“That’s the surprise part,” Quinn jokes, which earns an eye roll from Carleigh.
“Thanks, Quinn, very helpful explanation.”
“Anytime!”Quinn replies cheerfully.
I rub her upper back between her shoulder blades, where I know she’s been sore.“So, how are you feeling?Good?Ready?”
Carleigh nods, sniffing a little.She swipes at her eyes.“Nervous, but I feel a lot better now that you guys are here.”She leans into me, hugging my side.“I’m ready to get it done.”
I tilt my head down to whisper in her ear.“You’ve got this.I just know it.”
She nods and looks up.“Your optimism is appreciated, Bryson.”Then a look of realization dawns on her face.“Sorry, I’m being so rude.You guys, come meet my parents.”She leads us over to where Molly is standing, and gestures to the two older people.“These are my parents, Jay and Monica”
“I’m Bishop,” Bishop says, shaking both of their hands.
Quinn’s next.“And you are…”
“Jackson,” Quinn answers, moving onto shaking Carleigh’s dad’s hand.“Nice to meet both of you.”
Sawyer introduces herself next, then steps aside so the line of introductions can more easily continue; she gestures to me that she’s going to grab a race map from a nearby stand, and heads over with Molly.
I smile at Carleigh’s mom as she approaches me.“Hi ma’am, I’m-”
“Bryson,” she finishes, looking at Carleigh.“We’ve heard lots about you.”
“That so?”I look at Carleigh with a wide grin; she rolls her eyes and waves her hand.
Carleigh’s dad introduces himself to me as well.“Nice to meet you, son,” he says.“Good of you to come cheer on our Carleigh.”
I smile good-naturedly.“Well, I see her in and out all the time prepping for this - figured I couldn’t miss the main event!Plus this place is great, I love the area, so that doesn't hurt either.”
Molly walks over with Sawyer close behind, both now holding race maps.“Okay, Carleigh - I think we picked out a couple places that we can hopefully wait around to catch you along the way.”
I check my watch.It’s nearly time to start; she should be heading over.Carleigh seems to realize this at the same time as I do, because she checks the runners’ watch on her right wrist and groans nervously.
“You’re going to do great, sweetheart,” Carleigh’s father tells her.“We’ll all be cheering you on.Maybe your mother will end up buying more of those damn ornamental plates - there’s a boutique in town here.”
Monica rolls her eyes at her husband.“I just said I wanted to look.”She gives Carleigh a hug.“Good luck, honey.”
“Thanks, Mom.Thanks, Dad.”Carleigh rocks back and forth on her heels.“Okay,” she says, taking a deep breath.“Heading over.See you guys after, I hope?”she asks, her eyes finding mine.
I smile at her and nod.“We’ll be here, Carleigh.Knock ‘em dead!”
“I’ll do my best.”She turns and heads over to the starting line.
The seven of us move up to a better spot along the early course, standing with the rest of the spectators.Quinn and I move to stand toward the side, both conscious as always of the fact that we’re definitely blocking people behind us from seeing.We cheer once the starting gun goes off, clapping and hollering alongside everybody else, then find Carleigh’s parents and our shorter friends again.
“Well kids, I think we’re going to look around the town a bit,” Monica tells them.“I’m sure we’ll see you all around later.”She gives me a pointed look.I give a friendly wave in response, not knowing what else to do, but once Carleigh’s parents are out of earshot, I turn to Molly.
“Did you see that look she gave me?”I ask.“What was that about?”
Molly yawns.“Probably just letting you know that she knows that you’re very clearly super in love with her daughter.”
My jaw falls open.“I - what?”My face is heating up.I can take this from Quinn, but Molly?Thankfully, the rest of our friends have already started walking toward a coffee shop, and Molly and I are bringing up the rear, so there’s no indication that any of them overheard.
Molly looks almost bored by the conversation.“Are we still pretending that you’re not into Carleigh?Come on, Bryson, I’ve got eyes.”
“I’m - I didn’t -”