Frequencies of Us Chapter 39: Runs and a Rest

Mateo POV

I’m at the track, the air cool and fresh, my hands loose in my hoodie pockets. My chest feels light, warm, since yesterday at the park. Noah whispered, “Don’t leave again,” his hand in mine, raw and real, fixing the hurt from our fight. That word, “Stay,” buzzed in my head all night, soft and sweet, pulling me to him. Now I’m here, waiting for him, my gut twisting, hot and happy, because he’s coming. I asked him to run with me, and he said yes, shy and quick, making me grin.

He shows up, jacket tied around his waist, sneakers scuffing dirt. My heart thumps, loud and fast, and my face gets hot, quick and dumb, because he’s here, real and close, and my stomach flips, warm and wild. I step up, smirking soft. “Ready to learn?” My voice stays low, teasing, and my chest flutters, flirty and fast, because it’s him, with me, and it’s good, pulling me in. He nods, grinning small, and my gut twists, steamy and real, because that grin gets me, every time.

We start slow, feet hitting dirt, side by side. My breath puffs, steady and loud, and my eyes flick to him, quick and shy, watching him try, arms swinging messy. My heart slams, loud and wild, and my face burns, red and sweaty, because he’s cute, yeah, stumbling a bit, and my chest aches, soft and warm, liking him here. I speed up, just a little, and call back, “Keep up!” My voice bounces, playful and rough, and my gut flips, flirty and fast, because it’s us, running, easy again.

He trips, sudden and dumb, his sneaker catching a rock, and I laugh, loud and bright, stopping fast. My hands grab my knees, breath puffing hard, and my stomach twists, hot and wild, because he’s sprawled in the dirt, grinning up, red-faced and messy. My heart skips, loud and fast, and my face burns hotter, because it’s steamy, real, and my chest flutters, pulling me to him. “Nice one,” I tease, stepping close, offering my hand, and my gut twists, flirty and warm, because he’s trouble, yeah, but mine, maybe.

He grabs my hand, warm and firm, pulling up slow, and my skin buzzes, hot and alive, sending heat up my arm. My breath catches, stuck in my throat, and my heart slams, loud and wild, because he’s close, too close, and my chest aches, steamy and raw, feeling him there. His grin stays, soft and dumb, and my gut flips, warm and fast, because it’s us, laughing, touching, and it’s good, hitting me deep. My hand lingers, sweaty and shaky, and my face burns, red and wild, because I could hold on, yeah, forever maybe.

We run again, my pace steady, showing him how, and my eyes stay on him, quick and soft, watching him match me, step by step. My heart thumps, loud and fast, and my breath puffs, hot and quick, because he’s trying, for me, and my chest flutters, flirty and real, liking it too much. I call out, “Lift your knees!” My voice cuts the air, rough and warm, and my gut twists, steamy and fast, because he listens, nods, and my face burns hotter, pulling me in tight.

We collapse, finally, in the grass by the track, breathless and sweaty, side by side. My chest heaves, loud and wild, and my hands rest on my stomach, shaky and warm, because he’s next to me, panting soft, and my gut flips, hot and dumb, feeling him close. My face burns, red and sweaty, and my knee brushes his, quick and warm, sending a jolt up my leg. My heart skips, loud and fast, and my chest aches, steamy and real, because it’s us, here, now, and it’s easy, lighting me up.

“You’re not bad,” I say, voice low, soft, turning my head to him. My eyes catch his, dark and shiny, and my gut twists, warm and wild, because it’s flirty, yeah, but true, hitting me deep. My breath stays shaky, loud in my ears, and my hand shifts, brushing grass, close to his, and my chest flutters, steamy and fast, because he’s here, real, and my face burns hotter, wanting him, needing this. My heart slams, loud and wild, and my throat gets tight, dry and soft, because it’s love, maybe, pulling me in.

He grins, big and dumb, rolling to his side. “You’re better,” he says, voice rough, teasing, and my stomach flips, hot and fast, because it’s him, flirty and warm, and my chest aches, soft and raw, liking it too much. My breath catches, stuck again, and my hand moves, slow and shaky, brushing his arm, warm and firm. My heart skips, loud and fast, and my face burns, red and wild, because it’s steamy, real, and my gut twists, pulling tight, because he’s mine, yeah, and it’s good, hitting me hard.

We laugh, soft and easy, lying there, and my head buzzes, his grin, my words, playing over and over, making me jumpy. My chest feels tight, my breath shaky, and my knee stays near his, warm and close, because it’s us, resting, real, and my gut flips, flirty and fast, easing the mess from before. My hands shake, restless, picking at grass, and my heart thumps, loud and wild, because he’s here, laughing, and it’s love, yeah, lighting me up, keeping me here.

The track’s quiet, just birds chirping, our breathing slowing, and my chest aches, steamy and raw, because he’s close, staying, and my throat’s tight, words stuck, wanting to say more, wanting him nearer. My hand brushes his again, quick and soft, and my gut twists, hot and wild, because it’s small, yeah, but big, pulling me in deep. My face burns, my breath loud, and my eyes lock on his, soft and real, because it’s us, easy again, and I’m happy, shaky, needing this forever.

Then it buzzes, a soft hum, low and close, from my pocket. My head tilts, heart jumping fast, and my hand digs in, slow and shaky, pulling out my phone, screen glowing bright. My gut twists, warm and steamy, and my hands shake, bad now, holding it tight, because it’s him, next to me, but this feels big, real big. My breath catches, stuck in my throat, and I grin, small and shy, because it’s us, always us, and it’s flirty, lighting me up. I swipe it open, fingers trembling, unknown number, one word: “Together.”

My chest flutters, hot and wild, and my eyes flick to Noah, grinning still, hand near mine, pulling tight. My heart slams, loud and fast, and my breath shakes, steamy and alive, because it’s us, here, now, caught in the buzz. The phone hums in my grip, soft and sweet, buzzing against my skin, and my gut twists, warm and wild, because it’s him, close, real, and I’m shaky, waiting, with something soft and steamy humming between us.