Page 49 of In the Long Run

KNOX

She’s not going to say no.

She’s not going to say no.

She’s not going to say no.

I keep my gaze fixed on the horizon and focus on breathing in and out slowly. Tell myself that it doesn’t matter that I don’t have a back-up plan today. That my confidence is well earnt. Gen’s not going to say no, because I’ve already asked her this question in hundreds of little ways.

Would she be interested in buying a house with me?

Did she want to get a dog together?

With the Sydney marathon joining the World Majors, how would Gen feel if we set ourselves a bucket list to run them all together?

If she was to get married, what sort of a ring would she like?

On their own, each of these decisions are still significant, but when you add them together, they become something more. Something with enduring permanence. Little blocks clicking in place to make the foundation for a life that’s going to be lived together. That’s already being lived together.

And today?

It’s another big day.

‘I can’t believe you wore your running vest for an eight kilometre shakeout,’ Gen chides, the rosy flush I love so much colouring her cheeks as we run along the Esplanade under the shade of the big Norfolk pines.

We’re cruising along a few metres ahead of Yeti, Violet and Anneke.

I’m surprised Gen hasn’t realised how close they’re sticking to us.

Same with Bernie and Meredith and Mia in her running pram.

‘You know the rules. Nothing new on race day.’ That’s my cover story and I’m sticking to it.

I didn’t need a new running vest, but I needed something secure for today.

Zip-secure, not ‘running shorts designed to hold phones’ secure.

Next week, Croissants and Kilometres is tackling the Melbourne marathon.

It’ll be our third marathon, and we’ve learnt something from each of them.

‘That reminds me,’ Gen says. ‘Did you ask Eugene if he wants to come to our place this week?’

Wednesday dinners are still a thing. But now we rotate them between the little cottage Gen and I bought last year and Eug’s flat. Yeti and Celeste still come too, but their dynamic is very different these days.

‘Yeah, he’ll be there.’

If everything’s gone to plan, he’s going to be right around the corner up ahead, too. Same with Gen’s parents.

‘Do you think he’ll make those crêpes from his new cookbook for dessert again?’

Eugene’s already released his cookbook and is working on another one.

‘I’m sure he will if you ask him.’

Gen beams at me and I swear to God, I could get lost in her happiness.

‘What’s all that?’ she asks, pointing at the picnic table near Alizée’s that’s covered in what I know are all her favourite foods.

‘I don’t know,’ I say but my voice catches on the final word. All those Army lessons on how to handle interrogations and I can’t even say three words properly.

Her eyes narrow, her bottom lip disappearing inside her mouth. ‘Are you okay? You’ve been weird all morning.’

Good thing I never wanted to be a spy, I guess.

‘I’m fine,’ I say before choking on my words and coughing. Christ. It’s like I’m ticking every item off the ‘what not to do to arouse suspicion’ list.

‘Is that my mum? And dad?’

Here we go.

‘Yep.’

‘And Eugene?’

‘Uh-huh.’ We’re almost there. Just another fifteen metres or so.

‘And Opera ?’ She’s there too, wiggling in Celeste’s arms. Madeleine and Chouquette are sitting nicely next to Eug’s feet.

‘Sure is.’

‘What is going on?’ Gen’s eyes search mine and I check for any worry. But there’s none there. Just a mixture of excitement and confusion.

I stop us when we’re standing underneath the Norfolk pine with a clear view of the bay to one side and Alizée’s on the other.

‘Halliday—’

‘Is it happening? Now? When I look like this?’ She gestures at her yellow Croissants and Kilometres long-sleeved running top and navy tights.

‘You’ve never looked more beautiful.’

Gen’s smile is adorably shy and I know – I just do – that this was the right decision.

We’re not strangers to a finish-line kiss, but sharing something like a proposal with strangers didn’t feel right to me.

Not that we share much of anything online anymore.

Our days of appearing on TikTok are long over.

‘I don’t have a big speech prepared,’ I say, reaching for Gen’s left hand and linking our fingers together. ‘I didn’t think you’d want anything super fancy or showy.’

Her bottom lip wobbles and I press my thumb against it, steadying her. Just like I’ll do for the rest of our lives.

‘I wanted to ask you this in a place that was special to us and with the people who have cheered us on and held us up when we needed it.’

A tear slips down Gen’s cheek and I wipe it away.

‘You’re the best of everything, Gen. Of every moment.

Of every day. Of every dream. Of every wish.

And I would be so honoured—’ I pause and drop to one knee, unzipping the chest pocket of my running vest and pulling out the sapphire ring that Eugene gave Alizée once upon a time—‘if you would be my wife.’

