Since the campus’s coffee shop is closed on Sundays, the three of us are at a spot in downtown for a post-training treat. By our fifth lap, Anker finally settled into our system. He still pulled back a bit when I loosened the slack, but not as much. It will take time for us to build the guide/runner relationship that Garrett and I have, but I know we’ll get there.
“In that case, I’m getting a scone with my coffee.” Anker rubs his hands together.
“Good call.” I tap my finger to my chin. “They do have the best scones here.”
“Like either of you was going to enter a coffee shop without purchasing a pastry.” Garrett chuckles.
“Says the man who’s ordering a black coffee sweetened by the tears of the emergency room doctors whom he frightens when they don’t follow admission protocol.” Anker elbows Garrett.
“He’s just a big old grumpy ogre with a heart of gold.” I rise up to my tiptoes and squish Garrett’s cheeks.
He bats my hands away. “You two tag-teaming me is a new level of obnoxious.”
“He is kind of Shrek-like.” Anker laughs.
“Which makes you Donkey, since you’re the best friend,” I coo.
“Heisan ass.” Garrett laughs.
“But what an ass.” Anker wiggles his butt, causing the pair of elderly women behind us to giggle like teenage girls. “Ladies.” He turns and offers a bow before twisting back to us.
“Enough flirting, Casanova. Why don’t you grab us a table while I help Jensen carry our order?” Garrett shakes his head.
“Thank you.” I tuck myself against Garrett while we wait at the end of the counter for our order.
“It’s a lot to carry.” He folds his arm around me.
“Not this.” I pat his chest. “For agreeing to let Anker replace you as my guide.”
Even if I know this was always the plan, guilt still rattles inside me. Not only are Garrett and I a strong team, but he’s dedicated so much time and energy to our training. The schedule and meal plan he developed before we started. His patience and support on and off the track.
“It’s gotta be hard to have done all this work for me only to sit you on the bench before the big game.”
“It’s very sexy when you use sports metaphors.” He brushes his mouth against my temple—his lips curved into a smile. “He may run this race with you, but I plan to run many, many others.”
I snuggle into him. “Perhaps, London in the spring?”
Just as running this race is part of the plan, so is my new friend returning home. Next month, Kayla leaves Pemberly, but it won’t be a goodbye. In such a short time, she, Catherine, and I have become like sisters. Catherine jokes were the sassy modern-day version of the Brontës. Only my literary prowess is in reading books, not writing them like my two besties. As hard as it will be to not see Kayla for our almost daily latte runs and weekly adventures, she’ll not really be gone. I took a chance onthis friendship, and just like with running with Anker, I am glad I listened to myself.
“Sounds like a plan, pretty girl.” He brushes the back of his hand against my cheek. “Maybe before London, the first marathon we could run together is dinner with my family.”
I tip my head up. “Like… Meet your parents?”
“Technically, you’ve met them.”
“Not as your girlfriend.” I shift foot-to-foot. “Are we talking about going to Chicago?”
“Yeah…” His laugh is breathy. “Maybe we start with the weekly virtual dinner. Specifically, today’s virtual dinner.”
This isn’t just a meal with Ellie and Jason Marlowe, but an integration…me into Garrett’s life as hisgirlfriend. Like Garrett said in Buffalo; this is real—even if we’ve not fully assimilated into each other’s lives. Still, this is a huge step.
Since the night at the bus stop, all those months ago, both Garrett and I have begun navigating unfamiliar terrains. Each of us is pushing through the borders we had erected to protect ourselves from heartbreak. Between training and the therapy that we’re both now going to, we’re redrawing our boundaries. But we still need to walk before we run.
“If this is because of what Lara said in Buffalo, I told you it’s not a big deal. When you’re ready?—”
“Nope.”
“It’s okay, Garrett.”
