Garrett’s arms.A place I should not have been. No matter how good it felt pressed up against him, the heat of his body myown personal Garrett Snuggie. I blame the runner’s high for the momentary breach in judgment.
“Sure,” she sasses. “Here’s your medals. Make sure to use hashtag Cupid Course on all social media posts.” She places the medal around my neck and then around Garrett’s before she scoots off.
I trace the medal and then look up at Garrett. “I didn’t know we got medals.”
“All the participants do for finishing.”
We stand there awkwardly for a moment, just looking at each other.
We both start. Me with his name and he with “We…”
“Sorry.” I wince and then gesture at him. “Go on.”
“I…” He coughs and then shifts. “We should get moving. Like she said, other runners are coming in. Plus, everyone is waiting.”
18
MILE EIGHTEEN
DO IT THEN
Did we almost kiss?Tension thickens the air between us as Garrett and I walk to meet our friends and my brother. It’s not that delicious connection that buzzed between us at the finish line. This tension is full of regrets. Whether the emotions of finishing the race or the bond building between us over the last few months, it’s clear we were both in it just now. We both were leaning in. It’s also clear that neither of us is talking about it.
The brazen confidence I had moments after finishing the race is gone. I’m being a chicken shit again, waiting for him to broach the subject.
Ugh…I’m going to owe future Jensen a special treat for everything she’ll need to deal with tomorrow.
“You did it!” Kayla squeals, slamming into my body for a hug.
“You’re such a boss!” Catherine comes to my other side. She and Kayla sandwich me in a tight clench.
“So obnoxious. You’re going to crush her,” Anker teases.
“Says the man who knocked a drink out of someone’s hand with his arm waving as he was cheering.” Catherine’s taunt is delivered with a side of playfulness.
“Guilty, but it’s hard not to go full cheering soccer mom when your sister runs her first official 10K in under eighty minutes. She’s a badass!”
“Thanks.” Grinning, I look between my friends and Garrett, who remains quiet.
“You did great… Both of you.” Anker taps Garrett’s shoulder with his fist.
“Thanks,” he grunts.
“We got it all on video.” Catherine bumps my hip with hers.
Hopefully not everything.I offer a weak smile. The fact that Anker hasn’t made a snarky comment about me wrapped around Garrett like a cat in heat makes me suspect he didn’t witness our little moment. Not to mention, Kayla isn’t subtle. If they knew, she’d have already blurted out a quippy comment about me trying to snog my Mr. Stalker Darcy.
But he’s not mine.Even if we had a moment, Garrett isn’t mine. I don’t know what the thing that almost just happened means, but what I do know is he’s not looking at me. A chill zips down my spine from the loss of his focus. I can always feel Garrett’s attention, and right now I feel nothing except the pit growing in my stomach.
“We only got you crossing the finish line. Anker’s fat head got in the way after that.”
“My head is in perfect proportion with the rest of my body,” he scoffs. “Want your cane, or should I keep it with your spoils, so Garrett and you can do a victory lap to Bread?” He chuckles.
“I’ll take my cane,” I say, knowing that if I’m close to Garrett, the temptation to bring up what just happened will be too great.
It’s best if I avoid this until after our celebratory breakfast. He doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to talk about it, and if I bring it up, part of me worries he’ll call it a mistake or claim turnip rights. The mix of confusion and worry pulsing inside me makes it too hard to form the words needed to have this conversation.Right now, I choose a pretend smile while I sit across from him and enjoy what should be our celebratory breakfast with friends.
“Spoils?” I clear my throat.
