Semper Fi: Always there for you.

2. Running

"Hey! Hey!!!"

Cal was running, half way of his morning 8 miles jogging, lost in thoughts as usual. Running was supposed to keep his mind clear but all he could do was hearing the wheels turning, over and over and over.
His life, mix of bad choices and bad luck... Real fun...

"Hey! Chris, wait!"

He was startled at his first name. No fucking body had used it for decades.
He glanced to the side to find someone getting up to him.

The girl from the bar, Jessica.
He hadn't seen her since their first weird encounter few days ago, but hadn't forgotten the slightest thing about her.

"Oh Jess, hi!" He slowed down, curious as to what she wanted from him.

"No please, keep on running!" She kept her pace, jogging along with him.
"I was waiting for you" she breathed out rhythmically. "I was wondering if I could run with you for a bit. I'm not quite used to it, and I'm afraid I won't last more than 5 minutes before I give up. I thought it would be easier if I had some company."

He looked at her with a curious expression on his face, so curious she first thought he just wanted to be left alone. He was not. He had had enough time alone, enough to hate the useless failure of a man he'd been.
He was, instead, surprised to deserve anyone's attention. He'd been convinced he wasn't worth it, barely tolerated by his own brothers.

"If you don't mind, of course. I don't want to bother you..." She hesitated. Maybe she'd gone too far, too fast...

"Naah, I'm glad I've someone to run with. I was fed up with my own self. I surely would appreciate good company."
He didn't dare to add she looked gorgeous in this sportswear. Fitting. The right curves in the right places. She's thin, long thighs, generous bust bouncing with every step she made. Cal tried not to let his mind go wild, those boobs stuck in a tight tank top would have fit his hands perfectly.
He adverted his eyes before getting caught starring and adjusted his pace on hers. He didn't want her to get breathless so she could keep chatting with him.

"So you've been stalking me?" He quirked an eyebrow, more than happy to bug her, just a little bit.

"Oh, no... I've noticed your daily routine since you run past my house every morning." She stiffened a bit, feeling guilty to intrude.

He chuckled. He figured out she might have checked from behind the curtains if he was running butt naked.

"Gotcha, you're welcome darling. You should relax your shoulders if you want to keep your pace."

Yeah, and let those breasts dance for him again.

"Thanks!" She smiled at him. "That's the kind of advice I need. You're my official trainer from now on!"

"Happy to help!" Cal cheered in a grin.
"Keep up the good work, initiate!"

They kept running together for a solid 20 minutes, chitchatting like old buddies before a stitch got the best of his new trainee.

She winced and gasped for air, willing to go further but finally gave up after he had begged her to take a break.
Chris hesitated to sneak a hand in the small of her back as support before renouncing. Touching her now would have been inappropriate, he already had teased her way too much for his taste, calling her "darling" and "love" was out of line already. They had just met, and as friendly as she'd been, it was too soon to go any further.
A gentleman had to behave towards a lady. Period.

They walked back once she had caught her breath and he couldn't help but badgering her with hundreds of questions.

"So, what the hell brought you here? Didn't know Bridgewater, New York, could attract tourists?" Chris joked.