Running to You Read online

  Copyright

  Running to You is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  RUNNING TO YOU: A NOVEL

  Copyright © 2020 by M. A. Lee

  All rights reserved.

  Editing by KP Editing

  Cover design by KP Designs

  - www.kpdesignshop.com

  Published by Kingston Publishing Company

  - www.kingstonpublishing.com

  The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Extras

  About the Author

  Also Written by M. A. Lee

  About the Publisher

  Chapter 1

  I could feel my heart beating as my legs raced to the finish line. Just a few more steps and I will be there I silently told myself over and over again. With my head focused forward, I ignored the hundreds of faces watching me. The sunlight was bouncing off the silver stands and blinding the girl to my left. Hiding a smile, I pushed myself to keep going. That was the problem with most runners; they get caught up with their surroundings and lose sight of their real focus. The roar of the crowds was nonexistent as I only heard the pounding of my feet against the track. I had been a runner all of my life and when I decided to attend Falls Creek University, I had decided to transfer to Falls Creek in the second semester. I couldn’t have found a better school. Tired of the cold weather in upstate New York, I craved warm weather, beaches, and constant sunshine.

  “Mallory, speed up,” my coach’s rough voice boomed through my ears, as I was instantly rocked back to reality and out of my thoughts.

  When I run, I somehow tune out the rest of the world and allow myself to focus only on myself. The girl to my right was gaining on me and I knew I had to extend my strides and push myself further if I wanted to come in first place. As our first race of the track season, I knew I had to make a name for myself not only on this team, but with everyone. Losing would only set me back.

  Sweat poured from my skin as my body inched forward, gaining momentum as I felt my legs taking the last few leaps. Reaching the finish line, I threw my hands up in the air and smiled as I realized I had accomplished my goal. I had won the race!

  “Way to go, Mallory,” I heard my teammates cheer, as I slowed my pace and walked over to where they were now jumping up and down with excitement.

  Placing his hand on my shoulder, coach patted my back. “Keep it up, Mallory and you will beat Jax’s time and record,” he said, as if I should know who this Jax was.

  “Thanks,” I beamed as I accepted the compliment.

  With my hands on my hips, I regained my breath as I took a towel from coach Hal and began to wipe away the excess sweat. “Great job, Mallory. Your strides look great. We just need to keep you focused,” he commented as he knew my one weakness when running. It was funny how the one thing that keeps my sane and composed in everyday life was also the one thing that almost wrecked my chance at winning the race.

  Taking a big drink of ice-cold water, I thanked everyone for their compliments as I took in the moment. After having our team talk with our coach, we were dismissed and given the night off. Lucky, there was a huge back to school party and I was ready to relax and let off some of this steam. I had been so stressed about my first track meet that I hadn’t thought about anything else.

  Grabbing my bag, I threw it over my shoulder and got ready to head out.

  Suddenly, a deep voice rang through my ears and stopped me dead in my tracks. “Nice legs,” the voice said in a seductive voice.

  Whipping around, I opened my mouth to cuss this jackass out for hitting on me after my track meets, but when I spotted the face to the voice, I lost all ability to speak. Looking back at me was a tall, muscular guy. His toned bronze skin was glistening in the sunlight and his strong legs were ripped with muscles. His narrow jawline was filled with dark stubble and his piercing blue eyes were causing my heart to pump rapidly and my breath to falter. His jet black spiky hair light moved as a breeze from the ocean swept through the air. Three beautiful girls who could all be supermodels were standing around him, acting like he was some famous celebrity who deserved their praise. It was clear while this guy may have the sex appeal that everyone desired, he was an arrogant guy.

  “What?” I managed to say, as I regained my voice. I tried to keep myself from looking like those pathetic girls that were now drooling over him as he talked to me.

  “I liked your form out there,” he said, as he pointed back toward the track. His eyes were roaming over my body, looking me up and down in a way that made me feel embarrassed as though we were doing something incredibly sexy and wrong standing in front of all these people. This guy looked more like a model, modeling for athletic clothes than he did a runner. He was every girl's wet dream and fantasy and I knew what I would be thinking about later that night.

  “Are you a runner?” I asked, as I shifted the bag on my shoulder. As my eyes drifted lower, I noticed he was wearing a Falls Creek University t-shirt.

  Laughing, his head fell back as though I had said something madly hilarious. I knew he must be making fun of me. I am not funny. Trust me.

  “You mean, you haven’t heard of me?” he asked, his voice full of arrogance. “You must be new here.”

  Glowering at him, I lowered my eyes as I decided his looks might be beautiful but his personality was nasty. “No. I haven’t heard of you,” I snapped back at him. “You must not be that important. Besides, I am new here, no one has mentioned you yet.”