Gen bites her lip and nods profusely.

‘That a yes, Halliday?’

‘Yes.’ The word’s barely a whisper, but it’s like a cannon blast to my ears.

Gen yanks me to my feet and wraps her arms around my neck.

‘I love you so much,’ she says before sealing her mouth over mine in the sort of kiss we usually keep for the bedroom.

It feels endless, a swirling, heady mix of promises and love and heat.

It’s an effort to remember that we have an audience.

‘Show her the ring properly!’ Celeste calls, breaking the moment and reminding me that I’m still holding it.

‘Can I?’ I ask Gen, uncurling her fingers from where they clutch at my running vest.

‘Please.’

Slowly, I slide the bezel-set sapphire onto her ring finger. It fits perfectly, and I’ll have to thank Meredith again later for helping me figure out Gen’s ring size.

‘It’s beautiful.’ Gen holds her hand out and admires it. She didn’t give me a lot of instructions other than preferring something simple, ideally a single stone. She didn’t care if it was a diamond or not.

‘It was Alizée’s,’ I say, swallowing hard to try to dislodge the lump of emotion that appears in my throat. ‘Eugene insisted. Said he wanted it to stay in the family.’

Gen lifts her hand to my face and cups my cheek. Her palm is cool against my skin. ‘It’s perfect. So was the proposal. It was exactly what I wanted. You and all my favourite people in one of my favourite places.’

‘Can we come over there yet?’ Celeste calls, and Gen laughs into my chest.

‘Yes!’ Gen does a cute-as-fuck excited wiggle in my arms that she needs to stop doing right now unless she wants my running shorts to betray us both. I can’t wait to make my fiancée even happier later once we’re alone.

‘Please stop,’ I murmur into her hair.

‘This working for you?’ she whispers back, her eyes so fucking bright.

‘It’s well established that everything you do works for me.’

Gen squeezes my hands and spins around so she’s in front of me.

Yeti’s the first to reach us. ‘Told you he had all the moves, didn’t I?’ he says to Gen while slapping my shoulder. ‘Congrats, guys.’

Celeste pushes him out of the way, laughing when he fake stumbles to the left. She passes Opera to me, and the puppy licks my neck. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’

‘Thank you.’ Gen beams.

‘And Caleb and I will be making your wedding cake. Don’t get any other ideas, okay?’

As if we ever would.

‘It’s a deal,’ I say.

‘Good.’ Celeste evades Yeti’s grasp, shrieking when he tries to pull her into his arms. ‘Stop!’ she cries, but her laughter gives her away. ‘You’re so gross right now.’

‘Do you think they’ll ever stop teasing each other?’ Eugene asks, leaning heavily on the walking cane he’s been using for the last few months as we all watch them dance around each other until Yeti catches Celeste and she loops her arms around his waist.

‘Those two?’ Gen raises her eyebrows. ‘Never. Although, I think we all could’ve predicted they’d end up together.’

‘Anyway, today’s not about them.’ Eugene’s expression goes all misty. ‘I’m so proud of you both and I love you. Alizée would’ve too.’

I incline my head towards Eugene but address Gen. ‘I don’t know what kind of wedding we’re going to have’—and truthfully I don’t care as long as Gen’s happy—‘but this guy right here’s going to be my best man.’

There’s that lump in my throat again. Feels more like a mountain right now though.

‘Mate.’ Eugene’s voice is thick with emotion.

‘Just say yes,’ I say, which comes out gruffer than I intend but he still smiles and grabs my hand, squeezing it tight.

‘Yes.’

‘Second-best one of those I’ve had today,’ I quip, earning a laugh from Gen and Eug.

‘To the joining of two great families,’ Tony says, as he and Eva join our little circle, their hands full of glasses of sparkling wine.

‘Such happy news,’ Eva agrees.

Once everyone has a glass and Opera’s happily sniffing not too far away, I lift my drink and clear my throat. ‘To Gen.’

‘No’—she shakes her head—‘to us, and to whatever comes next.’

While everyone else clinks their glasses together, I pull Gen into my arms. ‘What are you doing for the rest of your life?’ I whisper in her ear.

‘You,’ she murmurs before groaning. ‘Wait. I want a do-over. Next weekend I’m running a marathon with my best friend. And we’re renovating a cottage. I want to plant wisteria down one side. Make it a home that reflects parts of both our histories and all the stuff I want for our future.’

‘Yeah?’

‘And I’m going to marry him as soon as I can too. I don’t want a big wedding. I just want him.’

‘Sounds like he’s the luckiest guy in the world.’

‘No,’ she whispers. ‘We’re both lucky.’

And we really are.