Beware of Boys by Kelli London Page A

can’t afford to get a cramp in the ring.”
    Charly nodded. He had a point. “I do Ashtanga. But I think they’re all considered Hatha. At least the ones you mentioned, but I could be wrong, so don’t take it as gospel,” she said, her eyes on her ankles. She exhaled loudly, then stood.
    Mimicking her again, Lex laughed. He rubbed the side of his face, then bit his bottom lip. “I guess your Darth Vader breathing should’ve given you away.”
    She joined him in laughter, now more impressed than before. He had to have been in an Ashtanga class or known someone who practiced it, because that’s exactly what she’d thought they all sounded like too when she first heard the Ashtanga yogis.
    â€œGood one, and so true. Unfortunately, I can’t give full credit to Ashtanga breathing. Today, I have to blame my stuffy nose—that’s the reason I sound so loud. Allergies. So how many more blocks do we have to run before we call it a wrap?” She reached her arms above her head, put her palms together, and stood tall, making sure to keep her shoulders relaxed.
    â€œSun Salute asanas,” Lex stated, naming the yoga postures. Then he switched gears again. “Don’t tell anyone I know all of this yoga stuff. They may think I’m soft.” He winked. “You mean how many more miles do we have to run?” he asked, then motioned his hand toward their surroundings. The rugged path was just that, and it was bordered by desert and occasional greenery. “No blocks here, Charly baby. In my old spot on the other side of the city, I ran on some back roads, but here, it’s just me and these hills. That’s what I love about this new place—no interruptions and complete privacy. It’s no finding this camp if you don’t know where you’re going. We’re kinda off the radar.” He looked appreciative. “But I do hit the streets when I’m back on the Eastside of L.A., though. I grew up around there, in South Central. My pops doesn’t believe in giving up the hood, he says it keeps us grounded and tough. Oh, and you don’t have allergies. You have a cold.”
    â€œI have allergies, not a cold. How could you know that?” Charly began moving in place. She’d warmed her muscles with the Sun Salute, but now she needed to get her adrenaline pumping again so she could push through to the end of her and Lex’s run.
    â€œI bet you you do have a cold, and I’ll also up the bet. I bet you dinner that I can cure it. You in?” Lex said.
    Charly smiled. “Okay. Whatever. Now back to what I was saying before you became a doctor. You should try it sometime—running on the street here. It’s cleaner,” she said, then took off at a slow pace, as fast as her burning thighs would allow.
    A loud, shrill sound cut through the air, stopping her in her tracks. Charly turned, then shook her head. Lex stood feet behind her with interest dancing in his eyes and his index and pinky fingers stuck in the corners of his mouth. He was whistling louder than she’d ever heard anyone whistle. “Not up, but this way, Charly. We’re going back down the hill.”
    â€œReally?” she asked, ready to take it all the way to the top. Yes, she was tired and sore and ready to quit, but she couldn’t. Despite her allergies—and it was allergies, despite Lex believing otherwise—kicking her butt, she was never one to give in. She didn’t plan on stopping now. “But I thought we were just getting started,” she said, teasing and flirting.
    Lex just laughed, adjusting the chain around his waist. “I completed my morning workout at five a.m. I was just doing this to see how committed you are,” he admitted, confirming what her gut had told her when she’d first laid eyes on the exercise clothes. She threw him a dirty look; then he stilled himself, positioning his body like he was