Page 91 of Jilted Jock
The Chuck Project was a local group that helped bring awareness to substance use prevention and also aided in treatment navigation and family support services.
From the moment I met Chuck, the founder, I knew it was where I was meant to be. I was passionate about the cause, of course, but the events and the way he went about making a difference while still infusing life and happiness spoke to me. It didn’t need to be stiff cocktail hours and five thousand plate dinners to make a difference in people’s lives.
On Saturday, I showed up early to greet people and sign autographs or stand for pictures as they arrived. I didn’t love the idea of making any of it about me, but Chuck said it would be fun for people to have such an up-close encounter with a local athlete.
It ended up being far more casual than I expected. Some people just wanted to say hey, others wanted selfies, but with the music blasting in the background and kids running around, it all just felt like a good time. Chance hadn’t shown, but he’d told me he wasn’t sure he could, so I wasn’t exactly surprised.
The adult run was set to go first, and I donned an event t-shirt and stood at the start line ready to go when the whistle blew.
The course was two miles with fifteen obstacles including walls, mud, monkey bars, a rope climb, and more. When I crossed the line, it was with sweat and dirt covering me from my ear-to-ear grin to my shoes that were so wet and muddy they felt like bricks. I slogged toward the hose off area, accepting high fives with other muddy racers and congratulations from spectators.
It was gonna take several real showers to feel clean again, but I did my best to get the worst off and changed into my back up shirt and shoes.
The kid’s event was starting in fifteen minutes and I got to be an obstacle. The kids had to kick a ball past me and into a net. Me vs. fifty screaming tykes – I was more nervous about that then I had been for my own race.
I wasn’t one hundred percent sure where I needed to be in the course, so I headed to find Chuck for my orders.
I felt lighter than I had since she’d left and just as soon as I realized it, some of that lightness faded. That’s the thing about trying to move on from a broken heart, one thought, one reminder of the past and that progress takes a step backward.
I was taking one step forward, literally and figuratively, when the past and present all collided, and there she was. My future. She stood ten feet in front of me, blue eyes wide with nerves and a hesitant smile on her lips. As many times as I’d tried to picture it any other way, it only took seeing her again to know in my soul that she was it. I’d do anything to be the man she wanted and needed.
Walking toward her, I reminded myself to breathe. My memories hadn’t captured her accurately. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was fucking radiant. A majestic unicorn. The eighth wonder of the world, or my world anyway.
I stopped in front of her, heart beating like a drum in my chest. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She smiled, gave a small wave, and then interlocked her hands in front of her.
Someone patted me on the shoulder and told me great work as I just stared at her memorizing every detail and skipping straight past all the formalities to determine what her being here meant.
“This is amazing, Finn. Chance told me about it. It’s really great. I didn’t even know this group existed.”
I swallowed thickly. “It was founded just last year.”
She nodded and we stared at one another some more.
“I’m sorry. I can’t believe you’re here. I’d hug you, but I’m pretty dirty.”
“Yeah, I should have called. I wasn’t sure I was going to come. I sat in the parking lot for an hour changing my mind every time I decided one way or another.”
“I’m glad you did. It’s good to see you. Are you in town for the weekend?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I mean no. I got back last night. New York was an adventure, but California is my home.”
My hopes lifted, but only for a split second. Just because she’d moved back didn’t mean she’d changed her mind about me.
“Finn,” someone yelled, and I looked up to see Chuck motioning me over.
“I have to work the kid’s obstacle race.”
She held up both hands. “Oh, of course, you’re working. I just wanted to say hello and tell you that this is really cool. You’re going to make a difference in a lot of people’s lives.”
She looked like she was gonna flee and my stomach twisted into knots.
“Come with me.”
“To the obstacle course?”
“Sure. A few dozen kids kicking balls at us, could be fun. And also, I just don’t want you to leave. I’ve missed you so damn much. There’s so much I want to say to you.”
