13. Cute Feisty Little Monkey

THIRTEEN

CUTE FEISTY LITTLE MONKEY

Ojitos Lindos, Bad Bunny I must be a masochist because I want to hear all of them knowing I can’t do anything about it. Instead of running, I want to find out what else I could do so she would make those sounds for me. Her eyes are closed, and she’s enjoying every single bite without looking my way. I just stand there, staring at her and taking it all in. It’s ridiculous how much I enjoy being in her presence regardless of how little we talk or how murderous she looks every time I bring up the race.

Round two is this weekend, and she hasn't talked to me about it. Actually, she hasn't talked to me about much at all. I know she isn't quiet; she has no issue telling me how it is when she's mad or annoyed. But I don't think Roe opens up about her personal life easily, especially after the way she reacted when I mentioned her mom. I'm fine with the silence; I have no problem spending time with her until she's ready to give me a chance. To let me in. Why, I'm not sure...but there's something about her that I can't put my finger on. It goes beyond the way she looks—don't get me wrong, she's perfect. I keep thinking about our kiss from the night we met. I can't stop the way my body reacts to even the smallest of touches from her, or the zing of electricity that races through me whenever her eyes meet mine. It's as if my soul is drawn to hers; magnetic, she's absolutely magnetic.

“Ready?” I say, snapping out of whatever spell she has me under.

“Can we change the routine today?” she asks.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Let’s go lift weights today,” she suggests, taking the trash from breakfast and throwing it in the bin next to me. Her lavender scent lingers in the air after she walks away.

“I didn’t know you lifted,” I say, utterly confused.

“Ha, I don’t! But I was watching all of these routines that riders have before races, and they all lift so I want to try that.”

“Roe, you don’t start a new workout routine days before a race. If anything, we should take things slower today and rest tomorrow.”

“Easy for you to say; you placed in the top three. I didn’t. I need to do everything I can to match you guys,” she adds, putting her hands on her hips and looking at me with those piercing blue eyes.

“Lifting weights is not going to help you this close to the race. It will hinder you.”

“Or are you hindering me? Are you purposefully holding me back so I don’t beat you this weekend?” she fires back. “You know what? Forget it, I’ll go by myself. Have a good day.” She walks toward the door, opens it, and leaves the house with me inside.

I run out behind her. I’ve been doing the same thing every day this week, chasing her like a damn shot of whiskey.

“Roe!” I shout. She doesn’t slow down so I just speed up to catch her.

“For someone who hates being called princesa, you sure act like one at every single inconvenience.”

“You made it clear you’re not helping. Go away, Saint,” she snaps, slowing down her pace.

“You don’t mean that,” I snap back. “I’m trying to help you. To protect you. To protect your body.”

She stops dead in her tracks before saying, “You don’t need to protect me. I’m a big girl. It’s been a pleasure, now if you will, leave me alone.” She glares at me and I see the turmoil behind her eyes but before I can say anything else, she turns and runs.

What am I supposed to do? Take her no for an answer and not chase her? Let her try something she’s never done by herself days before the race? Why am I even worrying about this girl? Because I can ’ t pull myself away, that ’ s why. I’ll follow her wherever she goes—even if it means running after her when she doesn’t want me to.

I fall into an even pace next to her and we walk into the gym together. The gym is empty and the lights are dimmed. The darkness outside gives the entrance an eerie look. In the time that it takes me to fill the paperwork and pay the drop-in fee, she walks to the back and immediately starts lifting five-pound weights with each hand while bobbing her head. There’s soft music playing in the background, but it doesn’t seem to be what she’s listening to. Earbuds for sure .

Walking to the back of the gym, I decide to do some lat pull-downs. Adjusting the weights before sitting, I realize this gives me a perfect view of Roe as she continues her work with the free weights. Before I can even start, she racks her weights and moves to the pull-up bar. I inwardly snort as I realize she's too short to reach the bar, and I wonder what her plan will be. Can she even do a pull-up? Roe stands beneath the bar, hands on her hips and she scans the room, surely trying to find something to use as leverage to grab the bar. With her hair braided back, I get a clear view of her pouty lips when she can't figure it out. I think she's going to let it go, but I'm surprised when she walks toward me with determined steps and an ever-present eye roll.

