Midnight Run

Chapter Fourteen

Kingston was running late; he'd stayed at the office past ten, and he'd barely managed to grab a bite to eat before it was time to head over to the park. For a moment, he considered skipping the run, but he was tense and wound up, and he knew the only thing that would do him any good was slipping on his shoes and pounding the pavement. When he got to the park, however, he realized he was a few minutes late, and he started jogging the usual route, hoping he'd catch up with everybody.

He hadn't seen either Nora or PB in a few days, and even though he tried to tell himself to focus on just one girl, his heart jumped into his throat when he spotted Nora's ponytail bobbing near the back of the group. He pulled up alongside her and gave her a smile, and the grin that spread across her face was a warmer welcome than he'd expected.

Although he loved running with a group, he usually tuned out the other runners around him, letting the collective energy help propel him along when he got tired without stopping to notice the sounds of his running buddies. But for some reason, Kingston was acutely aware of Nora that night. He tuned into her without even trying, noticing that her breathing was a little uneven. For a moment, he considered slowing his pace in case she was trying to match his long strides, but then he realized that would look like he was more focused on her than on the run, and he didn't want her to think that.

Even if it's the truth.

As they ran, his thoughts swirled around, and he tried to make sense of the strange double attraction he was feeling. With PB, it had been an instant jolt; the moment she looked up at him with those big brown eyes, apologizing for jabbing him with her mop, he was a goner. But with Nora, his attraction had started slower; he wasn't even sure what color her eyes were, since he'd only ever seen her in the darkness. But still, he felt an undeniable pull to her every time he saw her, and running beside her was just making that feeling stronger. It's probably just because she reminds me of PB, he told himself as they finished the final lap of their run and started to cool down.

Still, he couldn't deny that there was something comfortable about her that made it easy to be himself. He wasn't naturally shy, but he'd never really known how to talk to women when he was interested in them. For some reason, he didn't seem to have any problem with Nora. Now if only I were brave enough to talk to PB!

"Where're you from, hon?" He asked Nora as they stretched out.

"Near Philadelphia," she told him, bending effortlessly toward her extended foot. "What about you? Texas, right?"

He grinned. "Born and bred with a Stetson on my head!" The words sounded corny, and he winced, but her giggle set him at ease again.

"You don't look like a cowboy," she commented, sizing him up.

He pretended to be offended. "What, cowboys can't wear running tights?"

Was he imagining it, or did her gaze linger on his legs a moment longer than necessary? Feeling an initial stirring of desire, he shifted uncomfortably and tried to keep his mind on stretching out his tired muscles. He was so distracted he almost missed what she said, but then he realized she'd asked if he had a girlfriend.

Should I tell her? He debated for a moment. He wasn't always sure how to talk to women, but growing up with Raye had taught him one thing; if he told Nora he was interested in somebody else, he might as well say goodbye to the glimmers of attraction he'd been feeling around her; no girl wanted to be somebody's second choice. But as charming as Nora was, he wasn't ready to give up on the fantasy of PB yet.

Taking he deep breath, he said, "Actually, there is somebody."

As soon as the words were out, his stomach clenched, and Kingston wondered if he'd made the wrong choice, but he pressed on, oblivious of the effect his words had on Nora.

She laughed when he said she reminded him of PB, and her next words gave him a surge of confidence. "If it were me, I'd date you," she said with a smile.

For a moment, Kingston considered forgetting all about PB and going for the beautiful girl sitting on the ground in front of him, and time froze while he pondered on the best way to tell her. But just as he was about to open his mouth, he thought of his sister and her boys, and he clicked his teeth shut. Sometimes, he told himself, a fantasy is safer than going after something in reality.

As he waved goodnight to Nora, his heart was heavy because he'd realized that no matter how attracted he was to either woman, he wasn't likely to make a move. He hadn't known that the mess with Rachel and Mark was holding him back, but as he turned the key and entered his empty apartment, he realized that he wasn't so sure he believed in fairy tales anymore.