  Shock and a slight hint of anger swept over his chiseled face as he caught my attitude. Extending his hand, he offered to shake mine. “Well, then I guess we need to change that,” he said with a flirtatious smile. “I am Jax, captain of the male track team and all-state champion two years in a row,” he said with pride.

  Shaking his hand back, I forced a smile. “Hi Jax, my name is Mallory. I was the captain of my high school track team and the record breaker at my college in New York. I plan to be the next all-state champion for not just the female track team, but for both teams,” I stated with confidence.

  Watching our wild exchange, my coach laughed to himself. Seeing that both Jax and I had smoke and flames shooting out of our eyes as we stared one another down, he decided to intervene.

  “Jax, this is Mallory, but I see you two already met. She is a new recruit and we are lucky to have her. Not only is she one of the fastest runners on this team, but she is exceptionally bright too. She received a full scholarship for both academics and athletics to Falls Creek. I think you might want to learn a few things from her about grounding yourself and working hard,” he said as he beamed at me.

  A few of my teammates rolled their eyes as they left the track. It seems they only love me when I am winning meets for them. Sadly, I am used to that. However, over the years, I had learned to al
low my enemies anger to be my fuel to win and succeed. I mean, haters are gonna hate right?

  Otherwise, they hate that I show them all up. I mean, it’s not my fault I leave them all coughing in my dust as I blaze past them on the track. While I’m out conditioning and eating organic, they are sleeping in on weekends and partying. It takes true determination and sacrifice to have the success I have had and I am not about to let some playboy frat boy on the track team try to rattle me.

  Smirking at me, Jax almost laughed as my coach talked me up. It was clear, he didn’t see me as a threat or a competition. I could play the same game as him. He thinks he is Mr. Big shot, well I have news for him. There is a new star runner on campus and he is about to meet his match.

  Chapter 2

  Jax

  If I thought I had met a challenging woman before, well I was mistaken.

  Mallory had a smoking hot body and a short temper, and I loved it. She was going to be fun to watch squirm when I beat her for the All-State Champion. I had been dreaming of that title since I saw my first race when I was five. Growing up in River Falls, just a town over from Falls Creek, I had envisioned attending this college and being the star runner my entire life.

  If this chick thought she was going to beat me to that title, she had another thing coming. Especially, since I had insider information that a new reporter, Camreigh Moore, would be attending most of our meets this season and doing editorials on us. I was going to make a front page each week.

  Watching Mallory sweet talk the coach was almost nauseating. I was so busy watching her that I didn’t even notice my friend, and team mate, Anthony walk up to me.

  “Dude, what are you staring at?” he asked, following my eyesight.

  He chuckled, seeing Mallory and nodded his head in understanding.

  Glaring, I didn’t want him to think I was checking her out. I mean, don’t get me wrong. She was hot as hell in those skin tight black shorts that had a glimpse of her ass cheeks hanging out when she stretched, but that wasn’t what I was paying attention to. At least, not all I was watching.

  “That new girl thinks she is going to steal my title of All-State Champion,” I seethed.

  Slapping me on the back, Anthony grinned like a fool. “Season hasn’t even started yet and you are already winning titles?” he mused.

  “Damn straight I am. You know me, Anthony. I am a winner,” I reminded him. Maybe I sounded cocky, but it was true. Anthony and I had grown up together and been on the same high school track team. Everyone in our town knew that when it came to winning, I never lost. I guess I would just have to show Mallory who was the big shot around here after all.

  Chapter 3

  Mallory

  Late that evening, I found myself in the weight room, ready to release some pent up frustration and train. Music blared through my earbuds as I pushed myself further with the weights. No one else was in the room with me. Most students were sleeping or out with friends. But not me. With Jax’s cocky grin stuck in my mind, I allowed my thoughts to fall on him. As I pushed myself with heavy weights, I imagined what Jax’s hands would feel like roaming my sensitive skin. As I strained myself on the treadmill, I wondered what his hot breath would feel like kissing down my neck, his hands slowly massaging my tight nipples. I could feel myself growing hot from my thoughts and not my extensive workout when the air around me suddenly grew thick and heavy and I almost couldn’t breathe.

  Waltzing into the weight room, Jax strode over to the weight bench and winked at me before he began placing large weights against the bar.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, as I pulled my ear buds out. I was upset that he had ruined my little fantasy and I was embarrassed too. I prayed he couldn’t read it on my face that just moments ago I was imagining him doing dirty and naughty things to my body. I mean, I hated the guy but damn he was hot. A girl had to get a little action even if it was all in her imagination; right?

  “I thought you were supposed to be smart,” Jax joked, as he continued his task.

  “Don’t be such a jackass,” I yelled, my earlier fantasy disappearing as I was rudely jolted back to the reality that Jax was a complete asshole. “It’s late. I didn’t think anyone else would be in here or I would have waited.”

  “I have been coming down here ever since I was a freshman. It’s my private time,” Jax countered back.

