“I’m too fucked up, I guess.”
Taken aback, she wondered how Phoenix and Caleb had come from the same family, much less shared a childhood.
Pounding feet foretold the winners streaking towards the finish line. Cheers erupted as the first runners broke the ribbon and volunteers marked race times.
Phoenix rounded the final corner. Orchid bounced on the balls of her feet, filled with excitement. Waving and jumping up and down, her own heart pounded as he flew through the finish line.
“The hero as always,” Caleb declared.
Phoenix slowed his strides dozens of feet beyond the end of the race. He was panting, hands on hips. And then he turned to join them.
“That was great!” Orchid cheered.
Phoenix rewarded her with a grin. His legs had just pounded three miles of pavement, yet hers wobbled. “Did you two keep out of trouble?” he asked.
“Whatever. I’m heading out.” Caleb said.
“Already? You want to meet Tammy? Or at least see if I placed?”
“Nope.”
“Alright, I’ll see you on the Fourth.”
“Right, I invited Orchid there, too.”
Phoenix opened his mouth, then compressed his lips.
“It was just an idea,” she quickly added. “I don’t need to come. Really.” She had known not to hope. Her bones had predicted his reaction.
“I thought the military parade would be good for research, but whatever… your call.” Caleb shrugged. “I’m headin’ out. Bye.” He turned and loped towards the motorcycles stationed nearby, and straddled an elongated dark Harley painted with snakes matching his arm tattoos.
With Caleb gone, Orchid absorbed Phoenix’s stricken expression.
Tammy bounded by them. She crossed the finish line and pumped a fist in the air.
They drew towards Tammy, their steps in unison. To anyone else, they’d appear a young, trim couple, out for a sports day. Orchid knew better. She was becoming his regret.
“You made impressive time,” Phoenix noted when they reached Tammy.
“I look more tired after carrying groceries up to my apartment,” Orchid quipped.
“Military’s top-notch training,” Tammy responded. She was still breathing hard. “Walk with me along the beach, while I cool down.”
“How come you’re not winded?” Orchid asked Phoenix as they headed towards the Atlantic. The sun shone overhead. Orchid stopped and slipped off her Keds, so she could feel the sand squish under her bare feet.
“My heart rate’s still elevated,” he said.
Mine, too, she wanted to say.
Other than a sheen of sweat and a blush of ruddiness across his cheeks, he didn’t look like he’d just swum, pedaled and pumped more than fifteen miles.
The trio angled towards the magical place between land and sea, walking along the firm wet sand. Orchid held close to the water’s edge. The waves licked her bare soles like kitten’s tongues.
Tammy, between the two of them, turned her attention to Orchid and chuckled. “You’re blue like the ocean.” She waved towards Orchid’s hair, and then indicated her feet.
Orchid followed the path of her gesture from her cerulean hoodie down to her shimmering toenails. “Aqua Attack,” she said, naming the nail polish shade she’d picked to complement her superhero dress from the night before.
Phoenix turned and snickered into his hand.
