“Oh. Hi.” She didn’t take her eyes off of Mateo. “He freaking slayed it.”
“So will you!” I nudged her with my elbow. “You all set?”
She drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes, then nodded. “Yep. Got it.”
“Just remember. You’re born to do this, Grace.” I rested my hand on her shoulder, and she nodded, then glanced at me and stepped toward the track.
“Thanks, Preach.”
I hustled over to Mateo. “You nailed it!”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a sweaty hug. “Thanks to you. Nice handoff and excellent time. Those fartleks worked wonders for ya.”
I slapped his back and chuckled. “You’re a fartlek!”
He joined in the laughter.
“Come on, let’s watch the girls. Grace is going to blow your mind.”
“Heard your girl is pretty awesome.”
“Mygirl,” I said under my breath.Yeah, right.
Grace had made it abundantly clear, minus the kiss, that she was not looking for a relationship. I wasn’t even sure I’d be on her list of candidates for friendship at the moment. Other than being forced to hang with me in the storage room and rides to school or physical therapy, if Sam didn’t take her, she didn’t want anything to do with me.
I couldn’t really blame her, though.
Even if she changed her mind, it wouldn’t work, right?
Mateo’s laughter yanked me out of my head. “I need some water,” he said, pulling his arm back.
“Yo!” Oliver crashed into me, and James followed. “We nailed it. Sectionals, here we come!”
“Come on!” I dug out from the human pile and faced the starting blocks, but Grace had already hustled to her spot.
She shook out her legs, tilted her head side to side, and then grabbed her charm and kissed it. I’d for sure have to ask her about that. I hated how much she kept me at arm’s length. I understood it, but I just didn’t like it.
It’d surprised me how much I’d missed picking her up each morning. At first having to do it was annoying, then it turned into something I looked forward to, and now…I missed it. Especially since Willow had gotten her own car and was driving Caleb and Brodie to school more.
“Ready!” Coach yelled.
Grace got in the anchor position while Becca settled into the blocks, laser focused.
“Set!”
Becca’s hind end went up, and she looked forward, the concentration practically emanating from her in tangible waves.
I glanced at Grace, and she was in the ready position, watching.
I held my breath, my heart hammering like I was still running my leg of the relay.
The whistle sounded. Becca blasted out of the blocks, immediately in the lead of the two others challenging her. Seamless hand-offs to Harper and then Aanya left only one person.
Grace. The anchor.
Oliver whistled and nearly busted out my eardrum, so I smacked him.
Aanya rounded the bend, and Grace took off.