Page 22 of Silver Secrets

“That’s a great idea, handsome. Can you come with us?” Lily asked.

“Yeah, sweetheart. I think so. Why don’t you take Sage because even though she’s had every snack you packed for her and then some, I think she’s ready to nurse. Her headphones are in the diaper bag if it gets too loud, and I’ll come up after I make sure the guys are all set here.”

Gunner handed Sage over to Lily.

“Perfect. See you guys up there soon!”

“Behave yourselves.” Gunner patted his wife’s ass as she walked away.

“Never.” Lily winked over her shoulder.

“Stubborn woman,” he grumbled.

“Christ. What kind of weird foreplay was that and why am I kind of turned on from it?” Hawk asked.

“Shut the fuck up. Don’t ever talk about my wife and being turned on again, unless you want to eat your teeth for supper.”

“Supper. How old are you, Reap? Eighty-five? Maybe all that weird foreplay is what it takes for you to get it up. You know they have medicine for that now, right?”

Gage turned, letting his friends’ bickering fade into the background. How long ago had Sloane taken the call? There were a few runners still unaccounted for, but the girls really had been near the back of the pack to begin with. Something in his chest began to ache.

“You good, Track?”

“Yeah. How many people are left?”

“Maybe a dozen or so.”

“Okay. I’ll start packing up our booth while you guys finish signing everyone out.”

Gage walked back to the Montgomery Defense booth, where Stone was sitting with a blank stare on his face.

“You good?” Gage asked.

“What? Oh, yeah. Just thinking over some things.”

“Some things like what?”

“I dunno. I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to school. For medical stuff.”

“You miss it?”

“Yeah. I like being able to help people. And this community outreach stuff is great, don’t get me wrong, but I was talking with Jake after the race started and there’s just so much this town needs with access to healthcare. It’s something I could do and really make a difference.”

“That’s really great, Doc. I think it’s a no-brainer.”

“Hmm. It’s something to think about. I don’t like the idea of leaving the team.”

Gage nodded, that weird feeling in his chest growing.

“Let’s start boxing up our shit. I’m sure someone’s going to need to babysit Hawk at Dolly’s.”

Late afternoon was settling in, and most of the sponsors had their tents torn down and their tables packed away. All that remained was the Montgomery Defense table, with a few scattered metals for the last few participants. It had been at least another hour since Lily, Courtney, and Mae made it back. There was no reason why Sloane shouldn’t have also…

“Alright, that was the last runner. What a great turnout!” Nash crossed off the name of the last runner as they walked over the finish line.

Gage’s stomach lurched. “That can’t be the last participant.”

“What? Why not?”

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