She taps her earbud when she’s standing in front of me. “Since you’re here already, why don’t you come help me?” I can tell that she struggles to ask for help so the fact that she did, even after she told me not to come with her, makes me want to smile. Big. I couldn’t stop the grin from spreading if I tried.

“Cocky asshole,” she snaps, walking back toward the bar.

Roe stands beneath the bar, glaring at me and huffing like a toddler. I can’t erase the smile from my lips because I just realized this girl is the challenge I want to take. The electricity pulses between us; I know she feels it too. I want to explore the charge; see where this could lead, or if it’s simply crazy sexual tension that will disappear after one night. Either way, I want to find out. She wants to act tough and uninterested? Game on, princesa.

I put my hands on her small waist and lift her up so she can reach the bar. She grabs it with both hands and I let go, leaving her dangling. She looks up and makes an effort to pull herself up, doing two reps before she lets go and hits the floor. I can see how frustrated she is right now, and I get it. Pull-ups are hard and it takes time to learn to do them right. She’s strong, though. She managed to pull herself up twice even with poor form.

“Again,” she says in an assertive tone.

“Sí, princesa? 1 ,” I reply, grabbing her waist again and lifting her above my shoulders toward the bar.

She grabs the bar with determination, but after she attempts to do one and fails, she lets go and drops down with a huff. Her skin is flushed, both from pushing herself and from frustration. Now it’s my turn to say, “Again,” as I help her back up. This time I jump up, grabbing the bar outside of her hands and facing her.

“What are you doing?” she asks, her breath minty and warm right against my lips. We are so close, and her eyes are practically sparkling. She has tiny flecks of gold and silver in the light blue of her eyes that I can see perfectly now.

“Helping you. Wrap your legs around me,” I command and she rolls her eyes. Brat. “I have all day, Roe. I can hang for as long as I want, but I don’t know how long you can last. Wrap. Your. Legs. Around. Me. NOW!” I demand again and this time she does. It’s scary how perfectly her body fits against mine. I get goosebumps up my back as her legs tighten around me and her face hovers close to mine.

“Now, engage your core and use your back muscles too. Let’s do it together.”

She starts pulling herself up and I help by giving her a small boost while I do a pull-up myself. I try to not assist her too much so she can still feel the burn, like she is doing most of the work, while providing the support she needs so she can learn this movement. Our bodies are covered in sweat now; her skin is glowing with tiny drops, leaving a trail down her neck and getting lost in her sports bra. I bring my eyes back up to her face and realize that her eyes are closed, her long full lashes brushing against her cheeks.

“Two more,” I urge, continuing to pull us up, both of our chins clearing the bar. She lets out an exasperated sound on our last one before dropping her hands from the bar and draping her whole body around me, like a little monkey. A cute, feisty little monkey.

I drop from the bar, bringing my hands under her ass to support her as she whispers a soft thank you against my ears. She pushes slightly against me, looking at me with an emotion I can’t pinpoint.

“You’re so strong, princesa, but it takes time to learn some of these things. I can teach you if you’re interested but not right before a big race, okay?” A glint of pride shows in her face, and she nods before dropping her head back to the crook of my neck. She fits perfectly right here in my arms, our bodies molded to one another and completely in sync. She has shown so much aversion to me touching her that this catches me off guard.

Outside, the sky is radiant as swirls of purple, blue, and pink dance with the clouds. The soft morning sun illuminates the road and the gym, chasing away the eeriness from before. “Are you ready to go back?” I ask her and she just nods. I hook my hands together under her, and walk us back to her house in silence, with her fast asleep in my arms.

1 ? Sí, princesa: Yes, princess