She’d finally come to peace with potentially being at the end of the pack, so long as they finished each day without being disqualified. The only way that would happen was if they didn’t cross each individual finish line as a team, or if they didn’t make it to each overnight checkpoint within the allotted time.
Despite the fact her sprain had healed, Eva would continue to wrap her ankle with kinesiology tape for the duration of the race.
All ducks were in a row—the ones they could anticipate and control, anyway.
“Hey.” Marc’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“Oh. Hi.”
He leaned in, kissing her cheek. “Have I told you how pretty you look in the mornings?”
She ran her tongue along the inside of her bottom lip and smirked. “Marco Cinelli, you’re a charmer.”
“You’re the only one other than my mother and aunts who can get away with calling me by my full name, you know.”
“Good. I like that. Marco.”
“Okay, now I’m stealing another kiss. This time a real one.” He lifted an eyebrow. “You got a problem with that?”
“Your feisty side is coming out. I like that too.” Eva laughed as he swooped in and kissed her, this time on the lips. It was quick but still stole her breath.
Beside Eva, Angela cleared her throat. “Please don’t tell me you guys are going to subject me to this for one hundred and fifty-five miles. Because I already have extreme third-wheel syndrome.”
Eva stage-whispered to Angela, “Don’t tell Marc, but he’s actually the third wheel.”
A poke in her right side made her giggle. “I heard that.”
“What?” She swung her head back to him, batting her eyes and widening them as if innocent.
“I should kiss that smirk right off your face. But I’ll be considerate of Angela.”
“Much appreciated.”
Laughter burst from all three of them.
Just then an announcer welcomed them and started the countdown.
Holy cow, holy cow, holy cow. Eva’s breaths came in a barrage of spurts. She grabbed Marc’s and Angela’s hands, crushing them with her own.
The crowd counted down from ten, and after they reached one, a buzzer sounded. A collective surge sent the group of competitors forward, some running, others jogging, including Eva and her team.
Soon the noise from the nonparticipants faded as Marc, Eva, and Angela moved deeper into the country—a desolate wilderness, from all appearances. She’d heard the volunteers talking about how today’s trails would take them into the up-and-down landscape of the Nevis Valley, an area known for the early New Zealand gold mining rush. A ring of snow-tipped mountains created an inspiring backdrop. Swelling tussock grasslands dotted with boulders and dark gray-green shrubs seemed to go on for miles. Varying heights of yellow grass bent in response to the occasional breeze. Supposedly several creeks trickled from the mountains to feed a twenty-five-mile river that flowed through the valley, but Eva didn’t see them. Yet.
They came upon the first checkpoint sooner than it seemed they would, grabbing some water and hitting the trail again. One down, only three more to go today before they made it to the fifth and final one, where they’d camp—and then start all over tomorrow.
But for now, they were doing fine. When they walked, they chatted about anything and everything. When they jogged, silence reigned as they took in their surroundings and allowed the beauty to soak into the soles of their feet and travel to their hearts.
It wasn’t easy by any means, but their training had prepared them. If they’d been running the entire time, it definitely would have been more challenging. But while tiring, the trails weren’t impossible. It was shaping up to be a very pleasant first day. In many ways it felt like they were out on another of their long training runs.
No, this was not at all how she’d assumed she would feel today. What did that mean?
Of course, it was only going to get harder from here. Tomorrow was said to be the first of a few difficult days, with extremely narrow trails and sheer drops where they’d have to really focus on safety.
But her attention had to be on the here, the now. Today.
And today, gorgeous views greeted them with jots of history written into the scenery. The path meandered right next to a large waterwheel that towered over them, and several stone ruins hinted at the area’s past.
Everywhere the earth burst with fabulous color.
Yes. Whatever she was or wasn’t feeling, she was supposed to be here right now. She’d embrace