Chapter 2. New York

“Hey,” Anna replied, slightly breathless from her run and the surprise of seeing Zac. She quickly diverted her gaze from his lips, trying to hide the blush that crept up her cheeks. “Didn’t expect to see you out here this early.”

Zac chuckled, running a hand through his damp hair. “Yeah, I guess we both have our ways of dealing with things. Running helps clear my mind.” He sounded way more lively than how he used to sound a few weeks ago.

Both of them had not really talked in a while, maybe only the occasional nod or ‘hi’ when they saw each other in the halls or somewhere else.

Anna nodded, her heartbeat gradually returning to normal. “Same here. It’s one of the few things that makes me feel… free.” She tried her best to keep her attention on the conversation and not on how hot Zac looked.

She believed that he had been working out because he looked way more fit than how he used to look.

There was a moment of silence between them, the early morning air f