Chapter 24 Mile Twenty-Four #2
“Could sound fancy if said in the right accent.” Catherine clears her throat. “Garri,” she purrs in a French accent.
“Test it out in the heat of passion. See how it rolls off the tongue, while he’s using his,” Kayla says saucily, causing Anker to groan.
“Oh! I love your friends,” Lara gushes.
“On that note…” Garrett places his hands on my shoulders. “Jensen and I need to stretch and grab our post-run snacks to replenish at the runner’s tent. We’ll meet you all in the vendor area.”
“Fine, run off with her, but it’s only a matter of time before I get all the details about you two, and share with her my many, many embarrassing Garri facts.
” She releases me and places her hands on her hips in a sassy pose.
“Did you know Garri and his friends would LARP at the park near our house as teenagers?” she says.
“Best day of my life!” Anker chortles.
“LARP?” Kayla tilts her head.
“Live action role playing. It’s where people dress up as Lord of the Rings-like characters and battle with foam swords,” Catherine explains.
“It’s far more complex than that,” Garrett mutters.
“You’ll have to explain the complexity of LARPing on our walk to the runners’ tent.” I lean back against Garrett and tip my head up, a teasing grin twitching at my lips. “It may take me time to come to terms with your dorky backstory.”
“Always lovely to have you around, Lara,” he groans.
“Sorry, not sorry,” she singsongs.
Taking my cane from Anker, I slip my hand into Garrett’s to head to the runner’s tent.
There we stretch and then grab peanut butter banana smoothies and some almonds to help replenish ourselves after the race.
So much of running is about what you put into your body, rather than how you use it.
It’s all fuel—what and when you eat. Just like with therapy and so many other things in my life, it’s about the right nourishment to do the things you need to do.
“I’m not hiding you from my family,” he says gruffly as he hands me a smoothie bottle.
“I know… I mean, I’ve spent the last four days with your brother and his husband. Also, it’s clear from what Bryce and Lara have said that you talk about me.” I flash a large grin, hoping to smooth down whatever worry nips at him.
“What Lara said about me making excuses for them to not meet you… I don’t want you to think that’s because of you.”
“I know.” I rake my top teeth over my lip.
“For like a hot second, I worried, but those are my own insecurities. As much as I hate that they flared awake for a moment, I’m glad I recognized it quickly enough to rewrite the story in my head.
Guess that’s progress… But I know that’s not what’s happening here. ”
“I do want them to meet you,” he murmurs.
“They’ve technically met me.”
“But not as my girlfriend.”
“When you’re ready.” I press into him, his arms banding around me and keeping me tucked against his chest. “Family integration is a huge step. I get it. It makes it real—”
He squeezes me tight. “This is real.”
“I know… Perhaps, real is a poor word choice.” I tip my head up to him. “What I’m saying is this doesn’t change the way… I know you feel about me. You’re my first actual boyfriend, and I’m the first woman you’ve been in a relationship with since Val. We’re in uncharted waters, here.”
He rests his chin atop my head. “I’m glad to be in these waters with you.”
“Ditto, Garri.”
“I’m going to kill Lara,” he laughingly grumbles.
The initial post-race euphoria waves are now still, leaving me stiff and tired.
Despite the endurance and strength I’ve built with months of training, muscles I wasn’t aware existed ache.
While the stretching exercises and healthy snacks help replenish us, I still have no desire to move from the hotel room bed where I lay sprawled in my towel post-shower.
Tonight, we’re staying in with room service, while our friends hit the town with Bryce, Marshall, and Lara.
After our recovery run in the morning, we’ll meet everyone at Bryce and Marshall’s for a celebratory brunch before catching our flight back home.
Much like the stretching and nutrient-rich foods, the recovery run helps the body heal after the wear and tear caused by long-distance running.
So much of running is about the build to the race and the way you deal with its aftermath to come back again.
“Hey,” Garrett murmurs, kneading his fingers into my calves.
“Mm-hm…” Eyes closed, I let out a low moan.
“Undo the towel and lie on your stomach.” With gentle pressure, he moves his fingers down my legs to my ankles.
“For butt stuff? I don’t think I have the energy.”
