"If you love two people at the same time, choose the second one because if you really loved the first one you wouldn't have fallen for the second one."
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"You don't have to come with me," I said to Monty as we stood by the trailhead.
"It's fine, and besides, I'm getting older, so I need to exercise more," he replied, a teasing lilt in his voice.
"Who am I talking to right now?" I joked, letting out a laugh.
He raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "How about I meet you at the end of the trail? Or I could stay here until you get back and do some standing exercises?"
I could practically hear the sarcasm in his tone, which only made me chuckle more.
"Okay, fine. I'll take my chances," I replied, playfully rolling my eyes. "See you when I get back!"
Monty laughed, hands on his hips, and for a moment, the banter lightened my mood. The early morning air was fresh and invigorating, and I felt a wave of determination wash over me as I took my first step down the trail.
This morning, I had woken up early, throwing on my workout clothes and gearing up for a jog at the park near Escala. But of course, Monty must've already known what I had planned because he was waiting by the front door in his own workout gear.
Putting my headphones in, I started my music and began my run. It was still early, and the park was mostly quiet, with just a few other women scattered along the path. I could only assume the rest of Chicago was busy getting ready for work, rushing to grab coffee and tackle the morning madness.
I glanced to my right, taking in the view of the skyline against the clear blue sky, and couldn't help but feel grateful for how beautiful of a day it was. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over everything. Thanking God for this beautiful sunny morning! I continued to run faster, getting lost in the rhythm of the music. Each beat pushed me forward, blending with the sound of my breath and the soft crunch of gravel beneath my feet. It felt freeing, like I was escaping not just the city but also the weight of everything else on my mind.
Turning my head away from the water, I screamed when I saw a biker racing my way, damn near hitting me before I dove out of the way, banging my knee against the cold, wet pavement.
"Shit!" I hissed, feeling my knee throb in excruciating pain.
"Are you okay?" I heard a deep voice ask.
I slowly sat up and examined my now bloody knee, pushing some loose curls out of my face. "Fucking dumbass. Aria, are you okay?"
"It was my fault. I wasn't watching where I was going." I looked up and immediately froze, gazing into the most intense gray eyes I had ever seen.
He held my stare, concern flickering across his features. "You should be more careful," he said, his voice low and steady.
I felt a mix of embarrassment and something electric as he slid his gaze to my knee, now bruised and scraped. "That looks painful," he added, genuine worry lacing his tone.
