Page 7 of Rocking Cedarwood

Niall’s nerve endings buzzed. He ran through the stretches and pre-runs but barely realized what he’d accomplished. Michael required too much of his attention. He joined the line with Michael and set his watch. When the gun went off, he started. Michael kept up with him for the first three miles. At the halfway mark, the Michael-induced haze lifted and his focus returned.

He’d never been affected like this by anyone else. Michael intoxicated him. Michael said the right things and kept touching him. The heat scorched him. But Michael wasn’t gay, so none of the electricity between them mattered.

At least Michael wasn’t disgusted by him being homosexual. Michael was an ally.

Niall refused to check his watch. The race was going too well. He’d kept ahead of the pace he wanted to run but noted the man with the seven-minute-mile pace pinny was a bit in front of him.

He glanced to his side, looking for Michael. But instead of being with him, Michael wasn’t in sight. He should check for his friend, but he wanted to get to the finish line. Niall pressed forward. People at the edges of the course shouted.

“Almost there!”

“You’ve got this!”

He loved the encouragement. At this point in the race, he needed all the cheers he could get. He spotted some of his students waving banners.Go Mr. Grayson.

A lump formed in his throat. No way he’d stop, but he wanted to hug the kids. They’d made his day. He pressed on until he saw the finish line. A gigantic inflatable arch denoted the end. He pushed himself.Never surrender.He broke into a full sprint as he reached, then passed through, the arch. A hundred meters or so past the line, he finally stopped his watch and read his time on the device—44:07.Hot damn. A personal record.

Niall panted and walked to keep his legs from cramping as he scanned for Michael. Where was he? Already done? Michael had started strong. Someone offered Niall a bottle of water as he continued to look for his friend. “Thanks.” He checked the bottle seal then opened the lid. The water chilled him but only for a second.

Brian and Jacob Williams, the pair of twins in his class this year, bounded up to him.

“We read and you ran,” Jacob said. “Mr. Grayson, you did it.”

“We saw you start,” Brian said. “Mr. Jepsen ran with you.”

“He did,” Niall said. He hugged both boys. “Did you like the race?” He ruffled Jacob’s hair. “Thanks for cheering. You helped me go faster.”

“Told you,” Jacob said. He elbowed his brother. “We shouted and the wind made him fast.”

“Boys.” Tonya Williams chuckled. She turned her attention to Niall. “They swore they needed to be here. They said they read the books and you would run if they did, so they wanted to be sure you were true to your word.” She shrugged. “You got them to read and that’s huge. I’ll bring them to every race if that’s what we need to do. Thank you.”

“Whatever works.” Niall grinned. “I’m planning on doing it again next year. I’m hoping for similar results, but I’ll take what I get.”

“You will be fine. These two won’t stop talking about the race and the list, so you’re good.” She snapped photos of the twins.

“Mr. Jepsen,” Brian shouted. “He’s here, too.”

“Yay!” Jacob jumped up and down. “Go fast!”

Niall clapped and the lump in his throat increased. Pride welled within him. “Go, Michael,” he managed. Tears burned in his eyes. Good thing he had his sunglasses to hide his emotions.

Michael crossed the line and jogged beyond the arch. Within a few moments, he doubled back. Sweat glistened on his skin and his shirt clung to his upper body. His hair stuck out in strange angles when he ran his fingers through the sweaty mess.

Niall fought the urge to drool. He wanted to throw himself into Michael’s arms.

But that wasn’t possible.

Why’d he always pick men who weren’t available or in his league or those who weren’t gay? Because the type of guys he liked didn’t seem to like him in return.

Michael walked over to Niall, the boys and Tonya. “Hi,” he said, panting. “That was super tough.”

“You finished. That’s huge,” Niall said. “I’m proud.”

“I’m beat.” Michael sat on the curb. “Hey, guys. Did you check on your teacher? He was so fast I couldn’t keep up with him.”

“Yeah,” Jacob said. “He did great.”

Tonya jabbed Niall in the ribs with her finger then gestured him aside. “You know…”

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