Page 25 of Running
Even Landon—an amazing big brother, for certain—misses the mark sometimes. It wasn’t unusual in high school and beyond, as we juggled the duties for our younger brothers, that something like, “Grace doesn’t need my help, she can handle everything on her own,” would escape his lips.
Never realizing that I wanted him to come to my track meets, to help me be stronger, to lift me up too.
The penalty for being highly competent, I suppose.
I start to sigh, but I stop myself so she doesn’t hear. “Yeah, it’ll be fine, Mom. I’m just a glorified house sitter for Landon, really.”
“Okay, I trust you know what’s best.” She doesn’t really, but I keep that thought to myself.
“How’s everything with you? Is Connor doing okay?” My attempt to deflect her attention.
“Oh, Connor’s still a little sad, but I think talking to Landon is helping.” Connor had heard last week he wasn’t going to be on the national soccer team for now. “He’s excited for Princeton, and the chance to play there.”
“Okay good, I talked to him a couple of days ago too, and he definitely sounded better than when he first got the news.”
“As for me, I have a new guy I’m seeing.” My mom is an open book about her dating life with me. “A banker. And work is tremendous, I am thrilled with the cases that have landed on my desk lately.”
I encourage her to expand on that front, which occupies another seven minutes of the conversation.
When we get off, I realize she never asked me how my first day at the Waves went. Typical.
Checking my texts, I see that Sarah hasn’t responded yet. I could reach out to some of my Princeton friends, but they’re all probably still at work right now.
Having run out of procrastination tactics, I fiddle with my phone. It’s five-thirty, so the guys must be headed to the player hotel they stay at for training camp.
Let me just email him.Texting feels too personal. Like ripping off my own armor.
I type up the email quickly, addressing it to Johnson and cc’ing Susie.
Hi Johnson,
It was good to see you today. Susie and I are hoping that you could encourage the players to start firming up their donations this week? I know Landon is giving us a signed jersey, and anything else like that would be great.
Please don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help in any way.
Thank you,
Grace
There. Nice and professional. Now I can relax for the night, curled up on the couch with my book. I grab the paperback I’m reading and begin where I last left off.
Only, after just one chapter, a text comes through.
LANDON: Grace, don’t kill me, but I left my toiletry bag in the bathroom at home. Can you drive it here? SORRY.
I sigh. A peaceful night delayed. Now I’ll spend an hour round trip delivering the bag to Landon.
But duty calls.
GRACE: Sure, I’ll leave in a sec.
As I head back into the living room to grab my bag, my phone dings again.
LANDON: Johnson is here with me. He says he got your email about the auction and you should stop by his room to chat more when you come. He’s in room 640.
Welp, guess that “too personal” barrier is about to be broken.
A little flutter of butterflies passes through me. I’m going to be alone with Johnson in his room?
