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The clock on my phone told me I didn’t have much time left. “I have to go. Let’s talk more about this Cheryl person later,” I said, shuffling my way out of the kitchen, my muscles screaming again after the short break I’d given them.

“A mini triathlon is supposed to be fun!” Mom called after me.

“I’m having the time of my life!” I called back.

Chapter

thirteen

“OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, OUCH,” Iprovided as sound effects for my walk from my car in the parking lot to where Theo was leaning against the back of his, watching my slow progression. I placed the folded towel I’d taken from his house the day before onto the trunk next to where he was leaning.

“Such a baby,” he said, twisting toward me, like he wasn’t in any pain whatsoever.

“Are you not sore at all?”

“Not at all.”

I reached out and squeezed his triceps. He sucked in some air. I laughed. “That’s what I thought.”

“Fine. A little sore.”

“So youarehuman.”

He nodded toward my foot, then said, “Put your heel on the bumper for some hamstring stretches.”

I obeyed, making more pained noises as I did.

“Why’d you park so far away from me?” he asked.

“In case anyone drives by. They can’t see our cars together here at the school on a weekend.”

“We don’t want anyone to think our cars are involved in an inappropriate relationship?” he asked, his voice as sarcastic as his question.

I pointed in the general direction of the football field. “I told you, this arrangement cannot get back to Jensen or…”I’ll be made to look like an even bigger fool if I fail at this too.

“Or what?” he asked when I didn’t say my fear out loud.

“I don’t know—he’ll stop it, or he’ll know what’s coming, or he’ll start training extra hard.”

There was a smile in his eyes when he said, “I’ve seen that man train extra hard. I’m not worried.”

“Theo.”

“He won’t find out,” he said in an even voice.

“Great. We’re on the same page.”

“Great.”

I pulled up a browser on my phone as I continued to stretch. “Do you know of any mini triathlons happening around here in the next couple months?”

“No. Part of your payback? Did Jensen hate triathlons or something?”

“No, it’s what I told my parents I was doing, you know, instead of admitting what I’m really doing.”

“Weren’t they also pissed at Jensen for stealing your spot?”

“I haven’t told them.”