Page 55 of In the Long Run
Squeezing my eyes shut, I nod.
He gently lifts the loose strands of hair that have escaped my ponytail off my face, holding my hair out of the way when I vomit again.
Because I don’t know what that was.My breathing starts to slow.Maybe I scared that guy as much as he scared me?
Or maybe heisthe asshole harassing female runners.
But the thought I can’t shake is how unfair it is that this is even a consideration.I have every right to run where I want to, when I want to.
But it doesn’t matter.
Because I still got scared.
And I hate that so much.
Of course Knox insisted on walking me home.
And he’s still here now as I potter around the kitchen, flicking the kettle on and emptying the drainer.Knives and forks clatter into the cutlery drawer.It feels important to be busy right now.
‘Why don’t you sit down?’he says gently like he’s scared I might fall apart.
The only chance of that happening is if I give in to the embarrassment crawling over my cool skin.I need a jumper.Or another shower.
Now that I can breathe again, I’ve got some much-needed perspective.Talk about an overreaction.
I blame my headache.And being distracted by what happened with Knox and how I’d wanted more but mucked everything up.Another misstep in a series of poor romantic decisions.
‘I’m okay.’
Please leave me alone.
He stands tall, his arms crossed, one shoulder pressed against the door frame.‘You don’t have to be.If you aren’t.And I’m not saying you aren’t.Just giving you options.’
I play with a loose thread at the bottom of my shirt.
‘Gen.’He crosses the wooden floor in two steps until he’s rightin front of me.His hands raise and then fall back to his sides like he was going to touch me and changed his mind.
‘I’m cold,’ I say, because I am.‘I think I’m getting sick.’
A muscle in his jaw flutters.He’s considering his words.‘What happened back there?’
I shift away from him, rubbing my hands together but stopping when my fingernails drag along my palms.Just like that guy’s did.I drop my chin to my chest and regret it immediately, because the ache in my forehead intensifies.I sigh loudly.‘Nothing.’
He wants to call bullshit, I can tell.‘Want to try again?’Knox asks kindly.
‘It’s embarrassing,’ I mumble, aiming my confession at his sneakers rather than his face.
‘I won’t laugh.’He’s so earnest.So sincere.
‘I got a fright.’My voice is so small.I hate it.
‘How?’
‘There was a man.While I was out running.’I look up from underneath my lashes, gauging his reaction.
Knox’s eyes flash and he stops breathing for a few seconds.‘What did he do?’
‘He was coming out of the public bathroom in Pinnacle Park.I think I gave him a fright too, but he yelled at me.Grabbed at me but—’
