Page 21 of Of Pucking Course

My whole life, people constantly said they were surprised to find out that my older brother was an incredible athlete…because I was always terrible at all sports.

I got cut from so many different teams that I lost count. I’d get comments all the time about how the athletic gene must have skipped me. I’d always laugh it off, but deep down, it hurt for people to make fun of me for it.

It was yet another thing I was terrible at, another thing I failed at, in addition to being terrible at relationships.

“I’m still self-conscious, if I’m being honest,” I say quietly. “I mean, I’ll never be as athletic as Del.”

“No one is. Your brother is a freak of nature,” Sam says.

I let out a soft chuckle.

“Hey.” He scoots closer to me on the couch. “Dakota, if you want to run a half-marathon, you should. You can do it. I know you can.”

I’m heartened by the firmness in his voice. Like he truly believes in me.

“You really think that?”

He doesn’t even blink as he looks at me and nods. “I really do. I’ll even go running with you if you want a training buddy.”

“No way I could pace you, Sam. You’re huge. You have the stride of a giraffe. I’m barely five-foot-five. I’d have to sprint just to keep up.”

“I’ll jog slow.” He bumps me gently with his elbow. “Come on, it’ll be fun being running buddies.”

I laugh. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

Chapter 8

Dakota

My lungs burn as I do my final lap around the track, gasping for air.

“You’re doing great,” Sam says, his tone light and unbothered, like running two miles is the easiest thing he’s ever done.

“Shut up,” I say between gasps. He laughs.

I pump my legs, despite how sore and tight they feel.

I glance over at Sam jogging slowly beside me. He’s not even sweating.

“God, you’re the worst,” I huff out.

The corner of his mouth kicks up. “Am I?”

I nod. “Here I am almost dying, and you look like a fitness model filming a commercial.”

His head falls back as he laughs again. I slow my pace, almost stopping to walk, but Sam gently grabs my arm.

“You’re almost there.”

I gasp and shake my head. “I’m not even halfway through this last lap.”

He points ahead. “See that cluster of dandelions over there?”

I spot the yellow blooms along the side of the track and nod.

“You can make it to there. Then you can walk the rest of the way.”

My chest is tight as I power through this stretch of the track. I make it to the flowers and immediately slow my pace to a walk. He stops to walk with me.

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