"It’s so much easier when it's for you,” she muttered.
“Stretch your sore calf, so you don’t get a cramp. Here,” he said, tossing her a T-shirt. “Take this to pin your race bib on.”
“I don’t need to stretch,” she said absently. “What’s this?” She held up the T-shirt. Theo’s name under the sponsors caught her attention first, then she read the title of the race:The Maple Street Center Dash for a Difference.
“This is what we’re running for,” he said simply. He smiled softly, nodding at what he saw on her face.
Her heart surged in her chest, clogging her throat, and she just stared because he knew. He knew what it meant to her.
"Amber! Amber!" Someone shouted, and she turned around before she could say anything. Allie and Davis with Sammy, Ben, Claire, Savvie, and Tessa all stood on the sidelines, waiting for her to run. Lily stood next to Evie. Annette, and the aunts were there. She wanted to find a rock to crawl under.
"Oh great, my whole family is here to watch me fail."
“Racers, take your places," they heard over the intercom. Theo led her over to the other racers and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. He looked entirely too fit and calm this morning in his gray shorts and snug T-shirt. His legs were hard with muscle, and his golden tan reminded her that he was a real runner while she was only pretending.
Theo seemed to sense her spiraling as usual because he looped his arms around her and settled her into his big body. It felt so good, Amber didn’t care if anyone thought the mayor hugging his assistant was strange. She settled her hips against his and breathed in—warm skin and clean soap, a purely masculine combination that worked on her like a grounding force.
“Remember, it’s just me and you running like we always do,” he murmured in her ear.
That made her feel marginally better. She adjusted her racing bib one last time.
Suddenly, she grabbed Theo’s arm. “If I don’t finish, don’t be mad, okay?”
Theo bent his knees to look in her eyes. “You're going to run this race, and then we're going to have a drink at the pub. And you're going to feel amazing."
"Get set."
"If you say so,” she muttered.
He grabbed her hand. She pulled away, conscious of the people around them. She didn’t care about anyone’s opinion, but she didn’t want anyone to gossip about Theo. He gripped her hand tighter.
"Go."
If Theo hadn't been holding her hand, Amber would've stood stock still and let all of the other runners trample her, but he dragged her along with him. He must have known she needed that extra push.
The first mile was nice and easy. Theo had it all calculated out, so all she had to do was get into the right headspace and put one foot in front of another. Eventually he let go of her hand, and when she looked up, he smiled.
She was feeling pretty good now. The loop was a nice, scenic route along the Erie Canal, the weather was warm but not boiling, and it was good to feel alive and healthy in the middle of a crowd of people with a common goal.
She could totally do this.
Shehadbeen training for over a month.
She was strong and healthy.
She kept a steady stream of positive self-talk and focused on her breathing like the badass runner she was.
Theo ran easily next to her. His long legs could easily outrun her, but he kept near and chatted easily with the people running around him. Once, she looked over and caught him grinning at her. She gave him a cheeky thumbs up.
"You're doing great,” he said, not even breathing heavily.
The second mile, things fell apart. The cramp in her calf that Theo had warned about hit her full force until she had to slow down to a stop. She was surprised by how crushed she felt.
“You go ahead. My stupid calf. Don't you say I told you so,” she muttered as people passed them.
“Stop for a minute and stretch, and then we’ll keep going.” They were in a residential neighborhood now that was lined with maple trees. Theo helped her limp to the shady curb.
“I don't think I can do it. It hurts.”
