Page 102 of In the Long Run
Knox breaks the silence.‘You’re amazing.’
My fingers scratch against the stubble that lines his jaw.‘You did all the work.’
‘Hardly,’ Knox scoffs.‘Sorry we didn’t make it to the bed.’
‘I’m not.’
‘No?’He smiles at me.
‘No.That was better than perfect.That was real.’
Knox presses a kiss against the palm of my hand.‘Real’s the best.’
And it really is.
35
KNOX
You know you’re in a good mood when you run twenty-six kilometres and your smile doesn’t waver.
Eugene’s settled back at home, Alizée’s was cleared to reopen and our tapering runs for the marathon are well underway.But the best bit?I’ve spent every night with Gen in my bed.There have been some memorable afternoon naps in hers too, but we didn’t sleep much.
Things are good.
No, they’re great.This is the new beginning I’ve been waiting for.
‘Oh my God, this burns.’Violet grimaces, one knee bent over her other leg as she leans into the stretch.
‘But a good burn, right?’I ask.
She laughs.‘Yeah.’
‘How are you feeling?About everything?’Brigitte’s Run is only two weeks away.
‘Pretty good.Not looking at social media has really helped.’
‘You’re going to smash it.’I have no doubt she will.Every single person from Croissants and Kilometres who lines up on race day has done everything they can to succeed.But if the race goes another way (and sometimes that shit’s inevitable), then we’ll be here afterwards to build them back up.Remind them that – Jesus, I might make myself throw up a little bit here despite how truethis saying is – it’s about the journey, not just the destination.And there’s always another race.
‘You look like you just smelt something bad.’Violet laughs.
‘These runs are getting to me.I’m getting soft and sentimental.’
She snorts.‘Or maybe you’re really happy?’
My gaze drifts over to where Gen is standing with Bernie and Meredith, her hand on her sister’s little bump.She looks up and catches me.Her smile hits me in all the soft places that I’m finding easier to embrace.‘Yeah, it’s that too,’ I say.
‘When does your leave finish?’Violet asks, and that’s all it takes to knock the wind right out of my sails.Five little words that cast a shadow on everything good.
I pluck a blade of grass and roll it between my fingers.‘After the run.’
‘You’ll come and visit us, won’t you?’
The club’s already choosing which run to do next.That’s the thing with events like this, they become addictive.And when you share them with people you like, who always encourage you and push you to be your best self?They’re more fun than I could’ve ever imagined.
‘Of course.’
Gen comes over and sits down next to me, her hand landing on my knee, her shoulder against mine.
