He doesn’t immediately react while the words sink in. It’s unexpected to say the least. “Are you trying to butter me up for something?” It seems more likely than her willing being soft.

He frowns at the visible reaction from her. “I was only teasing, Tash.” The distance closed between them, his arms slowly come around her from behind. It being more intimate than he realized.

He might’ve overdone it.

|| I seem to have lost a lot of replies now that I’m trying to respond to people. That’s super fun.

The nasty weather seemed a bit trivial for his preference of running. The pool is almost too quiet and dark though. Not how he likes to start the day.

|| I’m getting some quotes and then others it just says nope.

He uses his upper strength to lift entirely up and out of the pool. “I think I counted seventy laps.” The towel taken with a grateful smile, Steve still out of breath.

His eyes cut to her after he’d wiped his face on a nearby towel. A moment needed to catch his breath. “You planning on doing a few laps?”

He adverted his eyes in true gentleman fashion. Waiting until she’d joined him in the water to look again. “It’s all yours.” He said while resting near the edge, the burn in his limbs and chest telling him he needed to quit.

The towel used to dry himself off, he then wrapped it around his lower body. A few droplets cascading down his chest. “If it involves a certain blonde joining me, then yes.”

It wasn’t entirely uncommon for him to push himself to the limit. Often times, it was the most quick and effective way to quiet his thoughts. There isn’t one particular thing plaguing his mind. But he’d never turn down her company— if offered.

He was already resting on the ledge when she eventually came to join him. The water dripping off of him, while he leaned back with his hands braced behind him. "I hardly see the pool get used, so I figured I'd find out how it compares to a good run."

A gentle pinch to the blonde's side at the rolling of eyes. He took her hand into his then, kissing the top while leading them out of the natatorium. "The day's been a bit of a blur. A lot of little things that required my attention. How was dealing with the press?"

He’s considering an early night.

He’s spontaneously brought the reader ice skating with him.

ㅤㅤ ❝𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠.❞ ⸺ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐀 ⸺ 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬.

❝𝐊𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬. 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.❞ ⸺ 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇. ⸺ 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬.

⠀ ⠀ ❝𝐈 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐝.❞ ⸺ 𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐘. ⸺ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐜𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬.