The Gratitude Guarantee (Boyfriend in the Bargain #4)

14. Brenna

14

brENNA

I think I’m in trouble.

The flash of attraction I feel when our eyes meet jolts me like a bolt of lightning. Watching him run full out, his muscles straining and expression intense—it was a sight to behold. I haven’t felt this strong of a pull toward a guy in…well, ever.

And of course, I picked one who isn’t dating right now. During a phase of life when I have no time to date either.

Because that makes perfect sense.

“How’d we do?” Zach pants, propping his hands on his hips.

“I’m not sure. We’re waiting on Mom, Dad, Heather, and Bella to finish, and then we’ll all walk over to the scoring table together.” Including Kenzie, who is being cradled like a baby by Ben. I’m sure her ankle still hurts, but she seems chipper again already, chattering to her dad with one arm wrapped around his neck like the damsel in distress she is.

Zach gives me a thumbs-up, then asks, “Is there a water station somewhere?”

I scan the area until I spot one, eager for a drink myself. “Over there. You wait here. I’ll bring you one.”

I stride away before he can respond. I need a moment to gather my thoughts. It only takes me about three minutes to grab two bottles of water and walk back, but it’s enough time for me to convince myself that I need to pinch off the budding attraction that I feel for Zach. It would be too complicated for too many reasons. And the more I think about it, the more I wonder if what I’m feeling is due to our close proximity and the excitement of racing together. Getting caught up in these temporary emotions would just cause all kinds of problems later on. And so just like at work and in entomology class, I’ll do what I need to do, and what I need to do is keep things friendly but platonic.

It shouldn’t be too hard, right? We just have to be around each other for another day or two and then things will go back to normal. We’ll see each other casually at the gym and that will be it.

“Here you go.” I stop beside Zach and offer him a water. I see Mom and Dad approaching the line with Bella. Heather is still nowhere in sight, but Isaac, Sara, and Ben are already starting to drift toward the final time table, so hopefully she won’t be much longer.

“Hey,” I tell Zach while he sips from his bottle. “I doubt we’ll win with the delay, but I wanted to say thanks for your help with Kenzie and for running so hard at the end. You’re a good partner.”

He grins back. “You make it easy to want to try my best.”

What does he mean by that? I’m about to ask him when we’re joined by the remaining runners in our party. Which is probably for the best anyway.

Platonic. No other feelings.

Finally, Heather makes it to us, looking nigh unto death. Running is one of her least favorite activities in this world, but she’s a good sport for participating in this race with us every year, so we let her lack of athleticism slide. “At least the worst is behind you,” I say to console her. She wheezes wordlessly in response.

“Alright kids,” Mom announces once she’s caught her breath. “Let’s go see your times.”

“Mom!” Kenzie calls as we approach. “Zach saved my life!”

Heather takes one look at Kenzie and moves faster than she did at any point during the actual race. “What happened to you?”

“I fell down and twisted my ankle, but Zach carried me to Dad.”

“I wouldn’t say it was a ‘saved your life’ situation,” Zach says, gently correcting her overly dramatic account. “But I was happy to help.”

My dad claps Zach on the shoulder. “Thanks, son. Glad you were there to pull this girl out of trouble. She’s a mess.” He ruffles Kenzie’s hair, and she sticks her tongue out playfully.

We move through the line to get our times and Mom records them all in a note on her phone for scoring. “Alright, listen up.” She turns on the authoritative voice she perfected over her twenty-five years as an elementary school teacher to make sure we’re all paying attention. “At your father’s suggestion, we are using a golf-scoring method for this competition, meaning that the lowest point total at the end of the day is the winner. Coming in first in this event with the lowest combined time are Isaac and Sara. One point to you.”

Isaac grins and loops his arm around the waist of an equally happy Sara, planting a sloppy kiss on her cheek.

“Second,” Mom continues, “are Zach and Brenna, so you get two points.”

My eyes widen and I turn to look at Zach who also looks surprised. He holds up his hand for a high five, and I enthusiastically respond with a hearty slap. I was sure we would come in last, so this feels fantastic.

“And Ben and Heather have three points for coming in third.”

Heather droops a little. “I’m sorry, Ben. I should have run faster.”

Ben slides Kenzie to the ground and balances her beside him so he can wrap an arm around Heather’s shoulders. “I’d rather come in last with you than first with anyone else.”

A chorus of “awws” rises from the group as Heather smiles and blushes. Clearly, my sister picked a good one.

My dad claps his hands together and turns for the parking area. “Okay, family. Let’s go make pancakes.”