Payton and Lancelot - Once a Runner ProloguePrologue - The Simple Life Ain't So Simple

“Running with the Devil” – Van Halen

“That’ll be $9.62.”

Bedecked in a pair of black cargo pants and a green apron that covered the front of her shirt, Payton Chris stood behind the register of her coffee shop, ringing up a local college student’s order - triple espresso caramel frappuccino, extra whipped cream, and a cheesecake brownie - and thought, really, there were far worse jobs. She had her share of assholes, and yeah, the hours could sometimes be a real drag. But the billionaire in charge of the company had decided and/or been shamed into giving a living wage for all their employees, even in cities that didn’t require it. So she got plenty of free pastries, and every now and then she got to enjoy some of the local eye candy. In this particular case, it was said student’s backside, with what Payton knew to be at least