Page 10 of In the Long Run

GEN

Meredith is wedged between the toilet and the tiny sink in the small bathroom that’s attached to the office at her and Bernie’s gym. Nudging the door closed with my heel, I kneel in front of her. ‘What’s happened? I came as soon as I got your text.’

‘I … I …’ She swipes at the tears spilling down her cheeks and just like that, I’m ready to burn down the world.

Find whoever made her cry and make them pay.

Hopefully it’s not Bernie, because that guy once got hit by a car while riding his bike and all he got was a scratch on his elbow.

The car was written off. I don’t think I can take him. Doesn’t mean I won’t try, though.

‘I think I’m pregnant,’ Meredith sobs, and then buries her face in her arms.

Oh. ‘So these are happy tears?’

Her shoulders shake. ‘I wasn’t expecting this.’

‘Should I go get Bernie?’ He’ll be with one of his PT clients, but he won’t mind being interrupted if Meredith needs him.

If I didn’t love them both, it would be nauseating how obsessed with each other these two are.

No one would blink if they started walking around with cartoon hearts in their eyes and woodland creatures singing around their feet.

I used to be so mad at Bernie, because before him I was Meredith’s person.

We’re so close in age we’re almost twins, and it’s always felt like we are.

So maybe I don’t hate it when she blurts out, ‘No, not Bernie.’ She shakes her head and another river of mascara runs down her cheeks. ‘I don’t want to disappoint him.’ Her breath catches and she blinks up at the water stain in the ceiling. ‘Not again.’

I slide to the ground, our legs almost intertwined. ‘You’re not going to.’

‘I’m four days late.’

‘That’s a good sign, right?’ As someone who’s only ever tried to not get pregnant, I’m not sure when you’re supposed to do the test, but surely the longer you go without your period the better it is?

‘Maybe I don’t want to disappoint myself again either,’ she whispers.

‘Mere,’ I say, leaning forward and pulling her into my arms. It’s awkward because we’re cramped in the tiny space, but she sags against me. ‘Do you want to do a test with me?’

‘Why? You pregnant too? Things all hot and heavy with the sexy soldier?’ She laughs and wipes her eyes, but all it does is smear her make-up more.

‘Ha, ha.’ It’s been a few days since my breakfast with Knox and I haven’t seen him since. I also haven’t left my flat much, but those two things are unrelated.

Mere takes a deep breath and twists her long blonde hair into a rope before tossing it over her shoulder. ‘Now would be the worst time.’ Her voice is hushed even though there are multiple walls and doors between us and the nearest people.

‘Why?’

‘We just started our run club, and the first meet-up was a flop.’

‘I’m confused,’ I say, because I am. Guilt gnaws at my belly because I didn’t go to it either.

‘We’ve registered it with Brigitte’s Run and everything. It’s a huge time commitment on top of all the classes we already offer but I convinced Bernie we should do it. We’re each supposed to lead one of the distance groups.’

My brow furrows. ‘So? Can you not run if you’re pregnant? Just take the shortest distance group.’

She shakes her head. ‘No, you can run. You can do whatever your body’s used to doing. I just …’ Her breath rattles out of her. ‘I don’t want to risk it. Do you think you could …’

I wait, tipping my chin forward.

She offers me a watery laugh. ‘Could you take my run club flyers to parkrun tomorrow? Only a handful of people turned up for the first session last week and we need bigger numbers to make it viable.’

I relax. I’d thought for a second she was going to ask me to lead a group at the club.

‘One of the other trainers has called in sick so I’m covering them, and Bernie’s got a full schedule of clients already. And the Annas are going to be there. They posted about it before.’

Meredith’s been obsessed with the Annas for months now. Also known as Annabeth, Annaliese and Anneke Heerlijk, the Dutch model-slash-influencer triplets have a huge TikTok following. Mere’s been trying to convince them to come out to Get Fit, Get Strom for ages.

‘They’ve signed on as ambassadors for Brigitte’s Run, and I’d love for them to join our running club. Which brings me to my next request …’

It’s remarkable how much brighter Mere gets when she’s ticking items off her to-do list.

‘Will you be the marathon group leader for the run club? It’s only one morning a week. Just Sundays. I’ll still come and help with getting everyone’s details. Bernie’s going to lead the half-marathon group, so he’ll be around as well.’

There it is.

‘Pretty sure you need qualifications to do stuff like that, Mere.’

‘Bernie’s doing the training plans. The whole idea is to engage with the community.

Make sure the run club’s accessible for everyone, even people who aren’t members of Get Fit, Get Strom.

That’s what makes Brigitte’s Run so special and why we want to promote it.

It’s all about challenging yourself and celebrating how positive running is.

You might even get some new clients from it? ’

I place my hand on her upper arm and squeeze. ‘Aren’t we getting a bit ahead of ourselves here? We don’t even know if you’re pregnant.’

