a lot of things I used to." I sighed. I could probably do a lot more, I'd just kinda let work take over. I went in early, stayed late, and then spent the rest of my day trying to not think about Ava Slone. The fact that we were working out together and talking like this shows you how well that was working out.

"This is nice." Her voice squeaked and when I glanced over, I could see the blush of her cheeks spreading down her neck. "I mean" —she started waving her hands around as if she was flustered and couldn't get her point across— "People always want something from me. It's nice to be around someone who doesn't. You know?"

I nodded. The truth was, I did want something from her… her. The fact that she trusted me with her feelings told me that I couldn't ask for it right now.

"This was fun." She paused in front of the steps that led over the dunes. "You wanna be my workout buddy?" She bit her lip as she looked up at me. The sun was blinding, and created a golden halo of sorts around her. "I mean, I'm not really into the 4am stuff, but you make a good running partner, and you know when to push me." Her head tipped. "Maybe we could even be friends. I don't have a lot of those."

"Yeah, right. You're Ava Slone… one of the most popular girls at school." I rolled my eyes.

"There are a lot of people on campus who want to be friends. They don't know me. They know the girl on the field. I don't always want to be that girl. Sometimes I just want to be plain old Ava, not Ava the soccer star." She seemed a little dejected and I felt bad about my jab.

"Ok, friends." I held my hand out. I was going to regret this. I'd be rubbing one out every day at this rate because I was going to be close to her all the time. It was hard enough with the twice a week appointments, but I just agreed to spend the off days with her, too. I was going to hell, for sure. "I need to get cleaned up to go to work. I'll see you tomorrow." I waved as I jogged towards the stairs. I needed to get away from her. My entire body was on fire and she was the only thing that could put it out, and after her confession, I knew now more than ever that I could never ask that of her. She wasn't the girl I thought she was, and she was trusting me to be a nice guy, and right now I was anything but that. I was just like everyone else. I wanted something from her, and I knew now I'd never get it.