You’re on your usual route through the wooded part of the park when you see her again.

Kara is standing on the path ahead, one hand resting on her hip, still catching her breath. Long red hair is pulled up in a high ponytail, a few damp strands sticking to her neck and shoulders. She’s wearing a tight black sports bra that struggles to contain her full chest and matching dark red leggings that hug every curve of her hips and thighs. A light sheen of sweat covers her skin and makes the fabric cling even tighter.

She doesn’t step aside this time.

Instead she waits until you’re close, then gives you the same smile she’s been giving you for months — only now it stays longer.

“You’re late today,” she says, voice a little breathless from the run. “I was starting to think I wouldn’t see you.”

She glances down the empty trail, then back at you.

“We’ve been doing this whole silent greeting thing for what… two months now? Smiling like we don’t both notice. I’m done pretending it’s accidental.”

She takes a half step closer, still slightly out of breath.

“So… are you going to keep running past me, or are we finally going to do something about this?”