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SPRING SUMME R FALLING  | 29

               “Let’s end this workout for the day. It’s not beneficial to either of us. You’re
            not completely here.” He takes a deep breath and punches the air a little. It would
            be funny if I weren’t confused.

               “Look, I just have a lot on my mind. Can we just run?” I acquiesce and resume
            running. We get a mile and a half into the run, and he starts sprinting like he’s trying
            to win a race. By the time I make it to the end, Henry is doing pull-ups at a crazy
            speed. What’s wrong with him? I cool down and take a sip of water. “Sanya, do you
            have time to go to breakfast? I’m ready to talk.”

               Breakfast? We never have breakfast together. My mind screams, but my head
            nods. Maybe he is going to drop me as a “client.” I know for a fact that Cassie
            doesn’t like me; maybe she used va-jay-jay power to get him to drop me. I pull into
            the spot next to him and walk to my impending doom. Maybe Tony and I will get
            to know each other better.
               I slide across from him in the booth. The scent of coffee and bacon overpowers
            everything else. The server blasts past with a huge plate of pancakes. They look like
            heaven, but that could be the Keto diet talking. We both order water, and I ask for
            hot tea; he gets coffee. I look around to see everything but Henry. I am nervous and
            don’t want to react like a spoiled child if he tells me he can no longer help me.

               The server arrives with our drinks. I squeeze lemon into my tea with far more
            attention and diligence than necessary. I chastise myself to be an adult and move
            my focus from his fingers then up his long-sleeved arms to his face. I am surprised
            to see him studying my face as if he is trying to pinpoint every nuance that makes
            up my complexion. I wonder if he can hear my heart beating. I reorganize the sugar
            packets. First, I have them all grouped by color. Then, I decide to be different and
            rotate them – pink, blue, yellow, white, but there are more white packets than the
            others. I’m starting my new pattern pink, white, blue, white, yellow, white…when
            he places his hand over mine. We hardly ever touch each other, so his hand covering
            mine is somewhat of a thrill.

               My shocked eyes search his. He smirks; some of the Henry charm is back.
            “What are you doing?” he asks. “If I didn’t know better, I would think I make you
            nervous.”
               Yes. “No.” I half shrug. “This whole morning has been weird.” He rubs his
            beard and sighs hard.
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