May 18
7 miles
Tripped on rock. Fell on my butt
May 25
8 miles
Came in 5 min. quicker than usual!
June 1
10 miles
Let’s just pretend this day never happened…
June 8
9 miles
Evil suicide sprint things. Ran w/ Liza. Got sick.
June 15
7 miles
Skipped Saturday’s run…had to make it up Sunday.
June 22
8 miles
Stomach hurt again. Matt said eat granola instead of oatmeal.
June 29
9 miles
Matt says it’s time for new tennis shoes.
July 6
10 miles
Jere got hurt.
July 13
12 miles
Finished in 2:14! Only had to use bathroom once
July 20
13 miles
Halfway there!
July 27
15 miles
August 3
14 miles
August 10
11 miles
August 17
16 miles
August 24
20 miles
August 31
14 miles
September 7
22 miles
September 14
20 miles
September 21
The Bluegrass Half Marathon
September 28
12 miles
October 5
10 miles
October 12
Country Music Marathon in Nashville
JUST A FRIEND
I put in my two weeks’ notice at the Roadhouse today.
I never expected to work here while going to college since I’ll be living over half an hour away, but it was harder to quit than I thought it would be. I’ve worked here since I turned sixteen.
Another ending in the last summer.
Stephanie gives me a hug. “You know you can work here over Christmas and spring break and you can come back next summer. We love you.”
“I’ll take you up on that, thanks.”
In three weeks, I will move into the dorms at college and will have to find a new job. In three weeks, I start a new life.
During the Saturday dinner rush, I’m waiting at the window for Marty the line cook to scoop sides onto my plates so I can get this order out to one of my four tops.
“Hurry up, Marty! Did you have to dig the potatoes out of the ground or something?”
“Hold your horses.” Marty plops mashed potatoes next to a rib eye and scoops mac ’n’ cheese onto a plate with chicken strips.
“Annie,” Stephanie hollers back into the kitchen. “You got a group of guys waiting at your round.”
I groan as I garnish my plates—lemons for the fish, honey mustard for the chicken strips. How many times is Nick gonna bring his friends to eat at my round? I hope he didn’t bring Evan with him. After he sort of asked me out, I’ve been avoiding him.
I lift my tray above my shoulder and carry it out onto the floor, preparing to give Nick my evil eye. But when I pass my round, I nearly drop the tray.
Jeremiah is here.
With six guys I’ve never seen before.
“Annie,” he calls.
“That’s her?” says a guy wearing a ball cap backwards.
“Damn, she’s hot,” another one whisper-yells. He stole one of the coonskin caps off the wall and is now wearing it.
Oh Christ. This is gonna be a long night.
I drop off the food at my four top, quickly refill their iced teas, and get my two top another round of beers. Then I take a deep breath and head to the round.
I march right up, give them a basket of bread, and say, “Jere, this is my best table. You better leave me a big tip.”
The guys hoot and holler, getting a kick out of me.
“Yes, ma’am,” Jeremiah says, relaxing back in his chair.
“And you,” I say, pointing at the boy who stole the coonskin cap from the wall. “Take that off right now. It’s an antique!”
He sheepishly slips the cap off and hangs it back in its proper place.
“Do you have a sister?” another one asks, earning a prompt slap from Jeremiah.
He grins at me, cute as ever. He’s wearing a black polo shirt and one of his knit caps. I’m beginning to think he sleeps in them. What else does he sleep in? I shake the thought from my head.
“You better behave, Jeremiah,” I say. “I’m still pissed at you for last night.”
He nods as the guys go “Oooohh.” They think I’m playing, but I’m not. And Jeremiah knows it. His face fogs over and he worries his lip.
“I’m sorry,” he says quietly.
I gently touch his shoulder to show him we’re still friends. “I think you’re dumb as hell right now, but I forgive you. I couldn’t handle it if you got hurt. Now what do you want to drink?”