Mere pales. ‘You’re right. I need to do a test.’

‘Want me to go get you one?’ There’s a chemist three doors down.

She gestures towards the tiny cream-coloured vanity. ‘I’ve got pregnancy tests stashed everywhere.’

‘Then we’re doing this?’ I stand and offer her my hand, helping her up until both our reflections appear in the mirror.

We’ve got the same nose and eyebrows, but our colouring has always been different.

Meredith is the quintessential English rose, whereas I inherited Dad’s olive complexion. I’m taller too, but only just.

She chews on her bottom lip before grimacing and I know what she needs right now. Correction: who she needs. And it’s not me.

‘I’ll go get Bernie.’

She throws her arms around me. ‘Thank you. It’s just …’

‘He should be here for this,’ I finish for her.

She is pregnant. I can tell. And I’m happy for her.

For them. But as I pull open the door and slip back into their office, I have to ignore the stinging behind my eyes and the way my skin goes all prickly.

I’m too hot and too cold. Meredith’s moving on to another life stage and I’m going to be left here all on my own.

Unless – my gaze catches on the stack of colourful flyers on her desk advertising the gym’s new run club – I throw myself into something new too. And there’s nothing like group training to keep you accountable.

Later that afternoon, I’m deep in my feels, trying to free Caleb’s cooking magazine from where it’s stuck in the mail slot, when someone hugs me from behind.

I throw my elbows back, duck out of the embrace and shove as hard as I can.

A cloying smell fills my senses. As I spin, my handbag and keys fall to the ground.

‘Ow, Genny. What was that for? I was saying hello,’ Brand splutters, clutching his side.

I back up until the white brick wall that houses all the letterboxes presses against my shoulder blades. ‘Please leave me alone.’

Brand sighs like I’m a petulant toddler who’s been told they can’t have ice cream for dinner. Clearly, I still have babies on the brain after seeing Meredith earlier. She texted me a picture of four positive tests a few minutes after I left and then two teary selfies of her and Bernie.

Brand fusses with his hair, smoothing it back into place. ‘Please. We have things to discuss.’

‘I don’t think you do,’ says a deep voice from the doorway to the building’s foyer. Knox pokes his head out and looks at me the way I imagine I look at opera cake. Eyes all soft, lips curling into a small smile that anyone would be lucky to become familiar with. ‘Hey, Coffeebean,’ he says.

I snort. It’s not my proudest moment, but ‘coffeebean’? It’s official. Knox is bad at nicknames. It’s a well-appreciated chink in what keeps presenting itself as genuine, humble, hot guy armour, but God knows I’ve been wrong before.

Knox wrinkles his nose at me like my reaction is uncalled for or something. ‘I was just looking for you,’ he says.

And you know what, if he wants to keep looking at me like this with mischief lightening all his dark features, he can call me whatever he wants, especially when Brand’s around.

‘Can I make you dinner tonight?’ Knox asks, walking over to me. He swoops down and picks up my bag and phone and offers them to me. Our gazes lock together.

‘Sure.’ I don’t even care if this is all for show. My emotional well is tapped out.

‘Genny. Stop. There are things you don’t know about Watson.’ Brand’s voice is innocent, friendly even, which frustrates me even more.

‘His name is Knox,’ I reply.

‘That’s not what most people know him as though. They know him as Ja—’

‘That’s enough,’ I say.

‘But it’s not. He can’t offer you the same things I can.

I’ve been trying to tell you that I’m opening my own real estate agency, and I want you by my side.

Managing all the accounts. You never know where it could lead.

Professionally and personally.’ He smiles winningly at me.

‘And I’ve found the perfect location. It’d barely be a commute to work for you at all. ’

Brand’s grin widens and all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

‘Rumour has it that Alizée’s is up for sale,’ he continues. ‘The building, I mean. I have no interest in your little cake business.’

A chill descends as Knox stares at Brand.

‘I’ll have to tear down that hideous wisteria and gut the place. Finally make it something the area can be proud of.’

Knox doesn’t say anything, doesn’t move, doesn’t blink. I don’t have the same restraint. ‘If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police and tell them you’ve been harassing me. I’m serious, Brand. This ends now.’

‘What would you say? We’re just having a conversation, Genny.’ Brand’s laugh is surprised. ‘Besides, I owe you a birthday dinner. We could go somewhere nice. Romantic.’

What is this guy’s problem? ‘I don’t want to go anywhere with you.’

‘Fine. We’ll speak again when you’re in a better mood.’ Brand makes a big show of checking his watch and then his phone, straightening the sleeves on his blazer and checking his collar is flat. Neither Knox or I speak until he’s back inside his Tesla and the headlights appear.

‘What was all that about?’ I ask Knox.

‘I need your help. I’ll explain everything inside.’ He opens the front door and gestures for me to go in first.