Wrecked(29)

So when he comes to a full stop and jogs toward her, she’s unprepared.

“Soccer Girl,” he says, grinning. “Fancy meeting you out here.”

“Former Soccer Girl,” she corrects him.

“Right,” he says. “Haley.”

“Richard.”

That’s it. Neither of them speaks for a moment. Richard breathes hard.

“So. Going for a run?” she says. Wow. You’re a genius, Haley. Let’s see: he’s sweating, wearing running shoes, running . . . Obviously he’s out here doing crossword puzzles.

Luckily, if Richard Brandt—yes, she Facebook--stalked him and figured out his last name—thinks she is a complete idiot, he disguises it well. He glances at the trail ahead.

“I’m headed to the water tower. Want to join me?”

“I can’t. Still not cleared to run.”

“Catch you on the way back?”

The water tower is about a mile away.

“Sure,” she says.

He takes off. Pretty brisk pace. Pretty cute butt.

“Dare to dream, girl.” She actually says it out loud to Richard’s retreating back. Never. Never in twenty zillion years would one of Carrie Mason’s leftovers give her a second thought. Guys like that are used to . . . more. Experience. Beauty. Know--how. Of which she has absolutely none.

She’d be better off with a freshman like herself. Some eighteen--year--old who’d be oh--so--grateful for even the least bit of action. Not some hot sophomore used to sleeping with the most desirable woman on campus. Different set of expectations there. And there’s no way in hell she can meet them.

She decides to turn back, get off the path, and head to the dining hall before he has a chance to catch up with her and she has a chance to further embarrass herself. But before she’s fully retraced her route, she hears his returning steps. He slows alongside her, panting.

“Did you decide not to go all the way?” she asks.

“No, I did.” The hair near the nape of his neck stands up in little soaked spikes. His gray T--shirt is dark beneath his arms, around his neck. “Double--timed it. How are you?”

“Good,” she says.

“I run here all the time, but I’ve never seen you before.”

“Well, I usually . . . used to be . . . at practice this time of day. But I’m trying to ease back into it, you know. Long walks. Hopefully I can run again soon.”

“I pretty much need to run every day,” he says. “I’m either hooked on endorphins or just hyper. I don’t know. Must suck to be inactive.”

She sighs. “I hate it.” They walk along in silence for a little while. It’s surprisingly not awkward.

“So,” he finally says, “when you’re not playing soccer or doing calculus, what do you do for fun?”

She smiles. “People do other things for fun?”

“A few.”

“Such as?”

“Hiking,” he says. “Lot of great hikes around here.”

“Haven’t done any,” Haley says. “I had games on the weekends, practice every day, then I’d catch up on work.”

“Music,” Richard continues. “Lot of good campus bands.”

“Haven’t checked them out yet.”

“Okay . . . film? Do you like to go to the movies?”

“Love films, but I tend to just watch them with friends in our rooms. Usually on somebody’s laptop. But one of my teammates showed up here with an awesome TV and DVD player.”

“That’s actually very antisocial.”

“How’s it antisocial to get together with a bunch of friends to watch a DVD? I’m not watching it alone!”

“Yeah, but you’re just hanging out with the same people. You’re not meeting anyone.”

“I’ve got news for you: I don’t meet people in dark theaters.”

Richard laughs. “Point taken.”

They walk along in silence a little longer. They’ve left the river path and are walking up the main drag leading to campus.

“You must think I’m pretty lame,” she says. It just pops out of her mouth. More honesty than she’d intended. Why does this happen to her around this guy?

But Richard smiles easily. “I don’t think you’re lame at all. Sounds like you just don’t get out enough.”

“Hmm. Can’t argue there. So what would you suggest?” She pauses. They’re at the intersection. This is where she breaks off and heads to the dining hall. See you in math lab, Cute Guy.

“Well.” He squints, looking up the hill and into the slanting sunset. “For starters, you could join me for dinner. That would be something new.”

She struggles to look nonchalant. Business as usual. Yeah. She’s cool.

“Sure.”

Is it her imagination or does he look relieved? Like, did he think she’d say no?

“Okay. Uh, I need to shower, but that’ll just take a minute. Want to walk to my house, then we can head to dinner from there? I live in Taylor.”

Haley cocks her head, considering. She still hasn’t figured out where all the different houses are.

“It’s the one next to Conundrum,” he adds. “Not far.”