“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.
