Page 13 of A Me and Him Thing
A waitress passes by holding an order from another crazy person who wanted pancakes in the middle of the night. The smell of hot-off-the-grill pancakes wafts down on us.
“Okay, this was officially a good idea. That smell’s amazing.” I slip off my blazer. It feels like the heat of the grill is warming up the place.
“Right? I need to run a few extra miles tomorrow to work it off.”
“Me too. I’m doing five miles tomorrow.”
He cocks his head to one side. “You run?”
“Yep. Planning to do Hood to Coast in August. I’m trying to get myself in shape. I haven’t registered yet, though. I’m probably too late.”
Surprise is evident on his features. “Really? I’ve done it in the past.”
“A few friends from high school post about it often on their Facebook page. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I can’t imagine running all the way from Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood to Seaside, Oregon. One hundred and ninety-six miles in total. Thank goodness it’s a relay race and the members of each team take turns doing five miles or so, then hand off at exchange points. Can you imagine? There’s no way anyone could do that on their own.” I take a sip of water to stop my scared-of-nothing-to-say rambling. “Are you doing it this year?”
“I’m driving the van for my former team again this year. I’ve done it for the last several years as well. I sit on my butt behind the wheel, basking in the air conditioning and drinking ice-cold sodas from my cooler. A much better gig, as far as I’m concerned.” His smile says he’s found the best secret ever.
“Wait, you don’t want to compete?” He’s young and fit, perfect for the competition.
He shakes his head in the negative. “Not in the ‘Mother of All Relays,’ as it’s called. Not anymore. No way.”
“Why not?” I’m confused.
“I decided I like myself. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic event. A little over a thousand teams participate and no doubt, excitement hangs in the air. It’s a great time. But it’s a lot of people and cars clogging the Oregon roadways. It gets a little crazy.”
I know what he means. “So I’ve heard. You’d think you’d be out there running with lots of people cheering you on and lots of runners right beside you the entire time. But as everyone sets their own pace, I’ve heard you can find yourself running on a mountain highway all by yourself, rain or shine. In the dark of night, with cars speeding past. That doesn’t sound so fun.”
“I’ve been there. It’s a bit daunting.”
“Did you enjoy it?” I’m getting the idea he had not.
“Sure. It’s an adrenaline rush. It’s just not my thing anymore. It’s nearly all uphill or downhill. Some runners barrel down the hills. Then their quads are shot, and they can’t run on the next leg. If it’s hot, runners drop like flies and often require IV fluids.” He pats his chest. “It’s a risk this guy is no longer willing to take. There are too many safety issues, and I’m not a spring chicken anymore. According to my little sister, thirty-three is an old man.”
“You have a year on me, and even I think you’re ancient.” My tongue has a lot in common with a razor.
He’s not bothered. “See, old-man status.”
On the contrary. He’s in his prime, and there’s nothing old-man about him. With his dark hair, dark eyes, height, build, and smooth-as-silk voice, he just might be the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.
But I get what he’s saying. There are risks involved in running in that type of race.
Isn’t taking risks what life is all about?
Just sitting in this restaurant with him is a huge risk for me.
Ren’s forearms lean on the table, his hands clasped. “You’re probably too late to join a team with Hood to Coast only being a month away. Why don’t you join me in the van? It’ll give you a chance to see what it’s like, help you decide if you want to do it next year.”
Our eyes meet. A lock of his hair falls on his forehead, making something in my chest stir.
It’s life. Feelings and emotions. They’re burgeoning inside of me, begging to be noticed, activated, and felt.
Agreeing to be with him in the van means we’ll see each other again. This is not a one-off. Maybe I shouldn’t have been quite so honest with him earlier. He knows my horrible story, me in all my imperfect glory. Apparently, he still likes me anyway. Even if he friend-zoned me right off the bat. Now that I think about it, that says a lot right there.
I still think this is good for me. I need to meet new people, start a new life. It doesn’t mean anything. We’re just friends, and that’s all I want anyway. No overthinking. “All right. I’d love to drive in the van with you. You have room?”
“We have two vans. Teams can have as many as twelve runners, but you need a minimum of six. We have ten. We could use your help.”
A rush of warmth washes over me. I love feeling needed. It makes me feel important. Josie and Jordyn relied on me for everything. I loved every minute of caring for them.
