I’m happy. Fuckinghappy!
And it’s more than the routines and habits I’ve established as an endurance athlete. Those gave my life structure, and purpose, but not true happiness.
No, Laney is the source. Her energy and her vibrancy is making me want more from my life.
And if the man she fell in love with is the man I am today, does she need to know who I used to be?
I’m pulled from my wondering as her phone starts buzzing. "Hi Dee, what's up?"
I watch as Laney's face morphs between shock and then confusion and settles into hesitation as her friend keeps talking. I place my hand on her thigh and when she looks at me those blue eyes are shining with tears.
"What is it, Princess?" I ask quietly.
She shakes her head but keeps her eyes locked on mine. "Okay Dee, yeah, I will, I'm with Miguel now, I'll look, or maybe have him look if you think it's that bad. Actually, can you text it to him?"
Fear and terror rip through me. What could have happened?
She ends the call with her friend and then stares at the cracks in her phone, unmoving, before slowly lifting her head to face me.
"Laney, what is going on?"
"A post online went viral." She inhales deeply and exhales. "Dee says it's like a roundup of amazing women's sports moments."
"You say it like it’s a bad thing."
"Well, it's not, probably, I dunno."
"Are you in it?"
"Dee says I am."
"For what?"
"For finishing in my socks."
I bite back my chuckle.
"Let's see." I click the link Dee texted me and hand Laney my phone. I slide my chair over so we can look at it together and I grip the back of her neck to keep her grounded.
She starts swiping.
It starts with Jo Hamilton of the US Women’s Soccer Team and her World Cup Winning Goal.
The next slide is tennis star Maggie Taylor’s consecutive 10 weeks at world number one.
Then Blair Miller who was the first woman to play in the NFL.
The ice dancer we went to see, Isla Covington, is there for her grace and perseverance to reach the top of her sport after adversity.
I give Laney’s shoulder a shake as she looks down at the picture of Isla.
"That’s your girl!"
"Yeah," she whispers, continuing under her breath, "How am I in this round up with them?"
"Because you’re amazing." I kiss her shoulder. "Keep going, I want to see what they say about you."
And then it's a picture of Laney running in her socks. The text on the image says "amateur triathlete triumphs over sole loss and weeks later runs third fastest TP in history".
