Page 18 of See You at the Finish Line

“Paige!” His relief is so evident it brings a smile to my face, and suddenly I know exactly who it is.

“Stalker?” I yell the only name I have for him, trying to keep my footing in my haste to be found.

“I’m here!” he calls back. The sound of his footsteps reaches me before I turn the next corner.

We crash into each other, and he catches me before I fall from the ricochet. His hands come to hold me up by my elbows. I instinctively flex my hand on his bicep, causing him to raise his eyebrows. When did his muscles get so big? Runners aren’t usually very beefy, but dang. These really shouldn’t be my first thoughts after being rescued but I can’t help it.

“You’re doing too much cross-training,” I tell him, stupidly saying the first thing that comes to my mind. He laughs and then pulls me into an unexpected hug. Unexpected but so appreciated.

I melt into him as tears start to flow and my body begins shaking uncontrollably. Fear courses through my body and I finally allow myself to feel it, not caring that I’m being comforted by a complete stranger.

“It’s okay, let it out,” he whispers. My chest heaves, and I suck in a big breath, clinging to him.

“I fell,” I say between sobs.

“Are you hurt?” he asks, pulling back enough so he can look at me. He pushes some stray hairs away from my face and his fingers gently brush the side of my cheek. I swear that touch sends tingles down to my toes. It’s probably the relief at being found. And the adrenaline of being lost. Ultras really mess with emotions.

“Does my pride count?” I attempt to joke but my voice is so feeble.

He laughs softly. “Of course. A wounded pride can be fatal.”

“Then I might not make it.”

“I think I can give your ego a boost. You look very sexy covered in mud,” he blurts out and I laugh, feeling some of the shakiness leave my body.

His face scrunches in an adorable wince. “Sorry, that was inappropriate.” He steps away from me like he realizes we just met and don’t know each other’s names. Although I guess he found out mine.

“It’s only inappropriate because I don’t know your name.”

He looks relieved and reaches out a hand.

“Hello, I’m Adam.” His smile makes the rainy day brighter.

Adam.

It suits him. I take his large hand in mine and he gives it a squeeze. In the brief second before he takes his hand away, I pull him back into a hug and bury my head in his chest. His big muscular chest, where his heart races.

“Thank you for rescuing me, Adam.”

He holds me tighter, releasing a deep breath. I can feel his pounding heart begin to slow beneath my cheek.

“Thank you for not being more lost,” he whispers. Then, as an afterthought, he adds, “Or dead.”

The sound that leaves me is half hysterical laugh and half sob. I take a few deep breaths, matching mine to his. Maybe it’s weird I’m taking so much comfort in this stranger, but I tell myselfit’s because he found me and I’m so grateful. Not at all because his chest feels like a dream.

“I will stand here for as long as you need, but you should be warned that I snuck out of the aid station to come get you, and the volunteer who let me go gave me a time limit,” he says hesitantly.

“How long?”

“She gave me two hours.”

I sigh and steal one more second of his arms around me, breathing in the feeling of safety one last time before letting go. He doesn’t release me immediately, but his hands move to grip my arms when he pulls away, dipping his head low to look at me.

“Are you sure you’re okay to keep going?” he asks, his blue eyes reaching the deepest parts of my soul.

I inhale through my nose. “Yes.” I nod.

“Okay then, let’s go.”

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