Page 42 of Running Into You
“Very well. It was nice to hear your voice, Elizabeth,” he tells me and it warms me to my core.
“It was nice to hear yours too, dad. Give my best to Colleen. I love you.” I don’t normally end our calls with that, but for some reason I really want to say it today.
“I love you too, Elizabeth,” he says after a moment and then he’s gone.
After starting a load of laundry and mapping out my meals for the week ahead, I do an inventory of my fridge and cupboards before making my grocery list. Since I have frozen chicken breasts and a well-stocked pantry, I only need about a dozen things to get me through my week. I write the list in order of where I’ll find the items in the store. Apples and bananas are listed first as they are closest to the entrance, while frozen vegetables are last since they are the closest to the checkouts. List and reusable shopping bags in hand, I leave my apartment and lock the door behind me.
“Well, look who’s still among the living.” Josh’s voice comes from down the hall, and I turn to him with a grin on my face.
“That’s right. I didn’t even die once!” I say proudly. I should probably be embarrassed that he saw me in such a state yesterday, but one look at his smiling face and I’m over it. How is it possible that he looks so good? His shorter haircut makes his jawline appear more defined and I ache to trail kisses along it. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a bomber coat, and I wonder if I will need a coat over my own jeans and sweater.
As if reading my thoughts, he says, “It’s cold.” I re-enter my apartment and grab my fall coat from the closet. “Where are you off to?” he asks as he stands in my doorway, watching me button my peacoat.
“Grocery store,” I say. “Do you need me to pick up anything for you?”
“I’m heading there too.” He smiles as I walk toward him. When I’m within his reach, he grabs me by the tie of my coat and pulls me into his arms. We stand there inches apart, neither of us moving. He leans down and rests his forehead against mine. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I answer, and for a moment I’m fifteen again. Filled with fluttering butterflies and thrilled just to be near him. All my doubts and insecurities are pushed down and locked away for now, because Josh is holding me.
We talk about our plans for the upcoming week on the way to the grocery store. Josh is once again increasing my running time, which makes me proud and nervous at the same time. It’s not that I don’t think I’m ready, because I know I am. My confidence in myself has grown exponentially and I know I’m doing well, but the further we get in the training, the larger the commitment feels.
We arrive at Whole Foods, and I enter hyper-focused mode. I have a task in front of me and a clear, tested map in my hand to help me accomplish it. I move the aisles with purpose and determination. Josh, on the other hand, is a disaster, for lack of a better word. He jumps from section to section, retracing his steps on several occasions because he’s forgotten something. I’ve gotten everything on my list and want nothing more than to pay for my items and head back, but I feel compelled to not leave a man behind.
“Where is your list?” I ask him, attempting to help him.
“Up here.” He points to his head, and I gape at him.
“How can you not have a list? You don’t go grocery shopping without a list! It’s what separates us from the animals, Josh!” How can I be so attracted to someone who does this? Can I be with someone like this? Is this similar to how law-abiding women end up married to serial killers serving multiple life sentences?
“Almost done, I promise.” He assures me, smiling. “You go check out and I’ll catch up.”
I leave him and check out quickly. There are a lot of people in the store, but every cash register is open. I usually go grocery shopping on Saturday so I can start my meal prep for the week as soon as I wake up on Sunday. I bag my items in the two reusable bags I’ve brought and wait for Josh. He arrives a few minutes later holding the few items he’s purchased. He drops them in my bags and then proceeds to take both bags from me.
“I can carry those,” I tell him, but he shakes his head.
“Nah, I want you to save your energy for the run,” he says, looking at me. “Are you ready to ditch the walking breaks and just run?” My eyebrows shoot up and at first, I think I must have misheard him.
“Running the entire time?” I can’t hide the surprise in my voice. “Do you think I’m ready for that?”
“I do. You’ve been doing really well, and I don’t think you need the breaks anymore.” He falls back behind me on the sidewalk so a pair of older women can get past us. “We’ll take it slow. If you feel you need a break, just tell me and we’ll take one.” He sees the concern that floods my face. “This isn’t a test, Betts. We’ll make adjustments based on what your body is telling you. But let’s try?”
I hate not being good at things. I would rather spend my time doing something I don’t enjoy that I’m great at than attempt something I like but suck at. I know if I attempt this run and can’t complete it, I’ll be very disappointed in myself. Josh is looking at me, waiting for my reply.
“Yes. Let’s do it,” I say and his face breaks out in a grin. I hope I don’t let either of us down.
Chapter 25
Betty
Iran two and a half miles without stopping. My face is frozen in what I’m sure is a maniacal grin as I open the door to my apartment. I completed a real run! I ran for thirty minutes straight! I am the greatest runner alive! I’m pretty sure I was born to do this. Okay, the last two things I said are probably my endorphins talking, but I am letting myself celebrate the win! It was just as hard as I thought it was going to be. There were times when my lungs were on fire and my legs wanted to give out. I think the fact that it was so difficult, and I still managed to do it, is making it all the more rewarding.
I kick off my shoes and go right into stretching. I’ve gotten pretty good at doing my stretches and I’m convinced that they help with my recovery. Josh is watching me with a smirk on his face while I attempt Pirate Stretch when he seems to remember something.
“Don’t move, I’ll be right back,” he says, leaving my apartment door open as he goes.
Don’t move? Does he not realize I’m balancing on one leg? I’m swaying back and forth, just trying not to fall over. He reappears holding something and closes the apartment door. He smiles shyly and hands me a wall calendar and an envelope. I open the calendar to October and see that today has a gold star on it. I flip back to September and find that all the days we ran together now have gold stars on them. The envelope he’s given me is filled with more stickers. I feel the moisture building in my eyes and when I look up at him, he’s blurry because of my unshed tears.
The amusement in his face vanishes and now all I see is concern.
