Page 41 of In the Long Run
‘All the more reason to get this done.’Celeste smiles patiently, but there’s tension around her eyes.‘Our followers love stuff like this.We see a spike in sales after each TikTok.’
The reminder of why we’re doing this makes me snap my mouth shut, swallowing my next complaint.
‘What’s Knox’s line again?’Gen’s already filmed hers, and so have Violet, Anneke, Yeti and a few of the others who are fast becoming regulars now we’re almost a month into this whole run club thing.They all got to say things like ‘We’re run clubbers, of course we get coffee and pastries after’ and ‘We’re run clubbers, of course we like getting up early on purpose’ and ‘We’re all run clubbers, even those who prefer to walk and chat instead’.
My line, which Celeste has carefully created for me?She can’t even get through it with a straight face.‘Please don’t make me say it,’ I say now, groaning.
‘I don’t see what the problem is.You guys need to leave soon, and I’ve got to get back to Alizée’s.’She’s decided running isn’t her thing.
‘Really?There’s no part of “We’re run clubbers, of course we do our stretches together” that sounds sketchy to you?’
Celeste pastes a bland smile on her face.She’s not fooling anyone, least of all me.‘Yeti said it’s common for runners to skip their stretches.’
I raise my eyebrows, confident I can get Celeste to crack without saying anything.
Celeste throws her hands in the air, almost knocking over the tripod she’s got her mobile attached to.‘Fine.There’s only so many times I can show you two mooning at each other.What’s the harm in a double entendre?People want to know more about you guys, but I know you want to keep things vague.I’ve got a bunch of ideas I know you’re going to veto, like “Your pace or mine?”or “Do you believe in love at first sight or should I run past again?”’
‘Why do I have to say anything?You’ve got plenty of stuff already.’
Celeste closes her eyes and releases a slow breath that curls through the cold air around us.
‘Because you’re the one who gets the biggest views,’ Gen answers for her.
‘Not anymore,’ Celeste corrects Gen.‘The comments are still all about how people came for the hot guys and are staying for the love story.People are rooting for you two.This is good, Knox.It’s the kind of notoriety you want.’
Not wanting to talk about the hidden meaning in those words, I lift my hands in surrender.I’ve gotten away with it for this long.Maybe the past actually can stay in the past?I’m sure it helps that I changed my last name as soon as I was eighteen.
‘Fine,’ I grumble but I don’t mean it.
‘Think of Eugene and Alizée’s.We’ve made more money in the last month than we did in the last five months.This is working!’
‘But this is my limit.The whole idea wasn’t to lie to everyone.’
Celeste salutes me.The little shit.‘Message received.I won’t say another word about it.Promise.’
I’m pushing my dinner around my plate when Celeste claps her hands together and rests her chin on them.I know that look.She’s up to something.
‘What?’I ask after chewing and swallowing, so I don’t break Eugene’s rule about not speaking with your mouth full.Everyone else at our Wednesday night family dinner pauses and watches.
‘How do you guys feel about PDA?’she asks me and Gen.
I cough around the imaginary piece of quiche that’s lodged itself in my windpipe.I should’ve known Celeste would pull something like this, especially in front of Gen.
‘Um …’ Gen’s the same colour as the beetroot in the salad.Eugene grumbled that tonight’s meal was too summery for July in Melbourne, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist salvaging the pie dough I was butchering on purpose to gently nudge him back into the kitchen and hopefully towards the guy he used to be.He’s still resisting helping with anything Alizée’s related, but I suspect that’s because he can’t bear to get his hopes up.
‘I like PDA,’ Yeti interjects, draping a brawny arm across Celeste’s shoulders.She squirms and shakes him off, muttering under her breath, but he just laughs and ruffles her hair.
‘Quit it,’ she snaps, smoothing the pink strands back into place.‘As I was saying’—she shoots Yeti a glare—‘the hot topic is if you guys are together or not.Maybe if you’re a bit more affectionate with each other on Sundays, other people will start talking more about Croissants and Kilometres.It’s the best way to get organic growth.Sales have been way up at Alizée’s and we’re starting to see more regular mid-week coffee trade.A couple of kisses—’
Gen coughs, grabbing her serviette.
‘What happened to not bringing this up again?’I interrupt, but Celeste rolls her eyes.
‘These guys must be old news by now.’Yeti points at us with his fork.‘Maybe we should follow their lead.Say the club’s twofrom two.Tell everyone we’ve finally given in to the romantic tension between us.’
‘That’s not romantic tension, you big oaf.It’s a total misalignment of personalities.’
Yeti’s grin widens and he jerks his chin towards me, in what I’ve known him long enough to recognise is a wordless gesture asking for back-up.‘Forty, remind me.What’s that saying about someone who protests too much?’
