The Challenge by Deana Farrady

Author:Deana Farrady [Farrady, Deana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Best Friends, friends to lovers, friends, Romance, Comedy, angst, Sex, iterracial
Published: 2019-03-04T16:00:00+00:00

EPISODE 4

IN THE WINGS—JASMINE AND MATT

JASMINE'S SETS HAD GONE WELL THIS MORNING, considering. She'd been studying Tai Chi for a while now. Though she wasn't very good at it, it was the only activity she was involved in that wasn't performance-based. The process, and not the result, was everything.

If she had her choice, all her life would be that serene.

Saturday had dawned less windy than the day before. It was warmer, too. The light fog smelled clean. Peaceful. Still too early for the Saturday morning Green Lake exercise posse to be out in full force. And the good feelings from yesterday lingered.

They were good feelings, too, she admitted with something near optimism. A hurdle had been passed with Matt last night during The Challenge. Now, of course, she was in a place far more precarious than ever, but somehow, the fear factor was less. The notion that Matt was deliberately trying to torment her was, if not completely gone, then less convincing.

So when she finished the last set and glanced up to see him standing there with his hands in his pockets, watching her from a few feet away, she didn't panic immediately.

He strolled down the slope. He'd obviously finished his run. His normal breathing suggested he must have been standing there for quite a while, observing her.

He stopped a good three feet away.

"Good morning," he said.

She had no clue from his expression as to what he was thinking. Leakage? How badly she performed Cloud Hands?

"Hi." Too husky. She cleared her throat and wondered what he'd say if she said what she was thinking, that he looked wonderful. Shadowy beard, his black hair tousled, his dark eyes wakeful and clear. Almost like a teenager. Innocent.

Right. That's Matt. Innocent.

"Hi," she said again, idiotically, gaze darting aimlessly to the lake, the sky.

"You have to be anywhere, Jas?"

She shook her head.

"Then let's walk around," he said, turning toward the path.

Her heart thudded. And the fear factor was suddenly back.

"Why?" she demanded.

He stopped, looked back, and his mouth twitched. "Typical. She asks if we'll still be friends, and when I make the effort, she thinks it's my idea. And nefarious at that."

Oh. As a peace offering, it took her breath away.

He waited as she caught up to him. They walked in silence for a while with several feet between them.

"Bike coming," he said as they neared a sharp turn.

She stepped closer to him.

They passed a dog walker and a couple running together. Where the path widened, she heard the unmistakable cacophony of crows.

Matt chuckled. "They're pissed."

She followed his gesture. The crows were going wild at the tops of the trees.

"See him?"

"See who?"

"Bald eagle."

"No, I—oh." She could just make out a white head on a large bird sitting on the topmost branch. Crows were swooping and hollering all around it. "Why are they doing that?"

"It's been a warm winter. Not too many migrants. Crows are territorial, and they remember. Eagles think their chicks are tasty."

She looked at him. He'd slowed down almost to a stroll, and his hands were still stuffed in his pockets.

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