“Oh, leave him be.” The sound of Elinor’s voice sparked something inside of him. He turned and smiled at her. She only met his eyes for a moment. “Lucy didn’t come with you?”
“No.”
“But she’s coming?”
He shrugged. “If she told you she was coming, she’ll be here.”
He knew it was strange not to show up with his fiancée or know her whereabouts, and based on their expressions, they thought so too. But he couldn’t explain, so he didn’t.
More people arrived, and Elinor and Marianne busied themselves with introductions, explanations, and gifts of glow sticks.
The energy in the group was palpable. Nothing ever happened in Datefield, and here were two newcomers with something different to offer.
Edward was content to stand back and watch this new side of Elinor, one that led and encouraged and included people.
She gave a squeal of excitement when Brandon got out of his car and jogged over. He gathered her up in a hug that lifted her off her feet. Edward rubbed the front of his neck, suddenly feeling sick with a quick-burning jealousy he’d never felt before about anything. Jealousy wasn’t in his nature. After all, his job was to grow other people’s money, and he wasn’t successful unless they were.
He wanted Elinor to be happy too, he just irrationally wanted it to be with him. He wanted to be the one she was excited to see.
He carefully turned away and watched the parking lot instead, and it wasn’t long before Lucy’s headlights almost blinded him. She pulled up in her pink Jeep and parked near where he was standing.
“Well, don’t you look festive?” she said as she got out. “Can I have some of those?”
He took off the glow-in-the-dark belt from around his waist and dismantled it back into bracelets before handing them to her.
With the cover of night, he thought his misery was his own to dwell on, but she looked up into his face with her brows scrunched. “Rough day?”
“Something like that.” He took in a fortifying breath and smiled. “Do you still run on the treadmill?”
“Every day.” She looked around. “There’s something to be said for night air though. It’s good to change up my routine occasionally. And I get to see you.”
She gifted him with one of her coy expressions, which did nothing to help his mood. He didn’t want to pretend there was still something between them just because her book was about to come out.
Marianne whistled to get everyone’s attention. “We’re going to do a head count. Once we start running, don’t take off anywhere without letting us know. Will and I are going to take rear position, so feel free to walk with us when you get tired. Any questions?”
“Can I have your number?” some guy called out.
That earned him some laughs and a few boos, and then Elinor started with herself, calling out, “One,” and going down the line until they had all twenty-six people accounted for.
Elinor and Brandon took the lead position, setting a decent pace with several runners alongside them.
With Lucy next to him, they landed somewhere in the middle.
“I’m driving to L.A. on Wednesday for an interview with a magazine,” Lucy whispered. “I can’t say which one. And I have a few more book promotion things while I’m there. I’ll be gone until next Monday. So, almost a week.”
He nodded.
She touched his elbow before going back to lightly swinging her arms back and forth as she jogged. “Edward, I don’t know how to say this without being blunt. You know me.” She waited until she was sure she had his full attention. “This would be a bad time for you to go back out of your promise to me.”
“I’ve kept my promise.”
She tilted her head back and forth, like his answer was debatable. “We both know you’re getting impatient, and I get it. You’re a man.”
Guilt hit him along with irritation, the way it was intended. Lucy was gifted with her words; he’d give her that.
“I’m not the paparazzi’s favorite target anymore, but they do love a good ironic scandal. Please do not do the cliché thing and get caught with your secretary while I’m gone, okay?”
He gritted his teeth. “Nothing like what you’re implying is going on. Leave her out of this. She’s not even my secretary.”
“Semantics. She’s also your neighbor. And we both know you’re not much of a runner. You prefer to lift weights and jump rope, and yet you’re here. And so, I’m here, checking up on you.” She shrugged. “I wish you just wanted to be with me.” She picked up her pace and jogged ahead of him with that last parting shot. It was a good one, taking everything he was feeling inside and making sure he felt terrible for it.
All around him, people were singing and laughing and twirling glow-in-the-dark loops on their arms and making the light spin. Right now, he was an outsider looking in, but someday soon he’d be a part of it without guilt or promises or strings attached. Soon. He held onto that thread of hope and continued to jog.
