Page 85 of The Reality of Us
She tossed a determined look his way and raced after them, fatigue evident in her sloppy stride. But that didn’t stop Owen from grinning and shaking his head as he chased after her.
Of course, the woman who hated to lose was perfect for him.
Sticks, leaves and rocks crunched under his feet. He blinked when the trees thinned out, sunlight burning his eyes. He’d never admit it, especially not to Alice, but the cliff face looked a lot taller than he remembered. The paramedics were snapping harnesses and pulling gloves on. Cheers from the volunteer course marshals—headed by Nate’s best friend, Charlie—distracted him.
His runner clipped a long, scraggly exposed tree root, hooking behind the gnarled and twisted wood and Owen lurched forward, arms flailing as the ground rushed up to meet him. Pain shot through his body, his knee popping when he hit the trail. He knew that sound.
“Fuck,” he grunted, rolling to his side. His right wrist throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the fire inside his knee.
“Oh my God!” Alice skidded to a stop next to him, her hands hovering above him like she didn’t know where she should touch him. “What can I do? How can I help?”
Heavy footsteps rumbled towards them, and Owen realised the paramedics had come to help. Alice withdrew her hands when they crouched down next to him, burying them in her hair. He hated she still felt like she had to hide who she was to him around other people.
“It’s my knee,” he ground out, his breath hissing between his teeth.
In his heart, Owen knew he’d torn the ligaments he’d spent so long trying to strengthen after his surgery two years ago. He mashed his lips together, trying to swallow the wave of pain.
They were so close to the finish line, almost guaranteed a place.
“Can you hop over there if we lift you?” one of the men asked. “Be a bitch to try and get a gurney down here.”
Owen nodded, gritted his teeth, and they each grasped him under the armpit. Sweat ran down his face, sunscreen burning his eyes. He blinked furiously, trying to clear his vision.
“Wait a second,” Alice cried, her hands digging into her pack. She pulled out a buff. “Here.” She wiped his forehead and his face. “Better?” she asked quietly.
Owen nodded; his mouth felt like it was full of sand. They were going to lose. Shit. He’d gone to sleep last night with Alice in his arms convinced they were going to win the race, finalise her divorce and tell everyone the truth about their relationship. He had it all planned.
Owen blacked out when the paramedics hoisted him up, the ground shifting beneath him like quicksand.
“It’s going to be okay.” Alice was walking backwards, her eyes never leaving his face. “You’ll feel better soon, I promise.”
He watched her through half-lidded eyes as she fumbled for her phone.
“I’ll call your mum. Tell her to meet us at the hospital.”
“But the race …” he said, breathing deeply when they reached a chair near the climbing stations. “We’re so close. I can still do the climb.”
The urge to throw up had passed, which had to be a good sign, right? And it wasn’t that far to the first or second flag. Climbing was mostly upper body strength.
The steely expression on Alice’s face told him she wouldn’t let him off that easily. “You can do the climb?”
“It’s the last clue. The finish line is right there.” He jerked his head towards the row of miniature orange flags flapping next to a trail marker. It was fifty metres away. Hell, he could hop there.
Probably.
Maybe.
“You’re going to climb that”—she pointed up—“and run over there?” Her hand moved to the right.
When she said it like that … He jutted his chin forward. “It won’t be pretty but maybe.”
Alice knelt next to him. “It’s only a race, Owen. We still get all our sponsorship money, even if we don’t finish.”
He scrunched his eyes closed, another wave of pain stealing his breath. God, even he knew he was full of shit. “I really hate to lose,” he grumbled. “And Kathleen’s Place could use the prize money for so much stuff.”
A wry smile blossomed on Alice’s lips, and he wanted to return it, but everything hurt too much.
“Fine.” Her voice caught as she toed off her runners. Her socks were covered in bits of leaves and dirt. She shoved her feet into his climbing shoes, snatched the harness off the ground and stepped into it. Charlie helped her wind the rope through the carabiners.
