Page 40 of Runner 13

Stella

Seven years earlier

Ibiza

‘Another glass?’

Kacey – or is it Keri? I can’t remember – waves the bottle at me from across the dining table, her black-dyed hair let loose from its ponytail for once.

My cheeks already feel like they’re on fire and I know there’s an unsightly blush spread over my neck and chest, but it always happens to me after a few glasses of champagne.

A few more and it goes away again. Better to push through.

‘Please.’

She grins and tops me up.

I smile back, clinking her glass. For most of the group this is their last night. They don’t know that Glenn has invited Yasmin to stay for extra coaching. They’re not the chosen ones. They’re not stuck here for a few more days.

Neither am I – not that Yasmin knows that yet. But if she’s going to ditch our vacation plans, I’m not going to feel any guilt. My flight leaves early in the morning, but what the hell? I need to do what I want for a change.

I knock back the fizz, then hold out my glass again for a top-up.

Yasmin’s sitting across from me between Coach Glenn and Adrienne. She’s glowing in the soft fairy-light flicker of the restaurant terrace. The patio juts out over the water, waves crashing beneath our feet. An idyllic setting.

Glenn leans forward. ‘Tell me something, Stella. Has your dad ever spoken about an “ultimate race”?’ He uses his fingers to shape air quotes around the phrase.

As always, he answers the question himself before waiting for me.

‘I heard him in a rare interview saying that’s his grand plan.

To host the race to end all races – the one to truly test what humans are capable of. Any idea when he’s planning it?’

‘Where did you hear that? From the Boonesdogs or whatever they call themselves?’

‘Well, is it true?’ Glenn probes.

‘No clue. I’m sceptical. Boones wants every race he hosts to be the greatest test. He always wants to know what people are capable of enduring. Already he’s gone too far, and people have been hurt.’

‘Not on purpose, though,’ Yasmin adds.

I shrug. ‘I mean, he’s not going to set the trail on fire or anything but he expects people to take responsibility for their own actions and choices.

That’s important to him. You enter one of his races, that’s your choice.

You shouldn’t expect to be rescued if you need it, like if the weather turns on you or you get lost while navigating. ’ I take another gulp of champagne.

‘So no “ultimate test” then. Big & Dark is as hard as it’s going to get.’ Glenn’s voice is full of scepticism.

‘Like I said, you’d have to ask him.’

‘Can’t you? You’re his daughter, after all.’

‘Is that supposed to mean something?’

‘It should. Children should keep in touch with their parents.’

‘How would you know?’

I must have touched a nerve. His eyes glint with anger but he laughs to cover it. ‘No matter. Big & Dark is our target. We’ll be ready for whatever Boones will throw at us. Right, ladies?’ He raises his glass, clinks it against Yasmin’s, then reaches across her to the other women.

To my surprise it’s only Adrienne who doesn’t join in.

Glenn reaches up and wipes a rogue droplet from the corner of Yasmin’s lips and Yasmin recoils.

I slam my glass on the table, but Yasmin gives me the smallest shake of her head that tells me to drop it. She shifts slightly out of his reach, acting like nothing happened. Maybe it didn’t. I’ve reached that point where I’m so drunk I can’t trust my vision.

I turn to Adrienne. ‘Not toasting to defeating Boones then?’

‘My focus is on the Yorkshire 100. I won’t be entering an Ampersand.’

Glenn snorts, but I keep my eyes on Adrienne. ‘And why’s that? Too good for my dad?’

‘Stella!’ In addition to her scolding tone Yasmin shoots me a warning glance.

‘What? I think it’s interesting.’

‘Adrienne doesn’t have the stomach for an Ampersand race, do you?

’ Glenn’s tone is laced with disappointment.

It even makes me wince, and I’m not the recipient.

Gone is the camaraderie between them, the closeness.

I feel my curiosity pique. I wonder how the rock goat took such a tumble in Glenn’s eyes.

‘Races like that require real grit. Courage to stay the course, strength to adapt to challenges. They are as much mental as they are physical. Not everyone has it. No shame in admitting it.’

‘I’ve had a long day,’ says Adrienne. She gets up from the table, throwing down a few euros. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’

Some of the others protest at her leaving, but I take another gulp of champagne.

‘I think you’ve had enough,’ says Yasmin. She jumps up from her seat, moving to be next to me, and takes my glass away. ‘Do you have to be so rude?’

‘Come on. She’s a big girl.’

‘And so are you.’ She drapes one of her bronzed arms across my chair, speaking softly so that only I can hear. ‘Are you planning on telling her that you’re dating her ex?’ Yasmin’s deep brown eyes burrow into mine.

I sway. ‘No. I don’t even know if it’s going anywhere yet.’

She tuts. ‘Now who’s afraid?’

‘It’s not like that.’ But Yasmin’s right.

Maybe it is a bit like that. I don’t want to spoil things.

Adrienne is intimidating. It’s my dumb luck that the first guy to grab my attention in years is her ex-husband – who happens to be the attractive, dependable, loyal-as-fuck man of my dreams. But the ultrarunning world is like that.

Shockingly small. Incestuous. Almost everyone is connected somehow.

‘So we agree you’re in no position to judge,’ she says.

‘All right, chill. I’ll go and apologize.’

She kisses my cheek. ‘What would I do without you?’

‘Ha ha.’ When I stand up from the table, my head swims. I give myself a beat before strolling outside, trying to be casual.

Adrienne is outside waiting for her Uber. I debate turning round and going to the bathroom instead, but she looks up at the sound of my heels.

I lurch forward. ‘Look, I’m sorry. Actually, I kinda agree with you.’

Her eyes narrow slightly, looking for the barb in my words. ‘About what?’

‘The Ampersands. I wish Yasmin wouldn’t race them.’

‘Why is that?’

‘He can’t be trusted.’ Tears well in my eyes. Stupid booze. Brings all my emotions up to the surface. I’m a lightweight and now the floodgates are open. I stumble over the kerb, almost landing flat on my face. So graceful.

Adrienne catches me under the arm. ‘Come on, the taxi’s here. I’ll take you back to the hotel.’

I don’t protest. The heat and the alcohol on too little food is a lethal combination for me. I cast a glance back into the restaurant, thinking of Yasmin. I should say goodbye.

Nah. It’s too hard. I’ll send her some flowers instead.

‘Don’t let her throw up in my cab,’ says the driver, as Adrienne bundles me in.

‘She idolizes you, you know,’ I say.

Adrienne scoffs.

‘She didn’t come here for Glenn the legend or whatever. She wanted to learn from you.’

‘Shame she won’t get the chance.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Glenn and I aren’t working together any more. He’s kicked me off the team. I’m leaving tonight.’

‘Oh … shit.’ Good to know that even drunk my instincts are correct. I’m dying to know what happened, but my drunken mind is only focused on one thing. ‘Does Yasmin know?’

Adrienne shakes her head. ‘No one does.’

‘So you’re not staying for the next few days?’

‘No. But I’m glad you are.’

‘I’m not either. First thing in the morning, I’m gone.’ To see your ex-husband , I almost add.

‘Yasmin’s going to be on her own,’ Adri says. There’s a tremor in her voice, a hint of fear, that makes me sit up. She turns her back to me, staring out of the window. She doesn’t look afraid. It’s probably the drink, twisting things in my mind. That and my guilt.

Yasmin’s not going to like being left on her own. But I deserve to be happy too. This whole week has been about her.

This time I’m going to think about myself.