Page 138 of Running
But—whoa—this is a surprise.
As we swing through the last lap, I have an unexpected level of reserve left in my tank. Adeba begins picking up the pace again as expected, but I catch up with her, swinging into lane two.
She clocks me with a slight shift of her head, then ignores me, concentrating on herself.
Unlike running with Jasmine, this feels more like a competition in the final meters. We both enter into a kick the last 100 meters…
And I finish aheadby a half-foot.
We start a cool down lap, and this time I mean it. My body is fully depleted of energy, and my brain has turned off the go-mode.
“Thanks for letting me join you,” I get out to her once we finish the lap, still rasping a bit.
She smiles at me. “I loved it. I didn’t know you ran the 10000 meters.”
I didn’t either.
After a second cool down lap, we stop where the team is gathered. Shelley immediately goes to Adeba and starts encouraging her, talking about her pacing shifts. Jasmine comes up to me, now rested.
“Oh my god, I can’t believe you did that,” she says. “That was a great time.”
I half-chuckle, then chug some water. “Me either. But it was fun to try.”
I begin stretching, and Jasmine keeps chattering at me while I do my post-run routine for a few minutes.
“Grace.” I turn around, and it’s Shelley. She has an unreadable expression on her face.
“Grace Battle, I’m going to need you to come to my office next week.”
Her tone’s warm like always, but also directive, leaving me no options but to nod yes. She technically has no authority over me, but apparently that doesn’t matter at the moment.
“Huh,” Jasmine says as Coach walks off. “I wonder what she wants to talk to you about.”
Me too.
I give Jasmine a farewell hug and we make plans on our next morning run, before I say casual goodbyes to the other ladies I recognize.
And then I walk to my car, ready for the drive home to Johnson’s.
Only, as I start the car, I see a call coming in. From Milo.
That Night
BETTER TOGETHER CHAT
GRACE: Boys, I got the job I wanted! With Milo Cantera, the business manager.
LANDON: The soccer guy?
CONNOR: Sweet. Forget all this American football stuff, Grace, and come over to the beautiful game instead.
GRACE: Yes, the soccer guy. I start in January after school and the holidays are over.
LANDON: I’m so proud of you, Gracie, that’s awesome.
RAWLEY: Love you, sis. Exciting!
LANDON: Everyone got their plane tickets for Thanksgiving? We can celebrate then.
