Page 112 of Walking Red Flag

Only six more miles…

I walked. A lot.

But, throughout it all, I was passing more people than I was getting passed by, which I counted as a win.

By the time I saw the finish line, the euphoria that overtook me was unreal.

I didn’t speed up when I saw it, though.

Couldn’t.

The shuffling jog that I used to cross the finish line was my utmost best.

And when I started to go down onto my knees, my head a pounding mess, two strong arms came around me and hauled me up.

I had just enough energy to loop my arms around Cutter’s strong neck and hold on as I started to cry.

“You did so good, Go,” Cutter said. “Way to fuckin’ go.”

I smiled against his neck and said, “I can’t feel my feet.”

He chuckled and hauled me to my family.

All of them were there, and Cutter set me on my feet to get a round of hugs from all the adults.

“Where are all the kids?” I asked.

“Desi’s watching ’em at the cabin.” Nastya smiled. “She’s makin’ bank, though, so don’t feel bad for her.”

I smiled and my eyes landed on pink behind me.

Hazel and her crew were glaring at us.

I raised a brow, surprised to see hostility there.

I mean, I wasn’t the one who did anything wrong!

But, the next second, everything was explained when a woman looking race official-like came up to me with a smile.

“Bib numbers 354 and 355 are disqualified because they didn’t cross the halfway marker on the trail,” the woman holding the ribbon out to me said. “You’re our age group winner. Congratulations!”

She held out a medal to me and it spun, front to back multiple times before Cutter took it from her and held it out to me.

I took it, stunned.

I stared in shock at the huge medal for a long few seconds, and then slipped it on over my head.

When I turned around, it was to see 354 and 355 bibs on Rayann’s and Hazel’s shirts.

Turning my head back toward Cutter, I couldn’t stop the excitement despite the throbbing pain in my head.

With the last of my energy, I threw myself at him.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” I sniffled.

He hugged me so tight that it was hard to breathe.

But it was a good hard to breathe.

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