“No!” Laughter belts out of him. “Massage.”
“Much better idea.” Untucking the towel from around me, I then flop onto my stomach with the grace of a drunken toddler.
“Bryce gave me some CBD oil that will help with muscle aches and inflammation,” he says, reaching over to the nightstand.
“I love your brother,” I hum as Garrett swipes his hands down my back. Even though my muscles are tight despite his featherlight pressure, I know this temporary twinge will offer relief.
“Pretty sure the feeling is mutual.” He chuckles, kneading his fingers into my hips. “Bryce mentioned he’s connecting you with a contact at the MVP Foundation.”
“Yeah,” I hum. The tightness in my body loosens with each press.
Over the last few days, Bryce and Marshall have helped me figure out alternative pathways to get some of the things I want to do.
While the position I want doesn’t exist at Pemberly, they’ve shown me how I can just make it.
My current role may focus on the academic needs, but I can expand it to work on my many, many ideas to offer more for disabled students.
Bryce did the same thing. He was constrained by what he could offer through the PT clinic where he works, and what was available in the community. He started small, but through donations, relationships with different foundations, and lots of grants, he’s built something.
“I’ve never considered reaching out to them in the past, because their focus has been on disabled kids’ recreation and athletic activities, but Bryce knows the couple who started the foundation and says they may be open to sponsoring an adaptive athletic center at the university.
” I scrunch my nose. “Well, at least a few pieces of equipment.”
“One mile at a time.” He increases the pressure.
“Yeah…”
Change is a marathon. Even if it may appear as if it happened in the blink of an eye, there is a build to get there. The difference is I’m not waiting for it to happen. Even if I never get there, I’m running towards that finish line.
“Ooh,” I groan.
“Too much.”
“Yes, but don’t stop.” I relax into the ache. Each press of his fingers unspools the tension in my muscles just a little more.
“This helping?”
“Yes.” A smile slinks across my face. “If I don’t pass out from how good this feels, I’ll return the favor.”
“Having you spread out naked on a bed is a return favor.”
“Perv,” I coo. “Though having a boyfriend with a massage kink does come in handy, especially when you’re engaged in marathon training.”
“Anytime.” He moves down my hips towards the back of my thighs. “I’ll be at the ready after your training sessions with Anker.”
“Yeah…” I breathe. A dull ache clusters in my throat.
Tomorrow’s run with Garrett may not be the last time we run together, but it will be our last training session. Next Sunday I’ll be running with Anker.
“What’s wrong, pretty girl?” His firm touches turn softer as he moves his hands up my spine in slow caresses.
“I don’t want to do this without you.” I swallow the lump gathering in my throat.
It’s silly to get emotional about this. The whole reason I started training is to help my brother. Garrett was only ever supposed to be a stand-in.
“Hey…” He lies down beside me. “I’m still here. You still have me.”
“I know.” Shifting, I roll onto my side to face him. “This started because of Anker, but it’s become about me and you. I can’t imagine crossing that finish line without you.”
He soothes his right hand down my side. “Today will not be the last race we run. That’s a promise.”
Those words surge warmth within me. Promises speak to something more than hope. They speak of plans—of expectations. Even if there isn’t a guarantee, he still makes that promise.
“And if you want me to run a marathon with you, I will. I would do anything for you.” He leans in and brushes his lips against mine. “But is this about wanting to run the race with me, or being scared to do it with someone else?”
“I…” I swallow thickly. “I made such a mess of it the first time with Anker. It took me so long to get here; what if I go back? What if I fail him? Myself?”
“Are you more worried about failing Anker or yourself?”
Somewhere between my brother’s accident and now, this became about me.
Maybe it had already been about me, and I had just used Anker as an excuse.
Mere hours before I volunteered to do this, I faced yet another disappointment.
Not just by Miles, but by myself. The last seven months have been about me taking charge of my own heart.
I’m not the woman who waits for things anymore.
I’m not the woman who allows herself to be someone’s backup plan, especially her own.
“Myself,” I murmur. “I don’t want to fail myself. I want to do whatever ensures I cross that finish line.”
“And what is that?”