Page 56 of Hard Count
DREW:
Asher just asked me who the best animated superhero is—Superman or Spiderman. He doesn't understand why I'm so offended.
I remove my earbuds and hit the stop button on the treadmill when I notice Drew and Asher in an animated discussion. She is counting something off on her fingers, no doubt making a point about the superiority of manga.
My little fox has turned into quite the junkie. She sends me photos and screenshots every other day with a new series she’s started or asking if I have one she can borrow. She’s completely fascinated. I wouldn’t be surprised if we spend part of the night watching anime when I go over later.
I don’t know who I need to rescue from the debate, Asher or Drew? “Hi, baby.” I pull her into my side and kiss her forehead. “Asher.” I lift my free hand for a fist bump. “Everything okay over here?”
“Absolutely.” She beams a smile at me.
“She just gave me a list of anime I have to watch before I can say who the greatest superhero is.” He crosses his arm over his chest.
“That’s my girl.” I squeeze her tighter in my arms.
“You’ve created a monster,” Asher says, throwing his hands in the air and walking away.
Drew and I laugh when he strolls over to a few guys on the team and immediately starts asking them questions. He should have been a journalism major.
“Are you almost finished in here?” I ask, pushing wisps of her hair out of her face.
“Yeah, I’m going to go run for a bit. Clear my head.”
“Anything you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head. “I’m fine. Just stressed.” Dark circles under eyes mark her pale skin.
“No more late nights watching tape. You need to rest.”
“I can’t. Last week’s game was hard and Texas is going to be even tougher. I haven’t figured out their weak spots yet, but I will.”
I drag Drew over to the hallway that leads to the locker rooms. Pulling her into my arms, I kiss her slowly. I cup her face in my hands and stare into her green eyes that have lost their shine thanks to late nights and very little sleep. “I love that you give your all to everything you do but I can’t let you lose yourself to this. You have to take care of yourself first. If you won’t, I have no problem stepping in and doing it for you. I’m not going to let you burn yourself out.”
“Is this the part of the conversation where I say you aren’t letting me do anything because I make decisions for myself? I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”
“You can tell me whatever you want. But I know you don’t have it in you to quit. You’ll keep pushing until it’s too late. I don’t like seeing you tired and worn out like this.” I glide my thumb against her cheek.
Thisis her work and passion but it's hard to watch her disintegrating before my eyes. "I know this is important to you and it's difficult to stop but you're important to me." She may need to do this but I need her. “Why don’t you cut out of here early and take a nap before class?”
“I appreciate your concern. I really do but I’m fine. I promise.” She pops a kiss on my lips. “Go finish your workout. I’ll cut my run back.” She pushes me forward without giving me a chance to argue. “Hey, Nash.”
“Yeah?” I stop walking and turn to face her.
“Thanks for caring enough to say something,” she says, her tone firm while her hands tremble and eyes gloss over.
“Always. I’ll come by your place when I’m done and drive you to class.” It takes all my control not to whisk her away and tell her how much I love and care about her. She nods and backs down the hallway into the women's’ locker room.
I pop my earbuds back in and start doing pullups. Drew walks back into the main gym area with ruddy cheeks and red-rimmed eyes. She hops on an empty treadmill at the end of the row. Standing with her feet on the foot rails, she grabs her phone, keeping one eye on me.
DREW:
Stop worrying. I'm fine.
I was crying because you care.
I drop from where I’m hanging on the pull up bar. I don’t like that the simple act of showing her she matters and is important to me is making her cry. It isn’t me caring that’smaking her cry. It’s the fact that no one else has in the past and that pisses me the fuck off.
DREW:
