Chapter 2

Tony awakened alone in his bed when the alarm sounded.

Dressed in a sweatshirt, cutoff sweatpants and his running shoes, Tony grabbed his gear-bag and headed out the door. He was hoping he’d see Autry in the hallway, again.

No such luck.

He was almost to the beach when he recognized Autry’s sexy ass ahead of him. She’s neither jogging or even fast-walking. She’s just walking at a brisk pace, which makes her ass sway in the most amazingly sensuous manner.

Taking a deep breath, Tony jogs up beside her, before he realizes she’s wearing a headset. He stops when she looks around and screams.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I remember you from my apartment building, but I’ve never gotten the nerve to speak. I’m Tony Stuart, and I live on the same floor as you.”

She still has her headset plugged into her ears and she didn’t hear a word he said. She snatched them off her ears and glared at him.

“Don’t you fuckin ever frighten me like that again...

“Oh FUCK! I’M SO SORRY! I remember you now. You live down the hall from me, don’t you?

“Yes, I was trying to apologize for scaring you, but you had your headset on. I’m Tony Stuart, by the way. I saw you and remembered you as a neighbor from my apartment building. I wanted to introduce myself, instead of just jogging past with my nose in the air. I apologize again for scaring you. I hope you have a good day at the beach.”

“You saw my fat ass, and recognized me that way, didn’t you? Go ahead and admit it.”

“Hey look, the first time ever I saw you, I thought you were the sexiest woman I’d ever seen in my whole life and I wanted to meet you. But I’ve always chickened out because I just knew you would curse me and tell me to get lost. You’ve just proved I was right about you!”

He didn’t give her a chance to respond, jogging ahead at an even faster pace than before. Suddenly, someone slapped his left arm and he looked around to see her. She’s smiling as she keeps her hand on his arm.

“I’m sorry, Tony. I was so lost in my thoughts, listening to my favorite song. I’m so glad you stopped me. I’ve been wanting to meet you, too. Are you headed to the beach?”

“Yes, I have a four day weekend and I’m going to take advantage of it. Are you going to workout, swim, or just lie in the sun?”

“All three. I know where you’re headed. I’ve seen you working out many times. I was cheering for you last week when you won the Mr. Muscle Beach contest.”

“Thanks. I didn’t realize you even knew me. I mean, that you even knew I live in the same apartment building as you.”

“You also go to class three nights a week. I even have one class with you on Fridays. I’m so glad we get to play hooky together today.”

“We have a class together? I have to apologize again. I’ve never seen you at school.”

“That’s because you always have your face buried in a book. There’s not a female teacher or female student in that night class, that wouldn’t love to sit beside you during class-break, if you would raise your head once in a while and look around.”

“Would you like to jog with me? I always jog about a half mile each way, then come back here to workout. You can check your gear-bag here with mine, if you don’t have a locker.”

“I don’t jog fast. But I would love to jog with you.”

“Let’s check our bags in, uh, you may want to put your sweats in here too.”

“You just want to see my fat butt and my oversize bust, don’t you?”

“Well, I won’t be caught looking the other way if you take your sweats off.”

“Good answer. I get to see you up close too. Don’t look now, but those four girls over there are staring at you.”

“I’ve seen them here before.”

“The blonde with the fat-ass and fake titties, is waving. Don’t be rude, wave back ... That was nice of you. Now, she’ll want to chase you down, the next time she sees you.”

“Autry, let up will you? I’m here with you because I’ve wanted to meet you for at least three months now.”

“You know my name?”

“Yeah well, we Uh - I must have heard it at school.”

“Not likely - maybe in the hallway at the apartments?”

“That could be it. Regardless, I like you and I like your name. I swear I’ve heard your name somewhere. Do you swim?”

“I swim longer distances than I run. I’m sure you swim. You probably leap tall buildings and fly faster than a speeding bullet.”

“Are you always this snarky with men when you first meet them?”

“I don’t meet men. You’re the first man I have ever talked to, in public like this.”

“Do you talk kinder to men in private?”

“I’ve never dated and that’s the honest truth. I’m so self conscious of my body, I don’t trust anyone. Especially men who run up behind me and literally scare the piss out of me.”

“I’ve already apologized for that. Besides, we’re trying to become friends here and I really do like my new friend. I just wish she would let up and treat me as an equal, and maybe even try to like me a little, so we can get to know each other.”

“Your new friend likes you too much already, to accept you as an equal. I promise I’ll not cut you down again, if you’ll help me get my body in shape like yours.”

“Then let’s swim. Do you always swim in your jogging shorts and sports bra?”

“I’m wearing my bikini underneath these jogging clothes. I always wear it, in hopes I’ll gather enough courage to swim in these tiny little scraps of yellow that barely cover me enough to keep from being arrested.”

“You mean, I’ll be the first person to see you in your tiny bikini.”

“If you’ll be my friend, and go slow with me until I become as bold as you, this could actually be the first of many firsts, for you and me.”

“I won’t push you, and if I try to lead you too fast, just tell me and I’ll slow down. I like you already, though I actually liked you before I met you.”

“I liked you before we met too. You’re so damn self confident in who you are, yet you don’t come across as stuck-up or arrogant.”

“I like me even better, now that I know how you see me. Could I tell you why I wanted to meet you, but I was afraid you’d tell me to get lost?”

“Tell me. I’m sure you’re going to start by telling me how much you like my fat ass and my big tits.”

“No, but if you’ll let me talk with more than one sentence at a time, I’ll get around to telling you about your sexy ass and your amazing tits.”

“I really like you, Tony, so don’t shoot me a line of bullshit. Just tell me like it is. I’ve heard it all, I can assure you. I’ve even gotten letters dropped in my mailbox from el cheapos, who are too stingy to put a stamp on them.”