Page 25 of In the Long Run
People are starting to leave, calling out goodbyes as they break away from the grassy knoll that surrounds the marshalling station.
‘Please.’I hand him half of the remaining stack.
It’s apparent immediately that no one can say no to Knox.The key is his piercing eye contact.Forgetting what I’m supposed to be doing, I watch women flick their ponytails and bat their eyelashes as they take the flyers.A brave redhead squeezes his arm.Not wanting to look like a weirdo or address the annoying pinching feeling underneath my ribs, I spin on my heel and thrust my own pile of flyers at everyone I pass.When I’m done, I wait far enough away from all the parkrun volunteers that it doesn’t look like I want to talk to them.Soon Knox makes his way over to me.His cheeks are red and he shakes his head a couple of times like he’s having a silent conversation with himself.When he reaches me, he passes me the last few flyers, and for a split second I imagine slipping my palm into his.Walking back home together.Having someone.But I know from previous experience it’ll end in tears.My tears, so no, thank you.
Brody bounds over, his big booming laugh racing ahead of him.‘What time should I get to Run Club tomorrow to help you set up?’he asks.
I falter, missing a step and stumbling.‘You don’t have to come, Brody.’
‘First of all, my friends call me Yeti.And yes, I do.I’ve got to start training.I just signed up for the marathon.So did this clown.’He hitches his thumb towards Knox, who raises his hands in a ‘what the hell’ gesture.
‘I might not still be here then.My leave’s finishing in early September, unless Eug needs me to stay longer.’
‘So you fly back and visit.Check on Eugene.Run 42.2 kilometres.Make a weekend of it.It’ll be good for you.’
‘Yeti.’
‘Forty.’
‘Eugene and Celeste agree, too, by the way.Got the official stamp of approval from the group chat.’Yeti’s lips stretch into a grin that splits his face in half as he squishes in between us, throwing his arms around our shoulders.‘It’s going to be so much fun.So, tomorrow.What time?’
‘Six-thirty,’ I say.
‘We can pick you up.’
‘Oh, no, that’s okay.I’ll meet you there.’And damned if some of my nerves about tomorrow don’t ease, knowing there will be two familiar faces in the marathon group.
10
KNOX
Celeste is the last person I’m expecting to see on my doorstep this morning.‘What are you doing here?’I ask.
She pushes past me, a pâtisserie box in one hand and a cardboard carrier with coffees in the other.‘I’m coming to Run Club.’
The only thing I’ve ever seen Celeste run towards is carbohydrates.She’s not even wearing runners.Her pink Chuck Taylors will destroy her feet.
I trail after her down the hallway.‘Why?’
She stops in front of the couch, where Eugene is lying with Chouquette curled on his lap.‘Hey, Eug.I miss you at Alizée’s.’She hugs him tightly and when they pull apart, his eyes are shining.Hers are too, and I bet it’s because this new version of Eugene is still so jarring to see.At least, that’s how it feels to me and I see him every day.
‘I’m sorry I haven’t been by,’ he mumbles.‘I’ll come by soon.’
She pulls her headband forward and then pushes it back into place.‘Take your time.’
‘Back to Run Club,’ I say, dragging a hand along the back of my neck, squeezing the tension there.
Celeste huffs before passing a coffee to Eugene.‘Yeti said I should come.’
Eugene and I exchange a look, and a small smile peeks outfrom the salt and pepper whiskers of his longer-than-normal beard.
‘You realise it’s running though?’
‘So?My legs aren’t painted on.This one’—she tips her chin towards Eugene—‘keeps telling me my metabolism will slow down one day and I won’t be able to eat so much pastry.How hard is running anyway?’
‘In those shoes?’
She rolls her eyes and pushes back up to stand as tall as her short stature allows her to, spinning around so I can see her backpack.‘I have proper runners, but they’re so ugly.’
