He tenses his jaw like he wants to say something but doesn’t. He leans over and gives me a swift kiss on the cheek while I lean against the door. “Night Leah.” The door to my apartment opens and I stumble back as Ally holds the door open. “Jeez Al!”
“Oops sorry Leah, didn’t know you were out there,” she says guiltily.
I snort out a laugh, “Bullshit Ally. You’ve probably had your ear up to that door the whole time.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help myself. ‘Can’t wait to hang out again soon’,” she says with air quotes in a sarcastic tone. “Really Leah you’re going to be just friends with Chase? He is freaking sex on a stick, not to mention a sweetheart.”
“Al I just don’t need that right now but he’s fun to hang out with when I have the time. Besides he said he was interested in someone.” Even though I definitely wouldn’t mind breaking my no dating rule for Chase. I mean wow one little peck from him and my insides all turn to mush.
“Well you could always just spend that time having wild crazy sex with him instead. And really Leah I don’t see him as the player type, if he’s interested in anyone it’s you.” She says as she follows me into my room. I pull my wet bikini out and throw it into my overflowing hamper. Ally raises an eyebrow at me. “What did you need that for?”
“Oh Chase took me to this place that has their own individual hot tubs, it was pretty cool.”
“Trust me I know exactly where you’re talking about. Me and Skylar have been there a few times,” she looks at me with a sly grin on her face, “but we don’t need bathing suits.”
“Ew Ally! I’m glad they use plenty of chlorine. Thanks for that mental image.”
“Well I think Chase probably had the same idea.”
“Whatever Ally,” I say as I push her towards the door. “He was a perfect gentleman and we are just friends. Now GOODNIGHT.” I emphasize.
“Sweet dreams, I know who they’ll be about.” She says with a wave as she skips out the door.
The next two days consisted of work and school. I ran into Chase a few times in the hallway as one of us was either going in or out and we would stop to exchange a few words before heading our respective ways. On Wednesday I had a break in between classes and work so I ran home and changed into a pair of black yoga pants and a loose fitting t-shirt so I could do some laundry and hit the gym that I still hadn’t made it to. I didn’t bother to pick Caleb up because I would just end up having to turn right back around to drop him off and that would probably not go over very well with the little man.
After sorting my clothes into two washers and starting them up, I head into the small gym that’s attached to the laundry room. It consists of two treadmills, some weights and an exercise bike with a TV mounted in the corner.
I start up one of the treadmills and set a timer so I could switch my laundry over. Some reality show was playing and since I hadn’t since any of this season I crank the volume up, no one else was there to be offended by the crazy antics of the show. I start off at a brisk walk and slowly work up to a light jog. Phew I was really out of shape.
Back home I wasn’t really involved in any extracurricular activities besides the ones Ally dragged me to like save the earth or homeless shelters but I had always enjoyed running. Sometimes it was my only escape from the bullshit life dealt out, plus Caleb didn’t mind going for a ride in the jogging stroller I picked up at a garage sale for a steal. I hadn’t gotten much of a chance to do it since moving here but I really needed to fit it into my schedule, I could already feel some of the stress from school lifting off my shoulders.
My timer went off and I slowed down on the treadmill, dabbing at the sweat that had accumulated from my work out. I went back into the laundry room and switched out my clothes into the dryer. I took some change out of my laundry quarters and grabbed a water out of the vending machines and took a long swig. I head back towards the gym to run some more while my laundry was drying.
“Hey Leah,” I heard as I rounded the corner back into the gym. There was Chase in a pair of black athletic shorts and nothing else sprawled out on the bench with the weights. I could get used to this view while working out.
“Hey Chase, how have you been?” I ask as I start my treadmill back up. I reach over and grab the remote to turn the TV down.
He pauses as he sets his weights down and takes a break. I can already see a light gleam of sweat running across his abs. I feel my tongue dart out before I quickly tuck it back into my gaping mouth. Chase might be a little shocked if I start licking all that up for him.
“I’m good, just ran down here to get a quick workout in. I’ve really been slacking lately.”