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Dashing out to her car, she had ten minutes to get to Jake’s parents’ house to meet up with whoever was going on this run. Parking on the street, she didn’t see anyone waiting outside. But she didn’t want to go to the door, worried she’d never get out, so she walked down to the trail to wait.
Jake must have been looking for her, and soon he joined her on the trail. Reaching for her to hug, she didn’t resist him. It felt good to be in his arms. She needed to just relax and let things happen. Looking her over, he rubbed his chin.
“Hey, I’m glad I’m going with you because you look too good to be out there alone. A coyote or a creep might nab you.”
“You’re crazy. I’ve been doing this since high school and I’ve never had any trouble.”
“Yeah, Roberta always says don’t tempt fate.”
Defensiveness building up, she bit her tongue. She wasn’t going to stop running alone no matter what he said, so it was ridiculous to bicker about it. They were saved from further discussion when Jake’s brothers and sisters-in-law finally got there.
Their laughter and chatter echoed, and Geri felt her mood lighten up. Ava had come along with Leon and immediately came to Geri’s side.
“You never heard more moaning,” she whispered. “I’m hanging by you.”
“Do you run?” Geri asked.
“Every day if I can. Leon got me one of those jogging strollers and it’s a godsend.”
“Cool! Okay, well, should we get moving?”
“Lead the way,” Jake replied.
“I’d link arms, but, well, you know…” Ava said. “The guys will have fantasies about us.”
“God, that’s sick,” Geri said, but she laughed out loud. “Let’s pick up some speed and see if they can keep up.”
“Oh, I like you,” Ava said.
Aisling and Bridget kept up with them, but the guys lagged behind, and their complaints rang out over the canyon. “You guys, keep it down,” Aisling called to them. “People are trying to rest today.”
After four miles in one direction, the consensus was they should turn back.
“I haven’t run eight miles in as many years. You might have to get the car to pick me up,” Leon groaned.
“The brawny guys always have a harder time,” Bridget said, teasing.
“Now I have to beat you back to the house,” he replied, laughing.
“Honey, don’t hurt yourself,” Ava called over her shoulder.
When they got back to the house, everyone was sore and tired. “I really needed that,” Geri said. “Everyone, thank you for coming along.”
It was surprising how much she’d ended up enjoying herself. They walked up the road to the Saints’ house. Roberta was filling their fountain with water.
“There you are, none the worse for wear, either.”
“Ma, speak for yourself. I can hardly walk,” Leon moaned.
“Are you hungry?”
They called out, “Starved.”
Inside, the table was set, and Big Mike was at the stove, wearing an apron. “After that awful Wild Pancakes meal last week, this will be delish,” he said. “Sit down, sit down.”
Sweaty but exhilarated after their run, Geri promised herself not to overthink things anymore. Jake’s arm was across her shoulders as he joked with his family, and she liked it there. He was claiming possession of his woman in front of his brothers and parents. She had him if she wanted him. It was up to her.
Chapter 6
