Page 100 of See You at the Finish Line

I lower my legs, but Adam keeps me close to his side.

“Sorry, sir. We got caught up celebrating,” Adam says, clearing his throat.

“There are other places for that, young man,” he scolds.

“Yes, sir, my apologies.”

I giggle and he squeezes my side. The old man shoots us one last reproachful look, and when he turns away, we burst out laughing.

“Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

He grabs my hand, dragging me to his car. All of a sudden, the light-hearted feeling is gone and there is a deep current of tension, like closing the car door sealed out the world, leaving just the two of us. The only sound is our heavy breathing.

Adam leans forward and braces his forehead on the steering wheel.

“I can’t believe you texted the wrong number.”

“I know. It’s unbelievable.” I stare through the windshield, unable to look at him.

“Of all the thoughts I had about you not texting me, that was never something I considered.”

“Me neither.”

He jerks his head up to look at me. “You really thought I wouldn’t text you back?” He seems frustrated, causing my defences to go up.

“What was I supposed to think, Adam? You barely said five words to me when we were disqualified. I’d only known you for two days.”

“I don’t know, Paige, it felt like a hell of a lot more than two days. You should have given me the benefit of the doubt.”

“And what about you?! You never reached out to me!”

“When you didn’t text me, I assumed you didn’t want to hear from me.”

“You assumed? Didn’tIdeserve the benefit of the doubt?”

“I thought I was respecting your silence.” He stares at me for a beat before turning away, the situation settling on us.

“That’s why I didn’t send another text. I was respectingyoursilence.”

Adam shakes his head in disbelief. “Two years. We had two years to reach out to each other.”

“And we didn’t.”

“So where does that leave us?”

“I don’t know, Adam.” My voice is small and I’m tired. “Just take me home.”

A muscle in his jaw twitches. “Home as in Leah’s house?”

“Yes, Leah’s house.”

The drive back is silent. I’m mad at myself. I’m mad at him. I’m mad at the universe. Fuck fate.

I slam the car door and fumble with the keys as I let myself into the house, sighing. The babysitter is playing on the floor with Levi. She stands and there’s an awkward strain in the air that she can clearly feel. I pay her and she hurries out of the house.

“Do you mind watching him so I can take a shower?” I ask Adam, not meeting his gaze.

“Sure. The little guy is tired, I’ll get him down for a nap.”

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