Page 97 of In the Long Run
‘Meet me for a run whenever you’re ready.And afterwards, I’ll make this up to you,’ I promise, scraping my teeth over her hard nipple.‘I promise.’
‘I’m going to hold you to that.’
‘Good.’
I hope she does.
This phone.I swear.It’s managed to interrupt every quiet moment I’ve had today.Not that there’s been many.I spent the morning at Alizée’s overseeing the plumbers who cleared all the pipes and drains.Then my afternoon was filled with trying to find an electrician once the insurers insisted all our electrical sockets and appliances would need to be checked.Are there any available today?Or tomorrow?No.And we can’t reopen until we’ve been given the all clear.There’s also theminorproblem that we don’t have any supplies, but Eug has been ringing around, trying to sort that out.
‘Who’s that?’Gen asks as she runs beside me.
‘I don’t know.’I tip my phone towards her, showing her the screen.I’ve spoken to so many people over the last few days.‘Might be that other electrician getting back to me?’
‘Hang on.’Gen grabs my forearm, holding the phone steady aswe continue to run.Her eyebrows draw together, lips puckering in confusion.‘That’s Caleb’s number.Why would he …’
I answer the call on speaker, knowing Gen will appreciate being included.‘Hello, Knox speaking.’
‘Hey, buddy.’The friendly greeting is nice, but it doesn’t do anything to discount my confusion over why he’s calling me.
‘I’m here, too,’ Gen says.
‘Of course you are.You two are joined at the running belt these days,’ Caleb teases.We’ve only met briefly but I liked him immediately.
‘Is everything okay?’I ask.
‘I’m fine,’ Eugene grumbles in the background.
My heart rate spikes and my pace increases instead of slowing, my body switching to autopilot seamlessly.The need to get home to Eugene is all I can think about.Gen matches me easily.
‘Eugene’s had a fall.’
Shit.
‘It was nothing.I lost my balance.I’m fine now.’
‘Madeleine and Chouquette were barking in the front courtyard, trying to get in to him.’
‘Did you hurt yourself, Eug?’
‘No!’
‘He hit his head pretty bad,’ Caleb says.‘The ambo thinks it’ll need stitches and they want to check him out for a concussion.’
Ambulance?Jesus.This is the most Monday of any Monday ever.
Gen points to a path up ahead that branches off from where we’d normally go and whispers, ‘I know a shortcut.Follow me.’
‘Did you lose consciousness?’I ask.
‘No!’
‘Yes.’Caleb sighs.‘I could see him lying on the floor.Luckily the screen door wasn’t locked.I called the ambulance.’
‘I was resting.Hard to get up on these old bones.’
‘You thought I was Knox.’That’s telling, because aside from both being male, Caleb and I don’t have any physical characteristics in common.‘And that it was ten years ago.And you’re bleeding.’
‘Okay, we’re ready to go here,’ a new voice says in the background.
