cross the distance from home to the gym and back and I really sprinted the last block.” I smiled, remembering my conversation with Jesse this morning.
“A mile each way?” She leaned into the plush cushions. “Don’t let your memories of high school running mess you up. You’re going to enjoy running once you wrap your mind around it. It’s just a mental block, you know?”
I did know, but I didn’t need another reminder of my high school humiliation. At my debut track meet I spewed on the shoes of the boy who our yearbook featured as best athlete, best body, and best face. Why couldn’t anyone forget? “Hey, I started at zero. This is progress.”
Raquel nodded, elevating her eyebrows. “Outstanding progress.”
“Those first two miles are the hardest. They’re like a warm-up, right?”
Raquel twisted her face down and to the side. “Um, sure.”
“So, that’s the mistake I made. I just need to push out more miles. Running to and from the gym is stupid. I never really get warm because I stop and start. Tomorrow I’m starting my real training program. I’m going to do six miles, six days a week.” I gave her a significant look, trying to convince both of us that I could really run six miles. “If I do that for four weeks, I should be more than ready to start this .” I poked at the paper in her hands.
Raquel stared. After several moments of dumbfounded silence, she rose from her chair, walked to her bookshelf, and retrieved three books on running and a stack of Runner’s World magazines. She crossed the distance between us and dumped the pile in my arms. “Here. You’re going to need these.”
I didn’t remind her I’d learned most of this in college; guess I was due for a refresher course. “Thanks.” I turned to leave. My brother would be home from work soon and I didn’t need the grief he would give me about my latest passion, my choice of men, or the fact that everyone knew Detective Fine and Shine were coming around again. Thank you, Nana. “Tater, come give your auntie a hug goodbye.”
Tate raced from his room, threw his arms around me, and knocked several magazines from my hands. “Do you have to leave?”
“Yeah. Your dad will be home soon and they’ll want family time.” I nodded towards Raquel.
“Family time?” Tate giggled. “Nuh-uh. You’re scared of my daddy.”
I spit out a huffy breath. “Excuse me?”
“When Daddy says your boyfriends are losers, your face gets all red.” He patted my arm. “I think you’re the prettiest girl ever, Auntie. Why do you like losers?”
I ruffled his hair, enduring Raquel’s laughter. “Thank you. I get made fun of without Jared actually being in the house. Walk me to the front door,” I commanded.
Tate gave his mom a thumbs-up, picked up my fallen magazines, and followed me. “Will you bring me more treats next time?” he asked.
“Sure thing. What happened to your sucker?"
"I hid it under my bed. I have to lick it slow ‘cause Momma won't buy me treats."
I gasped. "No treats?”
He sighed, brown eyes filled with anguish. “I know. If my momma didn’t take me to the park and stuff, I’d move to Nana’s with you. Nana’s always got candy.”
I chuckled. “Your mom’s a lot nicer than Nana.”
I swung the front door open and leaped into the air. “Pelican poop,” I yelled, spilling several magazines onto the floor.
A brawny man whose shoulders connected directly to his head stood on the threshold, hand poised to knock. His bushy eyebrows rose.
I placed a hand over my heart. “You scared me.” Muscle Man . The creep from the race. He more than scared me. Why was he at Raquel’s house? I shuddered and pushed Tate behind me, setting my books on the entryway table so my hands would be free.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” The look in his pale blue eyes said he couldn’t have cared less if I was terrified. “I’m the new Schwann’s man. Wanted to introduce
“A mile each way?” She leaned into the plush cushions. “Don’t let your memories of high school running mess you up. You’re going to enjoy running once you wrap your mind around it. It’s just a mental block, you know?”
I did know, but I didn’t need another reminder of my high school humiliation. At my debut track meet I spewed on the shoes of the boy who our yearbook featured as best athlete, best body, and best face. Why couldn’t anyone forget? “Hey, I started at zero. This is progress.”
Raquel nodded, elevating her eyebrows. “Outstanding progress.”
“Those first two miles are the hardest. They’re like a warm-up, right?”
Raquel twisted her face down and to the side. “Um, sure.”
“So, that’s the mistake I made. I just need to push out more miles. Running to and from the gym is stupid. I never really get warm because I stop and start. Tomorrow I’m starting my real training program. I’m going to do six miles, six days a week.” I gave her a significant look, trying to convince both of us that I could really run six miles. “If I do that for four weeks, I should be more than ready to start this .” I poked at the paper in her hands.
Raquel stared. After several moments of dumbfounded silence, she rose from her chair, walked to her bookshelf, and retrieved three books on running and a stack of Runner’s World magazines. She crossed the distance between us and dumped the pile in my arms. “Here. You’re going to need these.”
I didn’t remind her I’d learned most of this in college; guess I was due for a refresher course. “Thanks.” I turned to leave. My brother would be home from work soon and I didn’t need the grief he would give me about my latest passion, my choice of men, or the fact that everyone knew Detective Fine and Shine were coming around again. Thank you, Nana. “Tater, come give your auntie a hug goodbye.”
Tate raced from his room, threw his arms around me, and knocked several magazines from my hands. “Do you have to leave?”
“Yeah. Your dad will be home soon and they’ll want family time.” I nodded towards Raquel.
“Family time?” Tate giggled. “Nuh-uh. You’re scared of my daddy.”
I spit out a huffy breath. “Excuse me?”
“When Daddy says your boyfriends are losers, your face gets all red.” He patted my arm. “I think you’re the prettiest girl ever, Auntie. Why do you like losers?”
I ruffled his hair, enduring Raquel’s laughter. “Thank you. I get made fun of without Jared actually being in the house. Walk me to the front door,” I commanded.
Tate gave his mom a thumbs-up, picked up my fallen magazines, and followed me. “Will you bring me more treats next time?” he asked.
“Sure thing. What happened to your sucker?"
"I hid it under my bed. I have to lick it slow ‘cause Momma won't buy me treats."
I gasped. "No treats?”
He sighed, brown eyes filled with anguish. “I know. If my momma didn’t take me to the park and stuff, I’d move to Nana’s with you. Nana’s always got candy.”
I chuckled. “Your mom’s a lot nicer than Nana.”
I swung the front door open and leaped into the air. “Pelican poop,” I yelled, spilling several magazines onto the floor.
A brawny man whose shoulders connected directly to his head stood on the threshold, hand poised to knock. His bushy eyebrows rose.
I placed a hand over my heart. “You scared me.” Muscle Man . The creep from the race. He more than scared me. Why was he at Raquel’s house? I shuddered and pushed Tate behind me, setting my books on the entryway table so my hands would be free.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” he said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” The look in his pale blue eyes said he couldn’t have cared less if I was terrified. “I’m the new Schwann’s man. Wanted to introduce
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