gaze from his sneakers since Mile Two. “Just lead me in the right direction,” he puffed without looking up.
The hill, the longest, tallest hill in the history of West Virginia geography, gave way to the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my life.
The finish line.
The route was lined with spectators and athletes who’d finished ages ago. I wanted to hate them, but I didn’t have the energy.
“It’s all downhill from here,” I wheezed.
“Let’s do this,” Gus said.
“I’m definitely puking,” Tameka confirmed.
“Do it after the finish line.” Together, we took the decline. The cheers, the flutter of the Finish Line sign drew us in like a siren’s song.
It was really happening. I was finishing an entire triathlon with a disease. I couldn’t tell the difference between sweat and tears. Judging from the wet snorts coming from my compatriots, they were experiencing the same sense of overwhelm.
The cheers were deafening. I felt them in my blood and bones.
Community. Connection.
“Let’s do this, ladies,” Gus said, his voice cracking.
Together, we linked hands and, sobbing and sweating, made our way across the finish line.
I. Did. It.
The heartbeat that hammered in my head said it over and over again.
I. Did. It.
There was more cheering. Gus was dragged away by a horde of toddlers chanting “Grampa!” Tameka was bent at the waist over a trash can laughing.
And Jonah was… here.
In a suit and tie. Holding the biggest bouquet of flowers I’d ever seen. And a piece of pizza. He was here. For me. With pizza.
These were tears.
He pushed his way through, the crowd parting around him, and I was running again. He tossed the flowers over his shoulder and caught me mid-leap.
“You did it, Shelby! You fucking did it,” he shouted over the noise. His joy was palpable. I could reach out and hold on to his happiness for me. “I’m so fucking proud of you!”
I threw my arms around his neck. “I did it,” I confirmed with an undignified sob. “And I’m in love with you!”
Q. What’s one thing you wish your neighbors would recognize about you?
Scarlett Bodine: That I’m a damn genius when it comes to pairing folks up. If people would just stop stickin’ to their guns and actin’ like they know best I could wrap up my goal of romantic matchmaking domination a hell of a lot faster.
50
Shelby
I wasn’t sure if I’d said it loud enough for him to catch the words over the roar of the crowd. Runners were finishing around us. Spectators were cheering. And I’d just shouted my declaration of love in the middle of it.
He lowered me slowly, gently to the ground, and I was grateful when my legs didn’t give out.
“What did you say?” he asked in a half shout. I was getting his suit sweaty, but he didn’t seem to notice.
I looked him in the eye, squared my shoulders, and delivered the message again. “I love you, Jonah Bodine.”
Something flickered in those sharp green eyes.
“I finished my dissertation last night and the triathlon five seconds ago. Summer’s coming to an end. But I’m hoping this is just the beginning for us.”
He opened his mouth, but I shut him up with a hard, sweaty kiss. “I sprang this on you, and I’m not expecting an answer. Figure out how you feel and let me know when you’re ready.”
“You’re a hell of a girl, Shelby,” he said softly.
“I am, aren’t I?” I agreed with a grin that I felt in my soul. “Now, gimmie that pizza.”
He handed it over with a grin.
Then someone else was calling my name. “Shelby!”
“Mom? Dad?”
I blinked as my parents wound their way to us.
“What are you doing here?”
Dad snatched me out of Jonah’s grasp and squeezed me tight. “We are so proud of you, Shelby!” He had his GT touchdown face on. Only this time it was for me. And I was sweating and crying again.
“We saw you come across the finish line, and I swear it gave me goose bumps,” Mom said, leaning in for her hug and kiss.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I said, my voice breaking.
My parents shared a baffled look.
“Why wouldn’t we be here?” Dad asked, looking confused.
“It’s just a sprint tri,” I said.
“It’s your sprint tri,” Mom insisted. “And it’s a huge deal, Shelby.”
It was a huge deal. They didn’t even know how huge a deal it was.
It made me want to cry… or keep crying. At this point, between the sweat and the tears, my face was a salt mine. Everything was gritty, and I wasn’t sure