Page 117 of In the Long Run
Gen squeezes my side and a low chuckle works its way out of my chest.I’ve got no problem with admitting I was wrong.I’d just rather acknowledge it when we’re both naked so I can really make it up to her.‘I’ll be here next week too.’
People actually cheer.It’s ridiculous, and embarrassing, and my face might split in half from the smile I can’t stop.
‘How’d you manage to get leave again so soon?’Celeste asks from her spot behind the counter.She’s a little minx.Like she doesn’t know exactly where I’ve been.
I rub a hand across the back of my neck.‘I never actually left.’
Gen slaps a hand across her face when she giggles.
‘What?’Violet asks.
‘Is this because of that TikTok?’one of the Army guys who’s running the half next week asks.
I don’t need to ask which one he means.Gen’s and my phones have been buzzing for the last few days because of it.Someone – one guess who – uploaded an exposé accusing Gen and I of faking our relationship.Claiming that I had a financial interest in Alizée’s, which, fair play, is true on paper.But real life is so much more complex that.Our situation is proof that two different things can be true at the same time.
I shrug and find the words that are so easy to say because they’ve always been true.‘Nothing about this was ever fake for me.’
‘Awwww.’Violet claps her hands together and wiggles them happily.
‘Obviously.Did you see the Strava segment?’Anneke mimes swooning.At least, that’s what I think she’s doing when she presses her hand to her forehead and pretends to fall backwards.
Gen looks up at me.‘What is she talking about?’
My mouth hitches up on one side.I’ve been waiting to see how long it takes her to notice.
‘I mean, I’m assuming that was you?’Anneke taps away at her phone, opening the app and pulling up a recent run.‘Here!’She passes the phone to Gen.
The next five seconds pass excruciatingly slowly.Time might even go backwards.In hindsight, maybe this isn’t the romantic move I thought it was.I’d wanted to reply to all the comments on that TikTok.Defend Gen and myself.But then I remembered something important: the opinion of strangers on the internet doesn’t matter.So I did something else, a statement to the people who I’ve grown to care about.Who have supported us since the very beginning and become as much a part of Croissants and Kilometres as we have.
Gen uses her fingers to zoom in on the screen, making the text larger.
‘Does that say, “This is where Knox fell in love”?’
‘Take notes, men!’Celeste yells, slapping at the counter.‘This is how it’s done!’
‘Knox.’Gen spins around so she’s in front of me.Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes search mine.This shouldn’t be a surprise.After all those years when I was scared to let myself open up to the possibility of something like this, now I can’t stop telling her how much she means to me.I hope it never changes.
‘A much better name than “Pier to Park”, don’t you think?’My hands land on her hips and I pull her towards me.
Her laugh skates across my chest.
‘It is.’
‘I told you, Halliday.When I’m all in, I’m all in.’
‘Jesus.I might get pregnant watching this.’Annabeth fans herself.
‘Okay, okay.That’s enough,’ Yeti interjects.‘Let’s party before the race!’
Race day conditions are perfect.The chill to the air has already turned the tip of Gen’s nose red and I’m so here for it.Once the sun is properly awake, it’ll be nice – warm enough to beat the chill without having us curse the heat.Although I’m sure we’ll be cursing plenty of other things once we hit the hills around the thirty-kilometre mark.The wave zones are already filling up, and the elite and preferred start runners are finding their places up the front.Gen passes me a bottle of sunscreen and lifts her ponytail away from her neck.
‘Can you help me, please?’
‘It’d be my pleasure.’I add an eyebrow waggle because I’ll never get enough of the sound of her laughter.And after the last week – our first official week as a couple – I know with every fibre of my being that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep hearing it.It doesn’t matter if we did things backwards and fell in love before our first real date.Forwards is the only direction I care about now.
She laughs and swats at my hand when I dig my thumbs into the notch where her shoulder meets her neck.It’s one of her irresistible spots.The kind that makes her speech go breathy and her gaze darken.‘Stop it.’
‘Hmm.I seem to remember you having a different opinion this morning when I was helping you put anti-chafe balm under your bra.’
