Page 5 of Foul Territory

“I excel at couch rotting,” I joke.

“Couch rotting? I’m intrigued. What is that exactly?” he asks, pushing a lock of his brown hair off his forehead, revealing a pair of green eyes.

“It involves me, a cozy blanket, some snacks, and a good book while laying on the couch all day.” Something I wish I was doing right now instead of straining muscles I didn’t know I had. My mind drifts back to the brand new stack of books piled on my nightstand and I sigh.

He changes positions and begins to stretch his other leg. I do the same even though I’m not convinced my left leg is fully prepared for what’s about to happen.

“And what qualifies as a good book?” The small lift of his lip lends me to believe he already knows the type of books I enjoy reading. I would blush but I’m not ashamed of the genres I read.

“Lately fantasy and science fiction have been my first choice but I’m not selective. I will try anything once.”

“Fantasy,” he muses over the word. “Are we talking wizards and schools of witchcraft or wolves, vampires, and fae?” he asks, leaning back on the palm of his hands.

I arch an eyebrow. “I like all things mythical and magical. How do you know so much about this genre?”

“I may have read a few books about fae princes and lords. The world building is incredible.”

“Right. The world building,” I joke.

He lets out a deep chuckle before standing. He offers me his hands, helping me get to my feet. “You don’t agree?”

I swipe at the grass on my pants. “Oh, no, I agree with you. The world building is supreme. I’m a little surprised you’re into it.”

We walk toward the track that borders the field. All of the club members have started to gather for the start of the run. I make eye contact with Charlie in the crowd. She grimaces and gives me a thumbs up.

“It isn’t my first choice but it’s a nice break from medical journals and textbooks,” he replies.

“Do we have a future doctor in our midst?”

“Athletic trainer.Hopefully. What about you?” he asks, guiding me to the back of the crowd.

“Chemist,” I say. His eyes widen momentarily before he does a quick sweep of my body again.

“Beauty and brains,” he mumbles more to himself.

Trevor blows a whistle garnering everyone’s attention and prevents me from responding to Joe’s comment, which is probably best. Knowing me I would have said something like ‘thanks, you too.’

After a quick announcement about how many laps we need to make around the track—about ten too many—andrunning safely in large groups, he blows his whistle again signaling everyone can take off running.

“Walk and talk with me?” Joe asks. While others speed past us we begin to stroll around the track side by side. “Tell me more about being a chemist.”

“It’s not as noble as it sounds. I want to be a cosmetic chemist and eventually start my own line of beauty products.”

“Ambitious too,” he says as if he’s keeping a running list of my qualities to refer back to later. The thought makes me blush, and I can’t recall the last time a man made that happen.

Oh, wait, it was at the club with Lauren when her neighbor Emilio whispered something about tying me to his bed. I honestly can’t remember exactly what he said but it was filthy. And very hot.

“More along the lines of being tired of not finding what I need for my skin tone and type in stores.” It was depressing going to the store and only seeing one or two shades of foundation for darker complexions. I started mixing my own foundation and other beauty concoctions when I was a teenager. I drove my mom crazy with all of my jars of homemade lotions and oils all over the bathroom.

“I’m not one who follows beauty and fashion trends,” he says with a sheepish smile, brushing the hair out of his face again.

“What? Really? I never would have guessed with your choice of running attire,” I joke. He’s wearing awhite Newhouse Athletics Department tank top and matching black shorts.

“Hey, I’ll have you know all the cool kids wear Newhouse Athletics gear.” He runs a hand down his chest.

“Those kids aren’t as cool as you think,” I grumble thinking of my brother and his roommates.

Good looking? Yes.