“Thank you.”
“You smell like public transportation.”
“That is less kind.”
She pulled back and looked at the medal.
“You did it.”
“I did.”
Emotion threatened again. Tessa saw. She hugged me a second time without speaking. Rose checked my knee. Gloria kissed my cheek. Lola asked whether I won.
“No.”
“You kissed Aunt Dani.”
“That was not part of the race.”
“It looked like winning.”
Dani covered her face. Blake arrived holding a camera.
“Can we recreate the finish kiss with better framing?”
“No,” we said together.
“Authenticity is difficult to schedule,” they complained.
I faced Dani.
“We need to talk.”
Her smile held, but caution entered.
“Okay.”
“Not here.”
“Hotel?”
“Yes.”
Tessa heard.
“I can occupy everyone.”
“You do not need to.”
“I was born for it.”
She took Lola’s hand and announced a search for the best post-race snack. Gloria followed. Rose gave Dani a look. Dani nodded. No jokes. No avoidance. We returned to the hotel holding hands. The gesture no longer belonged to the competition.
The room still contained the collapsed pillow barrier. I sat on the edge of the bed. My legs objected. Dani brought water and placed it in my hand.
“Drink.”
“You are not formal oversight.”
