Page 37 of In the Long Run
‘Ready?’Anneke asks, holding up her phone.I don’t know how she can run with her face perfectly framed in the shot.
‘We’re only going to talk about the run club, right?’I confirm.
Anneke’s been peppering us with questions, wanting to know all about the charity component and what makes our run club different to all the others.
‘Uh-huh.’A light appears on the top of her phone signalling the feed is live, and Anneke launches into a series of questions about what inspired Croissants and Kilometres, where the name came from, how we chose our charities and how long we’ve been running.Knox does most of the talking, his tone even and steady, matching the cadence of his feet as he explains how there’s something special about having a group of people encouraging each other as they chase down personal goals.I bite my lip when he says that he hopes the run club can grow and make more people consider taking up running as a sport.When he lowers his lashes, avoiding the camera as he explains that running used to be an excuse to get away from things but now he sees how it can connect him to other people, it hits me right in the chest.
‘That’s our hope,’ I interject, a burst of confidence coming from somewhere.Must be dehydration.‘That Croissants and Kilometres becomes something people look forward to every Sunday.’
‘I already do,’ Knox says, all serious, and honestly, he’s got nothing to worry about.People are going to gobble him up.They’ll definitely enjoy the way he grimaces and stammers out an embarrassed answer when Anneke asks him to explain what a ‘stern croissant daddy’ is.I bury my laugh in my fist and do my best not to fall over on camera.
When she’s getting ready to wrap everything up, a sly grin stretches her mouth and her icy blue eyes sharpen.‘And how long have you two been together?’she asks.
Knox and I share a look and he nods, because we’ve discussed this.We’re going to be coy and vague and non-committal.Then it’s not really a lie.
‘We’re friends,’ we say in unison.
‘Come on now.’Anneke laughs, her breathing not at all impacted by the fact that she’s running at ten kilometres an hour and conducting a video interview.‘You don’t really expect us to believe that.’
‘Good friends,’ I say, doubling down on my answer.
‘Well, then, how long have you been friends for?’Anneke asks.
‘Not long,’ I say at the same time Knox replies with, ‘For a while now.’
My eyes flare but Knox doesn’t even blink.‘Might just feel longer to me because I liked Gen immediately and felt comfortable with her.’
Jesus.He’s way too good at this.He’s running circles around me already.Not literally; he’s been by my side since we set off from Alizée’s car park, rebuffing all the questions about his romantic status.
Anneke swoons a little, her TikTok-famous grin firmly in place.‘Oh my God.You’re so sweet.Like seriously.I can’t take it.’
I know it’s fake and I’m not sure I can take it.
Knox shrugs, his steps steady, as they have been for the whole run.‘It’s true.’
And he thought Yeti would be better at this.
‘He’s one of the good ones, huh?’Anneke says to me, and I blush.Not that anyone will be able to tell, because I currently look like the answer to Australia’s ongoing drought issues, but my cheeks heat and my throat tightens.
I wish.
‘He is,’ I say, as we round the final bend and Alizée’s comes back into view.The grass around it is covered in runners, walkers,people with prams and kids on scooters.One of the doors to the pâtisserie is propped open and a line of people snakes all the way around to the fenced-off area at the back of the building.
‘Well, if you want to find your own “stern croissant daddy”—’
‘Please don’t make this a thing.’Knox sighs resignedly like he knows he’s fighting a losing battle.
‘—then come along to Croissants and Kilometres next Sunday.I know I’ll be here, working on my marathon prep and looking for someone to cross train with!’Anneke signs off with an exaggerated wink and a hair toss.
‘You guys did great!’she says, once her phone is back in her running belt and we’ve slowed to a walk.‘Totally natural on camera, and so damn cute.’
I mumble my thanks, the adrenaline from surviving the TikTok live mixing with the post-run high that gets me out of bed each morning.
‘We really appreciate it,’ Knox says.And for the first time in a very long time, I truly appreciate being a part of a ‘we’.When Brand said it, I had to hold in full body shudders.Tim never said it, and that was the biggest red flag that I missed.
Anneke spots Annaliese and promises to come back next week, peeling off to meet up with a group who are starting to stretch.Their cheeks are bright and their laughter carries on the light wind, mixing with the shouts and jokes I can hear from the other groups clustered across the park around Alizée’s.The place is packed.
‘I owe Celeste an apology,’ Knox says as we approach the pâtisserie.
