“Recent is not a precisely regulated term.”
Her mouth curved. Not a cruel smile. A doubtful one. It was worse.
“Amy, that’s…” She paused. “That’s ambitious.”
“I’m aware.”
“Have you done a half marathon?”
“I’m following a progressive training strategy.”
I was not following any strategy. I did not own running shoes.
Behind us, someone had moved closer. I heard Marissa say, “Amy’s doing the marathon?”
Another voice repeated it.
Evelyn looked over my shoulder, then back at me. “That’s wonderful.”
She said it kindly, which made me want to throw something.
“I’ll look for you at the finish line,” she added.
I lifted my chin. “You should.”
Tessa appeared beside us with her phone raised.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Documenting personal growth.”
“Stop recording.”
“You just announced a marathon at your ex’s engagement party.”
Several people were now listening. Vanessa approached, followed by two of Evelyn’s friends.
“You’re really running?” Vanessa asked.
“Yes,” I said.
Every repetition raised the price.
“When is it?” someone asked.
“September,” Evelyn answered.
“How exciting,” Marissa said.
Tessa lowered the phone long enough to wrap an arm around my shoulders. “My best friend is running a marathon!”
People applauded. Actually applauded. I stood beneath the rooftop lights holding an untouched glass of champagne while strangers congratulated me on a decision I had made eleven seconds earlier. Evelyn smiled. I smiled back. In that moment, I hated both of us.
The next morning, I woke to forty-three notifications. I checked the screen, shut my eyes, and counted to five. When I opened them, there were forty-four. From the kitchen came the sound of a blender, followed by Tessa swearing. I got out of bed. My feet hurt from the heels. My mouth tasted faintly of champagne and regret. Tessa stood at the counter wearing blue scrubs and attempting to clean pale green liquid from the wall.
“What happened?”
“The lid expressed a boundary.”
