Kingston
I waited beneath the lemon tree, searching out over the lake for a sign of Landon.
It was too far to see him, really.
But having a general idea of where he’d be meant I could watch for a sign of him.
And that was enough, while the distance between us spanned larger than the lake. The lake where, in the spot I stood, his mother had found us. Sparking a chain of events that led to Landon begging me to change what couldn’t be undone. The moment that had started all of this.
A mistake I couldn’t take back.
Pulled from my thoughts by the sound of voices, I turned around as some of the Ladies filed past. Elaine, caked in mud, waved at me. Giving the whole group a tight smile took more effort than I had today.
But then Quinn appeared.
Equally covered in mud, and as coated with sweat as the other girls, she was the most beautiful thing I’d seen all day.
“Holy shit,” she panted, a smile fighting its way through her worn out expression.
“The Mud Pit was ridiculous. I don’t know what I would’ve done if the tire hopping thingy hadn’t been after that.
And I’m seriously wondering who designs your advertising, because I don’t remember any of these things being part of our training. ”
She paused beside me, leaning against the lemon tree to catch her breath without realizing it. Seeing her beneath it pained my chest as sweat dripped off her brow like raindrops. A few slid down her nose and over her cheek like tears.
I reached out and swiped them away with my thumb.
The picture she painted, standing there, resonated with familiarity. And yet, it was so different from the one that lived in my mind for a year after Desi died. The one I’d painted for a year but hadn’t been able to complete.
I’d need to show her one day.
“You’re halfway there. How is your breathing?”
She swung her crossbody around to the front and unzipped it. After withdrawing and priming her inhaler, she took two deep puffs, breathing in and visibly relaxing as the medication filtered through her lungs.
“When you see Landon later, you tell him I did that.”
She chuckled to herself, looping me into a private joke they shared, and I was grateful for the connection.
Not wanting to distract her, I nodded. “I will.”
Before she resumed the course, she pulled a plastic bag out of her crossbody. She slipped her hand into her sports bra and came away with her last cypher. Once she’d tucked it inside the plastic bag, she resealed it and zipped up the small purse to swing it back over her shoulder.
I grinned, unsurprised by her resourcefulness. “Clever girl.”
“Gia makes me watch all those reality TV competitions. It always bothered me how they’d wind up with something written on paper and trek through the water like it wasn’t a big deal.” She shrugged, smiling up at me. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared.”
Leaning forward, I kissed the top of her forehead. “I knew I was right about you.”
“So you keep saying.” She propped her hands on her hips and smirked. “And you know, I think I finally see what you mean.”
Pride swelled in my chest, and I couldn’t help myself. I captured her face in my hands and kissed her. When I pulled back, she wiped her lips, muttered about salty kisses, and stumbled away before straightening her spine and continuing forward.
Next, she’d face the Balance Beam obstacle, manned by Brad, before reaching Paul at the Pyramid Wall. From the floating dock behind Winchester Hall, she’d need to swim in the lake to the long dock and reach the last obstacles.
I had counted nine girls passing through my spot at the midpoint of the course. Once the final two girls passed by, the Knights would follow behind them. Except for Landon, who would move to the eleventh obstacle and cover their progress there. Endurance at the start and end.
While I waited, I leaned against the lemon tree and looked out over the lake.
With the floating dock in view, I’d be able to see when Quinn reached it.
At every point in the course, I made it possible for one of us to ensure her progress.
Even if Max didn’t know he’d been tasked with this assignment, even if he claimed to feel nothing for her now, I trusted he’d look out for her.
I trusted that feeling nothing for Quinn was as impossible for him as it was for Landon and me.
I had faith.
No matter what we faced, no matter the obstacles we encountered, or the battles ahead, we would reach the end.
Together.