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We head outside. I suck in deep breaths of humid air as I stretch my calves on Hallie’s front lawn.
Then I start running.
Jackson attempts to make small talk with me for the first block but runs out of breath a couple later. We’ve barely made it to the park—less than a mile from Hallie and Matt’s house—when he collapses on the side of the sidewalk. “Holy shit. How far was that?”
“Not far,” I respond, standing over him. “Want me to come back for you?”
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead.” He waves an arm and then lets it drop, breathing heavily. “I’ll catch up.”
I cover my snort with a cough, then continue running through my hometown, staying away from the downtown section and instead weaving through the residential neighborhoods. About a half hour later, I circle back to the park. Jackson is still there. Standing now, at least.
“Wasn’t sure if you were coming back.” He chuckles.
“Just had to get in five,” I reply.
“Five? You just ran five miles?” He gapes at me.
“Uh-huh.” I turn back toward Hallie’s. Jackson trails after me. Calling his pace a jog would be a compliment, but he makes it.
We return to the kitchen to find the scene virtually unchanged from when we left. Matt’s seated at the kitchen table with his parents, Matthew is asleep in his crib, and Hallie’s making sandwiches for lunch. With the exception of the baby, they all look at us as we enter.
“You good, little bro?” Matt asks Jackson. He appears amused, which makes me like him a little more.
“Great,” he wheezes, dropping down in the open chair. Hallie gives me a look.
I head to the fridge, grabbing a couple bottles of water. I hand one to Jackson and then drain most of the other one. I’m soaked with sweat, but I feel better.
“How far did you guys go?” Matt questions.
I wait for Jackson to answer. “I only made it to the park. Saylor ran five miles after.”
Everyone gapes at me.
“It’s less than I would have run at practice,” I say with a shrug.
“My goodness.” Matt’s father chuckles. “Guess you won’t be able to complain about lacrosse any longer, Jackson.”
It’s impossible to tell because his face is already so red, but I’m pretty sure Jackson is blushing.
“I’m going to shower,” I announce.
“Towels are in the closet,” Hallie informs me as she spreads mayonnaise on bread.
“Great.” I grab my duffle bag and head upstairs, already deciding to make my shower last as long as possible.
This is going to be a long weekend.
“It’s so nice to see you, Saylor,” Sandra tells me. For the fourth time.
She showed up an hour ago to pick up her wedding dress from the closet where Hallie has apparently been storing it for her, took Hallie up on her offer of a glass of wine, and has stayed for three. Glasses, not hours. Although it does feel like it’s been three hours.
I paste a smile on my face. “Nice to see you too.”
Hallie jumps in. “These cookies are fantastic, Sandra.”
I look at the clock: ten-thirty p.m. A reasonable time to announce I’m headed to bed, right? Matt’s mom went to sleep a little while ago.
Too bad we’re hanging out in my bedroom.
