“Garri?” I blink.
“It’s what I call Garrett.”
“Excellent!” Anker claps his hands together, a mischievous expression audible in his playful lilt.
“You’re not calling me Garri.”
“Dr. Garri has such a ring to it. Don’t you agree?” Anker bumps my shoulder.
I wrinkle my nose. “Not sure how I feel about dating a Garri.”
“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 asLord 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.”