  Thinking this over, I realized we may have to battle for this space. “Sorry, I didn’t know. We could come up with some type of schedule,” I offered trying hard not to be a total bitch.

  “Or, we could just train together sometime,” Jax said, as he watched me lift the small arm weights. “That way, we don’t have to worry about schedules and we could both come whenever we wanted.”

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  “You know, people might actually like you if you would smile and be pleasant,” he snapped at me.

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” I boomed, as I slammed my weights down on the ground. Their clanking noise startled Jax more than my voice.

  “What? I am just telling you the truth.”

  “Ok, well truthfully, you are an arrogant asshole. Maybe more people would like you if you didn’t act like you were a god around here.” I half smiled.

  We stood there fuming at one another before I decided to be the one to leave. Storming past him, I left Jax in the weight room and went back to my dorm. If he thought his words would hurt me, then he was terribly wrong.

  As a kid, I was sort of a loner. Growing up in a small town with kids who valued appearances over loyalty and kindness had made me distance myself from them. During my sophomore year of high school, I grew numb to the world around me. My Mom and Dad were always gone, on some business trip or exciting vacation that prohibited the sight of children. I had learned to fend for myself. I spent my hours at school sitting in the back of each class, taking notes and ignoring what people were saying about me. The weird girl who didn’t go to their parties. The weird girl who ran every morning and every night. I could feel their judgmental eyes staring into my body like a laser. I knew what they were thinking. “Can you believe she doesn’t want to hang out with us?” And, “She must think she is so much better than us.” Whatever it was they were thinking, they had no idea exactly how wrong they actually were. It’s not that I hated my peers. Instead, I just didn’t really think of them at all. I was more focused on using running as my therapy and my friend. It was my outlet for loneliness and my ticket out of this small town and to a future one day.

  The only class that I enjoyed, that I was able to let down my guard in was gym. For fifty-five minutes a day, I was able to be someone else, anyone else but me. I could be a ravaging beast crumbling an entire city of beautiful look-alikes without brains. Or I could rewrite my own life; placing my story on some remote desert island with only a full bookshelf and the sunlight. It was a fantasy but for those short fifty-five minutes, I was happy and I could just be me.

  But my senior year had shown some slight improvement in their maturity levels. Two months into the school year, and I had not had one shoulder shoved into my back or one evil glare across the cafeteria. I had made significant progress. The truth was, I wanted something real and honest in my life. My masquerade of hatred for conformity was hiding something that I desired and needed for my own survival. The only problem was, I had no idea what it was that I needed. That was until I discovered I could get a scholarship for running. My track coach had helped me complete the applications to dozens of schools. Once I was granted a full scholarship, I never looked back. I ignored the hateful comments and good riddance notes left for me during my high school graduation. I had set off on a plane to California and never looked back.

  Even though all of the hatred I endured in school, never in my life had I been more angered and turned on by someone. My emotions were at battle with one another and I wasn’t sure which one was going to win.

  Chapter 4

  Mallory

  Kill me no
w.

  The sweaty, super starved blonde sitting next to me tried desperately to eavesdrop on my conversation with Laney and Mark. The girl’s newly dyed blonde hair showed hints of her original dark brown color and I pitied her for not even recognizing that one fatal mistake; she forgot to cover up her roots. She smiled, acting coy as if she wasn’t just trying to listen to every word I said. I guess mentioning the name Jax on campus brought the attention to all females around. Trying to whisper over deafening high punk beats and several hundred voices at the party were not working out for me.

  I had to fan myself with the small pocketbook I clutched, the house was overcrowded as usual and I could feel the sweat rolling down my arms. My tank top was not thin enough for this heat. “That’s easy for you to say.” I continued, allowing my voice to raise a few more octaves, “You don’t have to be on a team with a complete ass.”

  I could hear the angst in my voice, angering me. I hated that a guy who I had just met could have such a pull over my emotions, but he did. I pulled at my hair, sweeping it off the back of my neck. Even glancing around this fraternity house, I knew I didn’t fit it. I was meant for the track. I was meant to be outside enjoying the cool night air, not stuck inside some loud party with a bunch of people I hardly knew. But, I had promised Laney I would come with her and since she was really my only friend here, I knew I had to at least give in and come tonight. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t complain about Jax.

  “He was such an ass,” I yelled over the loud music to my new friend, Laney, and her boyfriend.

  It was the next evening and I was ready to celebrate my win and hang out with my new friends. I was finally adjusted to Falls Creek and had completed my first two weeks of classes. Everything around me seemed perfect. The party was in full swing and I was sitting and stewing as I thought about Jax, the asshole hotshot who thought he was the best damn thing that ever happened to Falls Creek University. Sure he was good looking and incredibly athletic, but that didn’t give him the right to try and show me up. Laney was nodding her head along as I replayed the events to her. I didn’t miss a beat as I shouted to her.