Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
MELISSA
After the cheat meal, I’m nervous to step on the scale the next morning, but I’m still down two pounds from when I started my diet last week. Most of it’s probably water weight, but I’ll take it.
But when I get dressed to run with Sophie, it’s clear I still have a ways to go.
Before the divorce, my blue workout top was always loose, but it’s definitely snug in the chest now.
It’s still loose in the waist, though, and it hides the fact that my running shorts give me a muffin top, so it’ll have to do.
I drive downtown and find a parking spot a block from Roadrunner, the running store that organizes the group.
There are about thirty runners milling around the park across the street from the store, and they seem to have sorted themselves by running ability.
On one side, the hard-core runners are going through what looks like a pretty serious stretching routine.
They’re greyhound lean and dressed in black spandex, with special belts to hold their water bottles and energy gels.
On the other side, there appears to be a beginner group.
They’re also decked out in water bottle belts and spandex, but for some reason, their spandex is mostly brightly colored.
I bet Roadrunner made bank out of selling the fancy gear, and it explains why they bother to run the club for free.
The beginners are also very focused on stretching, but they look a little intimidated.
The rest of the runners look casually athletic, and interestingly enough, very few of them are wearing spandex. They’re chatting in little groups and doing some half-hearted stretching, and I spot Sophie’s red hair right away.
Unfortunately, I also spot Luke Carlton, standing about twenty feet away in a group of casual athletes.
He’s wearing an old Somerset University T-shirt that picks out the green in his eyes, and my heart skips a beat.
I find myself imagining how he’d look in spandex running tights instead of baggy athletic shorts.
Call me pathetic, but ever since Luke came over on Wednesday, I’ve been hoping to run into him again—just not here, when I’m about to run for the first time in a year.
I’m tempted to turn around. I could text Sophie with some excuse, like I’m feeling sick, or my workout clothes are too tight. Both excuses are actually true; the thought of Luke seeing me run is making me queasy.
But there’s no reason for him to see me run. I’ll be running with the beginners, and I’m sure he’ll be with one of the faster groups.
And Sophie’s spotted me, and she’s walking over. “Hey, Melissa,” she says brightly. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Of course,” I say, with feigned enthusiasm. “I didn’t realize there’d be so many people.”
“Yeah, but we’ll split up into groups,” Sophie says reassuringly.
“And you really don’t mind running with the beginners?” I ask, feeling guilty about holding her back.
“Not at all. After the week I’ve had, the last thing I need is a hard run.”
My gaze strays to Luke again, and I catch him staring at me. As soon as I meet his eye, he looks away.
Sophie follows my gaze and shrugs apologetically. “I forgot Luke comes to this sometimes. He runs with the intermediate group, though, so you’ll hardly see him.”
“It’s fine,” I lie. “We’re over all the awkwardness. I’m just grateful he took care of Claire.”
Sophie shrugs. “In that case, I’d suggest we go say hi, but he’s fraternizing with the devil.”
I cut a glance at the two guys standing with Luke, who are both tall, fit, and painfully good-looking. “Which one’s the devil?” I ask curiously. “The dark-haired one?” He’s about an inch taller than the others, with rugged features and a serious expression.
Sophie scowls. “No. I mean, Drew’s hardly Mr. Sunshine, but I was referring to Austin.”
By process of elimination, I deduce that Austin’s the blond one. “He doesn’t look like the devil, Sophie,” I say under my breath. In fact, he’s one of the best-looking men I’ve ever seen, with piercing blue eyes and cheekbones that could cut glass.
“He’s an arrogant ass,” she says a little too loudly.
To my dismay, the blond devil glances up and winks at Sophie, then starts toward us.
“Dr. Kaminsky,” he says with a teasing grin. “You haven’t called me in over a week. Don’t tell me you learned to do your own sutures?”
Sophie’s face reddens. “The last time I called you, Austin, was because a twelve-year-old kid had a cut on her face, and her mom asked for a plastic surgeon.”
“I’m not complaining, Sophie,” he interrupts. “I’m always glad to help you out. But in exchange, I think you should introduce me to your friend.”
“Sure,” Sophie says, with a roll of her eyes. “Melissa Lawrence, meet Austin Davenport. He’s one of the plastic surgeons at the hospital.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Melissa,” he says with a warm smile. His tone is flirtatious, but I try not to read too much into it. He’s probably one of those men who flirts with every girl he meets.
I glance back toward Luke, and sure enough, he’s walking over too. “Hey, Sophie,” he says, then pauses before turning to me. “Melissa.”
