Page 76 of In the Long Run
‘Are you sure?’See, he’s so nice.
‘Yes,’ I say, taking off.
‘We should slow down,’ Knox says, tapping his watch screen.‘We’re going too fast.’
‘I’m not slowing down.’
Our feet find the same rhythm, arms moving in unison, and the water sloshing in Knox’s pack matches every exhale that passes my lips.
I’m so mad.And sad.And determined to make sure Knox knows his past doesn’t change how I feel about him.That he doesn’t need to let it hold him back, or stop him from wanting things.I’ll keep telling him until he believes me.
The noise level rises as we approach the finishers’ chute.People ring cow bells and cheer.I see Violet, Anneke, the Army runners.All with medals around their necks, grins on their faces.
I notice something else too: the cameras.
PDAs have never been my thing, but maybe that’s because I’ve never had someone I wanted to be public with.Someone I trust to take care of me and let me do the same for them.Someone I really want to show up for.
‘Hey,’ Knox grunts between breaths as we approach the finish line, reaching for my hand.Our palms connect and we cross the line together, hand in hand.
He smiles, his pace naturally slowing, but I tug him backwards so we’re still under the inflatable arch and wrap my arms around his neck.‘I like you, Knox Watson,’ I say.
There it is.The smile he couldn’t find before.The one that his past was trying to squash.It breaks over his face, finding its home between his ruddy cheeks, underneath his bright eyes.I hope it never gets lost again.
‘Gen,’ he whispers, ‘everyone’s looking at us.’
‘Good,’ is all I say before I press up onto my tiptoes and kiss him like I mean it.
Because I do.
28
KNOX
‘Let them watch,’ Gen says when I pull my mouth away from hers.‘I want everyone’—she presses a quick kiss against my lips, then another—‘to see.’
‘Halliday—’
‘Donotcall me that right now.’Gen grabs the sides of my hydration vest, her hands curling around the fabric, fingernails scratching at my skin through my sweat-soaked shirt.
‘I thought you liked it?’My head spins as her touch leaves a trail of fire behind it.
‘I like it too much.’No need to unravel the hidden meaning in Gen’s words.Her eyes flare with heat.‘Call me that again and I won’t be able to stop.’
My heart thumps.‘Is that so?’
She shoots me a stern look that I’m going to need to see again later.Preferably while we’re both naked.
‘You want to try your luck, Knox?’
I smooth my fingers along her jaw, tracing the line of her neck.Her pulse is racing.My mouth finds her ear and I whisper, ‘Let’s get out of here.’
Her gaze darkens and she nods, prising her fingers away from my vest, running them down my front, settling them against my stomach.‘Please.’
Probably we should talk to the rest of the crew from Croissants and Kilometres who journeyed up here and ran as well.
Probably we should get her ankle checked out by a professional.
We should definitely rehydrate and refuel.
