Page 10 of One-Time Shot

I lost all concept of time on the return journey. My focus was alternately consumed by my aches and pains and the giant presence of the man jogging beside me. My knees hurt, my shoes were too snug, and the business of breathing while briskly shuffling my feet was more challenging than I’d imagined. But Jett was my real distraction.

I’d never spent this much time with an athlete. We simply didn’t travel in the same circles. I didn’t go to games, I could barely tell the difference between a soccer and football field, and I didn’t know the names of any teams in correlation to the cities they represented. Sure, I knew there were Eagles out there, but that could have been a baseball, hockey, or basketball organization. From where? Don’t ask me.

Other than attending the same college, we had zero, nil, naught in common. I was a grad student and physicist in training, Jett was a…

“What’s your major?” I panted, inwardly rejoicing as campus lights came into view.

“Business.”

See? Nothing in common.

Yet I felt oddly comfortable with him.

I stopped at the end of the path and braced my hands on my knees.

“That…was…fun.”

Jett snickered. “Yeah. Do you live nearby?”

I straightened, flailing my right arm meaningfully. “That way. S’walkable.”

“No, hang tight. I’ll give you a ride. I just have to grab my keys from the locker and?—”

“Don’t. It’s okay. I’m perfectly capable of walking home,” I assured him.

“All right, then.” Jett slipped my backpack off and gently set it on my shoulders. “You’re all set. Have a good one.”

I waved, catching myself before he disappeared into the shadows. “Wait! Did you agree to my experiment? I can’t remember.”

Jett pivoted, the lamplight shining on him like a spotlight. “No.”

I hung my head in defeat. “Oh. Drats.”

He chuckled. “Drats? I like you, Maloney.”

“Then do the darned experiment. Please.” Was I begging? Maybe. Pride be damned.

Jett walked toward me again, his eyes narrowed menacingly—and grinned.

My, oh my…he was beautiful.

“Okay…fine. I’ll do it.”

I gasped in delight and relief. “Thank you! You won’t regret this. I promise to?—”

“One time only.”

“That won’t be sufficient, but you know what? I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I accept your generous assistance. When can we begin? Tuesdays and Thursdays aren’t?—”

“I remember,” he intercepted. “How about Wednesday before practice? I can meet you at the rink at two.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I’m in class until three.”

“Oh.” Jett raked his fingers through his hair. “Maybe next week or?—”

“After practice,” I practically shouted. “Will that work?”

Silence. An owl hooted in the distance amid the usual racket of crickets, but the wooded pathway along the lake was eerily vacant now. Except for us. Maybe that was why my heartbeat sounded louder than normal.