Page 69 of Running
“He’s also really kind though, too. Values his family. He’s honest and emotionally open. Great at making me feel like I can be myself, I guess is how I would put it?”
Our food arrives then, and the server sets our salads in front of us. “I love him already. He sounds incredible.”
“Yeah.” I pour the dressing over my plate. “It’s new, so I don’t want to get my hopes up too much.”
“I get that.”
“But speaking of books,” I add, wanting to lighten the conversation a bit. “He asked me what tropes I liked the other day, ha! Apparently his sister exposed him to the romance book world.”
“That’s so funny,” she responds, picking at her salad with her fork. “What did you answer?”
“Well, I didn’t. Yet. And somehow I managed to confess I wanted to try new stuff with him,” my voice drops to a whisper. “You know, physically. He’s—he’s a lot more experienced than me, and he said he would like that.”
She pauses her hand and starts smiling. “Oh my god, that sounds kind of hot. And I bet he’s going to love exploring what you’re into. At least if he’s a man worthy of you.” She sets the forkdown. “Are you comfortable sharing what you want to try with him yet? Don’t feel pressured.”
I sit with the question for a moment. And I find I don’t have any anxiety over telling Johnson what I’m curious about doing. Over being intimate with him physically and otherwise. Like everything else about our new situation—I’mexcitednow.
“Look at that smile on your face,” she teases. “I think that’s my answer.”
“Yes, I’m comfortable. He’s so genuine about his feelings for me, and he did say he ‘wanted to know all things Grace Battle’ when we’re talking about this.”
She twirls the fork in her hand, a mischievous look coming back over her expression. “Do you want to text him now?”
I giggle again. The mimosa is swirling around inside me, lowering my inhibitions.
“I’m going to do it,” I whisper. I open up my phone’s Notes app and type up several things under the header “My Wish List.” As soon as I’m done, I hit the share button and send it to Johnson.
“Oh goodness.” She laughs once I confirm I did it. “You’ll have to keep me posted on what happens.”
I feel a blush come to my cheeks as my more rational side starts to kick back in.
I’m in it now.Catching up, indeed.
CHAPTER 22
Johnson
After she leaves Monday night, reality takes a minute to sink in.
Holy shit.
I’m dating Grace Battle.
The whole situation is so loaded. Ireallylike her, and I can’t believe I get a shot at this. I want it to work out, badly.
Despite the landmine of my friendship with Landon, and by extension, the team.
She’s so muchmorethan her normal reserved nature lets out in the world. Seeing her reveal more of herself, her wit and her desires, as I build up her trust, makes me even more excited to have our relationship move forward.
My mixed feelings about exploring our connection are less pronounced now that I’ve given myself permission to take the risk of not telling Landon at first.
We’ll share with him when the time is right and figure out how to smooth it over then.
Either way, it’s a short week for our second game, so I can’t dwell too hard on anything except playing football. We’re scheduled for the Thursday night feature game, and it’s away, so we also have to travel.
Except as I head to the locker room after lunch on Tuesday, I get a text.Thetext.
GRACE: Link: “My Wish List” shared from Notes
