Page 62 of All The Ways to Miss You

“You poor guy.” I laugh—a real laugh.

“Fits vfor vu fo vear.” She pauses. “Vamn it.” Aggie spits her teeth into her cupped palm. “I made it for you to wear.”

Paul removes the cape and places it over my shoulders. He secures the ties around my neck. “I’m Paul, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

I shake his hand and return the sentiment. Feeling emotional, I crush them in a group hug. “Thank you.”

Aggie pulls away and inspects me. “What’s wrong with you? You don’t seem excited. You should be excited. You’ve been waiting for this for months. What’s the shit? Tell me! I smell it, but I don’t understand why I’m smelling it.”

When I scowl, she tugs me aside.

“They’re diverting the run through Northwalton,” I say.

“Oh.” She turns glum. “You’re right. That’s a big pile of shit. Shit.”

“I haven’t been back since . . .”

“That’s understandable.”

“I was thinking of leaving.” My lips tighten and I pull in a deep breath.

Her expression falls in understanding but it ricochets back, the lights flashing behind her stubborn blue eyes. “Or, you know, you could use it as a moment of empowerment. Step right on that gigantic, smoldering pile of shit and track it through the campus. When you’re done, finishing will mean more than finishing for dumb people who run on purpose.”

I cross a hand to my shoulder and rub. She makes a good point. It’s been haunting me too long. Am I well enough to fight today? I glance down at myself, searching for the answer.

“You did make me this awesome cape.” I swing it around, feeling a little powerful. If I make light of the moment like Aggie would, perhaps it will be easier. Or even possible.

“I di-id,” she sings, drawing out the second word.

“And it might upset my royal subjects if I don’t make an appearance,” I joke.

Paul steps into the conversation and takes a sweeping bow with one arm extended elegantly at his side. “Milady.”

When he rises, my nose burns and my throat tightens. I can’t help the forthcoming tears. Turning to Aggie, I say, “I’m scared.”

“I’ll be with you.” She clasps her hands with mine. “I brought my bike. I’ll crash the race and ride beside you if you need me to. Who’s stopping me? No one, that’s who.”

“Oh no.” I glance over her shoulder.

“What now?” she asks.

I jerk my chin in the direction of the registration tent. Evan stands outside it, pinning his number to his shirt. I forgot about finding the registration form for this event in his apartment the night I stayed there.

“You didn’t talk to him yet?” she asks.

“Sort of, but it turned into an argument and went nowhere.”

“Shit.”

“What?”

She groans. “We may or may not have gotten to know each other the day he was in the office. I like him. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I was pretty mean the other day. It was warranted, but still. I feel a little guilty. I may have gone overboard. I’m not sure.”

“So put on your big Golden Girl panties and talk to him.”

It may be the cape, but I’m feeling strong today. Strong enough to let this Evan drama blow over, so we can be whatever we were before this one-night-stand mess happened. I want to return to the time before Aggie’s big drunk declaration had me making terrible decisions.