Marc stretched. “Nothing makes me want to get this race started more than having to sit all morning.”
Eva poked him in the arm. “Oh, come on. You’re used to business meetings.” She turned to Angela. “You ready for lunch?”
“You guys go ahead. I’ve got to hit the restroom first.”
“We’ll save you a seat.”
Angela put her head into her hands, waiting for the noise in the room to grow quieter. Eventually it did. Gathering her courage, she peeked up again. Most everyone had gone, but one green-shirted man still leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, head tilted, studying her.
She blew out a breath. “Hi.” The word seemed to resound in the high-ceilinged room.
Simon pushed off the wall with his foot and walked toward her. He lowered himself into the seat next to her, careful to turn so their shoulders didn’t touch. “Hi.”
“So, you’re here.” She tried to inject enthusiasm into her voice, but it came out all wrong. Like an accusation. But he didn’t have anything to be sorry for. It was all her.
Just like with Wes. It was all your fault then too.
Wait, what? That voice inside . . . it knew something she didn’t. Or rather, something she hadn’t acknowledged. But what?
Angela groaned.
“Yeah, I’m here.” Simon’s voice was soft. Softer than she deserved. “I’ve known for a few weeks that Ultimate Race Adventures wanted me to do an in-depth feature on the actual race—especially your and Eva’s experience.”
Wonderful. In-depth. That meant he’d have to interview them.
She’d been able to resist him by removing herself from the equation. But being with him every night, the thing her rebellious heart wanted more than anything at this moment . . . how could she remain aloof then? “I wish you’d told me.” So she could have prepared—if that was even possible.
“I wasn’t sure how. Or when.”
She caught his shrug. His frown. “Because we stopped talking.”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“I thought about calling or texting so many times, but I didn’t want to hurt you any more than I feared I already had.”
“I understand. And I would have said no to avoid making you uncomfortable by coming here, but this is my job and the offer was too good to pass up.” He lifted his hand as if to place it on her shoulder, hesitated, then dropped it back into his lap. “But I don’t want you to worry. I’ll remain strictly professional the whole time.”
“I know you will.” But will I be able to do the same?
31
Here they were, once more, at the starting line of a race.
But this wasn’t just any race. This was the race. The one that would hopefully give her the final peace she needed to move forward and into a new life. So why did Eva feel almost numb at the thought?
She stood between Marc and Angela, surrounded by other competitors at the starting line, where a twenty-foot red inflatable stretched in an arc across the path. Sherry and the kids—along with hundreds of onlookers—held encouraging signs on the other side of the rope dividing the course from the nonparticipants. Lilly danced to the rock music pumping from the speakers. Kylee shot Angela a grin and mouthed something to her. Zach waved his fists up and down, thumbs pressed to the sky. Seeing Brent’s family there sent a pang through Eva, one she’d not felt so acutely for several weeks now.
But she wasn’t a sobbing mess. How . . . unexpected.
The straps of Eva’s rucksack settled snug against her shoulders, a water bottle attached to each one. Collapsible hiking poles were secured inside the top of her backpack, ready to be used when the trek got hilly. She’d made the overall load as light as possible but knew she’d feel the weight over time.
All three of them wore running tights that covered their legs completely, plus long-sleeved running shirts and waterproof jackets. The sun had barely meandered over the horizon, and light cloud cover blocked the full intensity of its rays. Though it didn’t show today, rain was still a possibility along the course. The weather would be as varied as the terrain, with temperatures as hot as the upper eighties and possibly down into the forties in the mountains where part of the race would take them.
Essentially they had to be ready for anything.
Eva continued observing the crowd. Funny how loud it was now, with so many people milling about, and how quiet it would soon be, especially once the serious