THRUST

Chapter Twelve

BRIGGS POV

After forty two minutes of my feet pounding the pavement through the dark, I press the volume up and kick it up a notch to best my time.

Faster and faster, I stretch each leg, pressing and pushing off the pavement below. As my breaths become harder and harder with each stride, I try to steady my breathing until I'm fully exerted.

My watch glows on my wrist, indicating my pace and distance and when I hit five miles it takes everything I've got not to stop right there and bend over to catch my breath, but I keep with it, gradually slowing my pace... cooling down until I come to a light jog, nearing Jess's street.

Rounding the curve, the light from the front porch comes into my view and when I get closer, I see Bella's car still in the driveway, which is odd, because Jess's is gone.

There's only one reason why she's still there, unless she's locked out or something. By the way she was watching me earlier, I'm gonna go ahead and scratch that off the list.

Walking up the driveway, my heart's still pounding, my legs feel a little wonky, and my fluids are still vibrating from the long session... but fresh off a run, I feel good.

Endorphins... I love the high I get from a workout. It feels so damn good. A good run can always put things into perspective for me, keeping me focused and sure.

I glance at my watch which reads 9:45 and I'm relieved that I've still got a little bit before I need to be back to the table at The Clubhouse.

When I reach the stairs I'm still breathing a little heavily. As the door opens, she's right there.

I look at her and nod... pulling the buds from my ears, letting them drape around my neck.

"Hey." I say to her as I pass, walking to the kitchen.

"Hey." Her voice rings as she follows behind me.

I go to the sink and wet a few paper towels, turning back around, wiping my face, neck... chest.

When I look up, she's frozen. Staring.

I know that feeling.

I put the cold paper towels to the back of my neck. "So what are you still doing here?"

Her eyes scan over me and then she looks over to the counter. "I thought I'd make a good post workout snack."

I smile at her, because she's right. She would.

"Oh god, I mean..." She palms her forehead and then points to the counter beside the fridge and keeps talking, "I meant to say that I made you a snack."

I tell her, "I know what you meant," smiling at her while she rolls her eyes.

When I walk over to the paper plate she's left me, there's blocks of cheddar cheese and I think pepper jack cheese that are all stacked in pyramids. Some blueberries are beside slices of apple and she's shaped it like a flower with a huge glob of peanut butter in the center. I feel like I'm in kindergarten. I didn't even know we had this much shit in the fridge.

"Nice," I say, grabbing a slice and dipping it in. "You even shaped it like a pretty little flower for me?" I grab my chest, smiling at her.

"Hey... stop making fun, I was trying to be nice."

"I'm not makin' fun, girl. I wish I could come home to this every day. And I love peanut butter. Thank you."

She smiles while I make a mess of the peanut butter on the plate.

I devour a few slices of apple while she just stands there smiling. She's got a great smile. It lights up her whole face and it's contagious. It's a nice change from my harsh days and nights.