Running Lean Read Online Free PDF Page B

Calvin had to remind her that he couldn’t carry a drink cup on the motorcycle.
    Had she always been that insecure?
    “Tell you what,” Tyler said, shrugging his shoulders. “Call her and invite her to hang out with us tonight. You, me, and Flannery. See what happens.”
    Calvin swung away, paced in a circle, then came back. “It’s just, I mean, she doesn’t ride a bike, man. We ride and talk about bike stuff, and she feels left out. That’s gotta be it. And maybe she’s jealous of Flannery because Flan can do stuff she can’t. You know?”
    “Ask her. I bet she won’t come. Even if all we’re doing is watching television.”
    Calvin looked toward the house, avoiding a response. A light clicked on by the living room window. Dinner was over and Dad was probably settling in to watch his shows. Outside, the colors were fading, the golden light turning gray fast.
    “I gotta go in,” Calvin said.
    Tyler took an audible breath and pivoted toward the SUV. He lifted his helmet off the Kawasaki’s handlebars and fidgeted with the vent holes on top. “I hope I’m wrong. Maybe something at home’s got her messed up right now. I hope all this turns out to be no big deal. I’m going to pray for that.”
    “Yeah, you do that,” Calvin mumbled, turning his gaze toward his boots. Tyler’s answer to everything: he’d pray about it. Maybe it wasn’t very Christian of him, but Calvin wanted answers, not more of Tyler’s prayers. Prayers hadn’t helped him feel better about Michael—
    “I gotta get home,” Tyler said. “Thanks for your help. The bike’s running great.” He edged backward along the side of the SUV. “Really, I hope Stacey’s okay and that y’all can work this out. Call if you want to go do something tonight. I’ll pick you up.”
    “Yeah. Sure.”
    Standing next to his busted motorcycle, Calvin watched Tyler drive off. When the SUV and its small trailer disappeared around a curve, Calvin sighed and turned to push the Yamaha up the driveway. He parked it next to Dad’s big tool chest in the workshop, set his helmet on the shelf, and closed the workshop door. Finally he slumped against the rough wood siding of the building.
    His first real girlfriend. What did they have in common, really? They’d seen each other in the hallway by their morning science classes, chatted online, and he’d invited her to a youth event at his church. Her family didn’t go to church much, so Stacey started coming with him on some Sundays. She was funny and sweet, and so talented and pretty that at first Calvin felt she was out of his league. When he asked her to Homecoming and she said yes, he walked around grinning for a week. Then Michael got killed in Afghanistan. Stacey became like an appendage, always at his side, always willing to listen and cry with him. Flannery and Tyler tried, but most of the time they didn’t know what to say or do.
    I’ll pray for you. I’ll pray for your family. May the peace that passes all understanding …
    Stacey never promised anything. She was just there. Always. She loved him whether he was angry or moody or doing crazy stuff on his bike to run away from the pain.
    But she didn’t rule him. No way. And this super strict dieting stuff was too weird. It was making her sick, and it had to stop.
    Mom poked her head out the back door. “Where have you been? You were supposed to be right back. Is Tyler still here?”
    “No, he had to go,” Calvin grumbled. He banged his fist against the siding then walked toward his house, ignoring the ache in his ankle so his mother wouldn’t notice.
    Mom held the door as he went in. “Your supper is in the microwave. You’ll have to heat it up if you want it hot.”
    “Fine. I’ll heat it up.”
    “Calvin, what’s the matter with you?”
    He plodded toward the microwave in the kitchen. “My bike’s busted, okay?”
    She followed him, her hands on her hips. “You’ll keep a civil tongue in your mouth or you won’t have that bike