Manic

They don't know how much I hate this naked stuff. In fact, I should stop whining about it so they think I want to take another job, that way I'll have a better chance at negotiating more money if I do get the contract. I could just tell them how much other offers would pay and make them match it.

I smile at this and then turn the TV off, change into some shorts and a t-shirt, and slide into bed.

Exhausted, but not scared. Warm and cozy in my relationship with Ronin, but not stifled.

And very much looking forward to my future. I'm up for it, I think. I'm ready for the journey to start again. I'm dying to learn new things, and see new places, and meet new people.

I just hope I can do all those things and be at Ronin's side at the same time.

Chapter Twenty-One - ROOK

I'm ready right at five this morning but Ford never comes to my door. I can see him out on the terrace, sitting backwards at one of the stone picnic tables on the side of the building, not facing me. He's just kickin' it, like he's got all the time in the world. I watch him for a couple minutes to see what he does if I don't come out. He never checks his watch or even hints that he's waiting for me. Just sits, his arms resting comfortably on the table, his legs stretched out in front of him.

I open my door and he looks over at me and then gets to his feet. "I was beginning to wonder."

"Wonder what?" I ask as I walk over to him.

"If you would show up or blow me off because you have Ronin to run interference now."

"Hey, a deal's a deal, right? And besides, I was watching you for like five minutes and you never once looked like you cared if I came or not."

"I'm not forcing you to come."

"Well, technically, Ford, you are. You asked for this deal and I agreed."

"Yes, but do you really think I'd put the cameras back in if you refused to run with me?"

"Yeah."

He looks over at me with a crooked grin on his face. "I wouldn't, Rook. So if you'd like to skip out, feel free."

I say nothing, just follow him over to the studio door. He holds it open for me, and we walk down the stairs and cross the street. We go to the upper level seats this time and Ford doesn't say a word. Just sets his watch, to time himself I guess, and takes off running up the stairs.

For some reason starting at the bottom and going up seems harder to me. When we run the lower stairs we start at the top and it feels different going down. I trudge up, walk over to the next set, then stomp back down. I'm not as winded as I was the first day, so by the time Ford stops to check his time and head back towards me, I've covered a significant number of rows. I watch Ford's expression as he runs towards me. It's flat. Well, no, not really flat. It's more like a grimace. Like he's determined or something.

When he gets near he stops to catch his breath, leaning over like he always does, like he's about to heave. "Why do you run like that, Ford?"

"Like what?" he asks, uprighting himself briefly, then bending over again. He's so sweaty it drips off his face and plops to the ground.

Surprisingly, this does not gross me out. "Like you're trying to catch someone."

He doesn't look up this time. "Maybe I'm running away from something?"

I shake my head at him. "No, I don't think so. You're not someone who runs away."

He smiles and straightens up, his breath back to normal now. Which means this guy is in awesome shape. Because if that was me, I'd be on the ground gasping like a fish on the beach for like an hour. "You're right. I'm not running away. I never look back, I only move forward."

"Interesting," I say before I even realize the words are coming out.

"What's interesting about it?" He moves forward towards me, his eyes locked on mine. When I back up I find the wall behind me. I press against it as Ford takes a few more steps towards me. "Are you a runner, Rook? Or a chaser?"

I swallow because he's very close now, only a few inches. He's as tall as Ronin, easy. So I have to turn my head up a little to match his gaze. "A runner," I whisper.

He places his palms against the wall on either side of my body, but he keeps those few inches between us. "Do you look back?"

I shake my head, still transfixed by his stare. "No," I say, gulping a little bit of air. "Or, at least I try not to."

He removes his hands and waves me towards the door that will lead inside to the breakfast burritos. "And how successful are you at moving forward right now?" he asks as we pass through the door and walk down the lobby hallway that curves around the stadium, following the smell of food.

"Well…" I let out a deep sigh. "I'd say average. I'm not dwelling, but I'm not over it yet, not completely, anyway."

He stops walking and grabs my hand. "Over what yet?"

I laugh it off a little and shake my hand free. "I've had a rough life, Ford. I'm new money."

"Ah," he says, like I just gave away a piece of vital information. "So that's why Ronin likes you so much. You are damaged."

"Hey, that's f**king rude. I'm not damaged. I had a problem, I took care of it, and now I am moving forward."

"Then you're a chaser, Rook. Own it, if that's what you are."

"I'm neither, Ford. Or, maybe I'm both at the moment. I'm not ashamed that I ran. It was the best decision I ever made."