Austin raises an eyebrow. “You guys know each other?”
“We went to high school together,” Luke says curtly.
“Huh,” Austin says, smiling at me again. “Almost makes me wish I’d grown up in Somerset.”
I can feel my cheeks heating. There’s no mistaking that; Austin Davenport is definitely flirting with me.
“We should join the group, Austin,” Luke says pointedly. “I think they’re almost ready to go.” The casually athletic types have clustered around a young man in a Roadrunner shirt who appears to be giving a pep talk.
“You girls coming?” Austin asks. “I think it’s just five miles today.”
“Sure,” I say, before I can talk myself out of it.
Sophie’s eyes widen. “But—”
“I think I can do five miles,” I interrupt, before she can explain that we were planning to run with the beginners.
And why not? I used to be able to run five miles like it was nothing. It won’t be pretty, but if I don’t push myself, I’ll never improve.
Sophie’s looking at me with concern. “Melissa, I—”
This time Austin interrupts her. “Don’t think you can keep up, Kaminsky?” he teases.
“Of course we can,” I answer for both of us.
Sophie shrugs, and we follow Austin and Luke over to their group.
“Welcome!” bellows the man in the Roadrunner shirt. He’s bouncing on the balls of his feet, like he’s been looking forward to this all week and he can’t wait to get going. “I’m Justin, and I’ll be leading this group. It’s a great day for a run!”
I must look a bit taken aback by his enthusiasm, because Luke’s dark-haired friend smirks at my expression.
“A bit much for eight A.M., isn’t he?” he mutters. “I’m Drew.”
“Melissa.”
“Drew’s basically our boss,” Austin explains, “but he’s not a bad guy, so we let him hang out with us sometimes.”
Drew rolls his eyes at Austin before turning to me. “Nice to meet you, Melissa.”
“You too.”
Justin finishes explaining the route—south through the park, west along the lake, then a loop back up to the starting point—and we set off.
Sophie and I are bringing up the rear, and Luke and his friends are directly ahead of us.
I’m glad the guys didn’t insist on letting us go first, out of some misguided sense of chivalry; this way, I don’t have to worry about whether Luke can see the cellulite on the backs of my thighs.
At first, the pace doesn’t seem too bad. The trail is familiar—I used to run through this park as a teenager, training for cross-country races—and I tell myself that if I could run it then, I can run it now. Maybe running is like riding a bike, a skill that you never really forget.
Ahead of us, Luke and his friends are loping along, as though this is nothing more than a stroll through the park. They’re clearly all athletes, but Luke seems to move with particular grace.
Five minutes later, every part of me hurts.
My lungs are burning, my thighs are chafing, and my feet are killing me.
My bra is too tight, and with every breath, the waistband of my shorts seems to dig itself tighter into my belly.
Even my head is aching, which doesn’t make sense, since it’s not doing any of the work.
“You okay?” Sophie asks.
“Sure,” I huff out, but I’m really not. This is nothing like riding a bike. I doubt we’ve even done a mile, and there’s no way I’m going to make another four. I’ll be lucky to last another four minutes.
The worst part is that it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for my stupid pride, I’d be with the beginner group, taking a walking break. And all because I didn’t want to admit to Austin that I couldn’t keep up.
It had nothing to do with Austin, says a voice inside my head. You didn’t want Luke to know you’re out of shape.
As we reach a curve, Luke glances over his shoulder at me, then quickly turns back to focus on the trail.
I turn the corner and see the lake up ahead. I tell myself to ignore my body and focus on the scenery. The leaves are changing color, and the trees are really beautiful. The Somerset Board of Tourism should photograph this scene for their ads. I’m lucky to be able to experience it.
Except I don’t feel lucky. I feel like I’m going to either throw up or pass out. There’s no alternative. I have to stop.
Then, a few feet ahead of me, Luke abruptly stops running.
“Muscle cramp,” he calls out to Austin and Drew, who turn and circle back to him. It’s only natural for Sophie and me to stop too. I could collapse with relief.
“I just need to walk it off,” Luke explains. “You guys go ahead.”
“We’re not going to leave you behind, man,” Austin insists. “Where’s the cramp?”
“Left calf,” Luke says with a grimace. He extends his left leg and bends forward in an effort to stretch the muscle. “I’ll be fine, I just need to walk it off.”
“We’ll have to start buying you those fancy electrolyte gels,” Austin says in mock disgust. “And a fanny pack to carry them.”