Gina felt Nick shift slightly beside her, a quiet readiness in his posture. Just knowing he was alert and watching George like a hawk helped steady her own breathing.
George studied Brooke’s face. “Why this exact date?”
“Because my training schedule said so. Because I’m a neurotic mess about my race prep after I failed last year. Because I thought, if I could nail this run, I’d prove to myself I could handle the real thing.”
Brooke’s laugh was bitter. “Turns out I couldn’t even handle the weather. Weather that’s highly possible next month on race day. Weather that might be the end of me again.”
Gina watched George process this, saw him filing away Brooke’s desperation and self-doubt. Her friend’s story rang completely true.
Brooke planned this run obsessively, checking the weather reports a dozen times, muttering about elevation gains and training periodization. Gina had talked to her several times about giving it a few more weeks before coming up here.
But no...Brooke had gotten snotty and told Gina she would go alone if she had to. She was going when she wanted and not deviating from her training plan. Gina had insisted on coming along and had issued an open invitation to the rest of the running club.
Of the thirty-plus members on the notification list, half a dozen replied. As usually happened, things came up, leaving only Joe and Kelsey to join Brooke and Gina.
Nick had arrived in time for his summer work, and Brooke had asked him to come along too. Frankly, when Brooke told her Nick was coming, Gina was a little surprised he was willing to join the group for a grueling outing like this. She glanced in his direction to find him staring at her.
For a breath, neither of them looked away. That moment was enough for Gina to read Nick’s thoughts, or at least the most pressing ones:something isn’t right here, mixed withlet me help keep you safe.
“And you?” George turned to Joe. “What brought you up here today?”
Joe shifted uncomfortably. “I wanted to challenge myself. I’m new to trail running, new to the group. Thought maybe if I could handle a tough run, I’d fit in better.”
“Fit in better?”
“I’m the outsider here. California transplant, can’t handle the altitude, barely keeping up. And that’s on the town runs.” Joe gestured around the group. “I figured if I could prove I belonged on a run like this, maybe I’d actually belong.” His gaze shifted to Brooke. “Maybe I’d be accepted.”
The honesty in Joe’s voice caught Gina off guard. “You do belong,” she said quietly. “Joe, you don’t have to prove anything to us.”
“Don’t I?” Joe’s smile was rueful. “Look at today. I was the weak link from the start. I couldn’t handle the pace and nearly got everyone stuck. I should’ve turned around earlier, came back to the truck and waited for the rest of you.”
George nodded as if Joe’s explanation satisfied him. “And you, Nick? What’s your story?”
For a while, Nick said nothing, and Gina braced for him to snap at the nosy stranger. Instead, he only sighed. “I’m between jobs. Between places. My cousin asked me to come along, so I did.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.” Nick’s voice was steady.
Gina felt something twist in her chest at Nick’s description of himself. The casual way he admitted to being between jobs and not having a house. She should be running the other direction. His life was a walking collection of every warning sign she’d learned to watch for.
Yet, the way he accepted things was refreshing and different. He didn’t make excuses for where he was in life, didn’t blame anyone else. He didn’t even seem particularly ashamed of it.
George smiled and turned to Gina. “What about you?”
“None of your business.”
“You sure about that?”
“Positive.”
“She’s here because she’s my friend and I asked her to come,” Brooke said. “She’s a nurse, and she’s good to have around. Plus, Gina likes the challenge of technical trails.”
Gina shot Brooke a look, but Brooke just shrugged. “What’s the big deal? This whole thing is weird.” She looked at George. “Idon’t know why you’re asking these questions and saying one of us is here for you. We don’t know you.”
“You sure?” George asked. “You yourself said I looked familiar.”
“From my coffee shop.” Brooke raised her hands. “I see people every day there. And I remember faces.”
