Page 10 of Matched with Her Athlete Boss

I'm obsessed in a weird way. No, I don't stalk him at his house, just admiring from afar. That was until my new best friend Dani had started dating Miles. Oh man, it's a mess. I’m a mess.

"Hey," a voice says next to me. We're squished into a big mob of people getting ready to start the race when I turn and nearly fall to the ground.

Drew Evans is standing there with a smile on his face. He does it on purpose because of our brief history together.

Before I moved into the Spice House, I rented an apartment in a building he owns. One of the kind old ladies on a different floor felt sorry for me one day after I'd been dumped by my ex-fiancé. So, she concocted this crazy plan to force me to have breakfast with the owner of the building by pretending her plumbing needed to be fixed. He wasn’t too excited about the ambush and I try to play it cool around him, but it’s awkward.

I've got a lifetime of those to recount.

"Hey, Drew. I didn't know you got invited."

He nods. "I've always wanted to try this and figured it would be fun. Landon was hoping I’d be here to run with him." I turn to look at the sidelines. Tiffany has a beautiful toddler in her arms and Rachelle is holding her stomach in that typical pregnant lady pose.

My heart twinges a bit. Will I ever have that chance? I need commitment in a relationship, which isn't something the guys I attract have as a personality trait. That's why dating is off the table. I'm done. I’ll just give the matchmaking company the official stamp of disapproval when I leave this course. Because I can’t turn down a gift card for a fifteen-minute questionnaire.

"Well, I'm glad you could make it." I turn around, focusing on the time clock at the top of the starting arch and breathe out. I know this isn't a marathon or anything, but I might be a bit competitive. “Jack has called for a bet.”

“That should be interesting. Everything I know about him is all second-hand.”

"Kenzie," another voice says from the side, "What are you doing here?"

I turn, letting out a little whimper. One of my exes, Johnny Sutherland, stands two people over with a wide grin on his face. What is happening to me? Why do I have to face everyone I've dated or had awkward encounters with at this rural mud race?

Please don’t let Donovan be the next one I see.

We are in the middle of nowhere Massachusetts and none of these people have ever been interested in the things I've liked. I can't really count Drew in that because there was never true interest. But Johnny here? The guy would’ve been fine to become part of the couch because he watched so many sporting events on TV. I love to watch a good game, but after a couple of hours, I go stir crazy.

“Obviously I’m here to run a race. And you?” I ask Johnny.

He grins. “I figured I’d tag along with my girl,” he says, wrapping his arms around a very attractive woman in the shortest shorts I’ve ever seen. How’s she going to run in those? I’d be picking wedgies throughout the entire course.

“Good for supporting someone,” I say, turning slightly before I say, “for once.”

I glance around, crossing my fingers I don’t see another person I’ve dated. That's not what my life needs at this point.

To be honest, the rest of the balls I've been juggling have hit the ground at least twelve times. I'm lucky to have two still in the air: my roommates and my sanity. Well, that last part is questionable. I’ll probably be wishing I hadn’t agreed to clean up my dad’s house when I go look at it later today.

The group shifts as the clock winds down for the last minute before our heat heads out into the mud. My group is now surrounding me and I force a smile, trying to keep the overwhelm of emotions from exploding from me. Sure, they might irritate me on some levels, but having people to support me, even in something like this is gratifying.

I didn’t think I’d ever find people who would go along with anything I suggested. But since the moment I moved into the Spice House, I’ve been accepted for my cleaning quirks and my chocolate obsession.

And then, as if fate is laughing at me thoroughly, a handsome brown-haired guy comes to stand next to me.

"Do you think we’ll win?" Trey asks with a wink. Gosh, why does this guy have to be so charming?

"I’m not sure about you, but I think I can handle it," I say, keeping my eyes forward so I don't start to smile. I cannot fall for this guy. That downward spiral would not be pretty.

"Well, it might be a team effort to beat Jack. Have you decided what you want to assign as the punishment after the win?"

Why does the way he says that make me all fluttery? Ugh, I need some Trey Hatch immunity pill.

"Not yet. But I'm sure I'll come up with some ideas by the end of the race."

I hop back and forth a bit, hoping to hide the nerves from how close he is as just a normal warmup routine.

"You never told me why you were so bugged that day we met at the arena."

His statement catches me off guard and I turn, just as the gun goes off for our heat. The mob passes us, and half of me wants to sprint to catch up while the other wants to see what he actually remembers about that day at the rink. Or any days for that matter.

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