Healing Us: Sports Romance, A Comeback Uncovers Love by Abi Josselyn Read Free Book Online Page B

night.”
     
    “I feel like all eyes are upon us but a friendly goodbye hug
between athlete and PT wouldn’t.” Beth was cut off.
     
    “Forget that Beth. Let’s leave em guessing.” Ben wrapped his
arms around her and squeezed her ass as he jammed his tongue past her lips.
Beth was laughing when she was able to come up for air. “That’ll give em
something to talk about.”
     
    “Oh God; I hope you know that everyone thinks you’re aloof
and that you have a serious girlfriend.”
     
    “I could care less and now they think you’re a tramp.” Ben
laughed.
     
    “I’m your tramp so I really don’t care. Now go before
I burst into tears and call me when you get home safely.”  
     
    Ben ran his fingers through Beth’s hair and pulled her in
for a final tender kiss. “Seeing this red head of hair was the best part of my
day. I’ll get to see it on television in a couple of weeks, which will be
enough for now.” Ben walked away as Beth let out a heavy sigh. He turned around
with his gym bag thrown over his shoulder. “Run fast Beth.”

Chapter Twelve
     
    Beth joined Seth for one of her last work-outs before
departing for the trials. She was expected to make the team but the team of
women from Germany and Ethiopia would be hard to beat in Olympic competition.
Seth was having his own trials and she would prove to have the fastest 5000
time at Apex. The distance scared her at first but she trusted Seth and he was
right. The international runners were stacked in the 1500 and she would be
unable to thread the needle and come up with a medal of any color.
     
    “I have you running with Dorsey and Gibbons who both have
blistering starts and you should resist the temptation to join them. I’m
sending Lexie onto the track at 4000 meters so she’ll be fresh. How you finish
against her will help me further our strategy. I want to see how close to 14:11
you can get. That time is just shy of the world record and we’ll know how close
you can get by using my experimental field.”
     
    “Sounds like a plan Seth. I feel as though I’m peaking at
the right time and I won’t let you down.”
     
    “You haven’t so far Beth. I’ll be shooting off the gun to
give you a better sense of what it’ll be like.”
     
    “I’ve been there and done that.” Beth smiled and jogged to
the finish line.
     
    The gun went off and just as Seth predicted, Dorsey and
Gibbons took off like racecars. Beth had to concentrate in order to avoid the
speed trap that was intentionally set by Seth. It was instinctual to run faster
than everyone else on the track and her running smarts would overcome instinct.
When they burned out, Lexie came onto the track with fresh legs and the race
was on as the women ran neck and neck until the final stretch. Beth finished
with a 14:10.5 and Seth jumped in the air.
     
    “Keep doing what you’re doing Barker and you’ll have a real
shot at the gold. Run around a bit and loosen those muscles before you check in
with the new PT. It’s a man but you’re a professional and he’s good.”
     
    “I’m fine with whomever you chose because Ben did a great
job. The knee has never felt better and I wish the games were tomorrow.”
    We’re having an easy day tomorrow because I’ll mostly be
working with the relay team. You have some experience in the 4x4 so you can
give the girls pointers.
     
    ****
     
    Beth walked into the pool and physical therapy facility,
which gave her a pang of sadness. It’s where she and Ben spent most of their
time. It was hard to believe he was the same skinny guy from college and now he
was all she could think about. She saw the man that was going to be assigned to
the women’s distance runners and he looked familiar from behind.
     
    “Hello, I think we have an appointment. I’m Beth Barker and
I run the 5000.”
     
    He turned around and Beth was shocked because it was Elijah
Maxwell from Oregon.
     
    “I only found out this morning that I’d be coming to