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?”