Perfect. They were still there, and Lauren was right behind me. She pulled into a parking spot about a hundred yards away, as if my truck had a disease she didn’t want to catch. But at least she came. I quickly changed into the running shorts I kept in my gym bag from back when I had a gym membership. The jeans thing was a bluff. She was right. There was no way I’d be jumping hurdles in jeans.
I got out in my socks, holding my Nikes, and sat down in the grass to put them back on. I’d almost worn boots today too. That would have been a deal breaker.
Lauren plopped down next to me and rested her arms across her legs. “I was looking forward to watching you split your jeans when you jumped hurdles.”
“I bet you were.”
She shoved my arm. “John should be leaving the company to you, too, you know. You’re as much family as the rest of us.”
Where had that come from? “No, I’m not.” I didn’t want to get into it with her. For some reason, hearing her say it was making my throat want to close off. I was filled with elation at her acknowledgement of what I’d never be free to say, but the anger and frustration kicked in too, and I wouldn’t go down that road again, not tonight. I’d already stuffed those feelings down where they couldn’t bother me. I wanted them to stay there.
I jumped to my feet and walked over to the track, not looking back to see if she planned to follow, wind-milling my arms in a show of stretching out, although when I ran alone I never stretched first.
Lauren’s feet came plodding up from behind, and when she passed me up and turned to face me, I couldn’t help laughing. Her face was full-on grouch. As much as she hated being teased, being ignored was way worse in her book.
I’d dismissed her when she thought she was being thoughtful and inclusive. All that good-intentioned crap that led to unintended consequences. Bringing up something that couldn’t be changed was not helpful. Not to me, not to anybody.
“You’ve worked at Sun Valley longer than me, and just as long as Parker.”
Great, she wanted to keep talking about it. “So has Herbert. By those rules, shouldn’t he get a cut too?”
She stopped trying to walk backwards and fell in step next to me. “Don’t be dismissive of who you are, Clay. You’re one of us. Herbert’s an old guy who happens to know a lot about engines and is so set in his ways he’d still show up even if we tried to fire him. And if you recall, John’s tried. It’s easier to just let Herbert come and occasionally screw stuff up.”
“I don’t need validation for who I am. I’m not worried about this, so please stop trying to create a problem where there isn’t one.”
“I’m not creating a problem. You’re afraid to say something.”
The pain in my neck had returned, caused by my other pain in the neck. I took Lauren’s arm and turned her towards me, letting her see the frustration coursing through me. “Yes, I’m afraid. I’m afraid you’ll say something and make this awkward for me. We’re talking about my career, and you can’t micromanage it. You don’t get a say in it just because you want to call me your brother when it’s convenient for you.”
Her mouth dropped open and she huffed a little. “It’s not micromanaging to point out the obvious.”
There was only one way to make her shut up about this. Okay, two ways, and I wasn’t about to kiss her. This was one of the few times I wasn’t tempted. I was that irritated. So, I defaulted to the one I did best.
I reached out and tucked a lock of her hair back behind her ear that had come loose. “I was already aware your skin gets red and blotchy when you exercise. Especially your neck. It happens when you get mad at me too, like right now. I don't get under your skin. I get on your skin.”
Her lips pinched together, and I took that cue to start running. This time I wouldn’t let her catch me. The hurdles were coming up. Even better. I imagined her zig-zagging around them to keep up with me and a mad laugh burst out.
“Clay!”
Oh, good. She’d heard me laughing. I leaped over the first hurdle. Amazing. The best feeling ever. Being a middle school and not a high school track, the hurdles were shorter. I got great height over the second and third ones. Seven more to go.
I made the mistake of looking back at her, and the top of my foot connected with the bar of the forth hurdle. Everything went wrong from there. I was in the air, and then I was down on the ground, one with the rubberized asphalt. It must have looked epic.
“Clay?” Lauren ran and knelt beside me, her fingers moving over my arms and legs and head, like a butterfly not sure where to land.
I groaned and laid my face against the warm track. “Karma is on top of things, as usual.”
She snort laughed, the kind that sneaks out when you’re desperately trying to hold it in. “Are you okay?” She laid down next to me and turned her head so we were eye to eye.
“Never been better. I’m excellent.” I was pretty sure I had a skinned knee and elbow, but all things considered, the worst of it was my bruised ego.
“I’m starting to see why this running spot of yours is so special.” She smiled, looking especially pleased with herself.
“Anything for you, Lauren. I’m glad you’re enjoying this.”
“I really am.” She reached out and ruffled my hair. “They’re called hurdles, but I don’t think you’re supposed to hurtle yourself over them.”
“How long have you been holding onto that gem?”
