Sarah johnson's Arc

Chapter 2 of 7

The next evening, Sarah sat on her front steps and waited for Jake. She had replayed the race all day. First to the mailbox. Rematch tomorrow. In her books, a challenge like that meant something. But she couldn't be sure it meant anything for her. Jake came up the walk with a long brown-and-white dog trotting beside him. The dog's belly nearly dragged the ground. Jake waved before she could stand. "This is my dog," he said. "Found him already napping on my new couch when the movers left." He crouched and scratched the dog's ears. The dog flopped over, blue eyes bright, tongue out. Sarah watched Jake laugh at his own dog. Then she watched something worse. The old woman with three cats walked by. Jake sprang up, grinned at her, and challenged her to name the fastest cat she owned. The woman laughed. The mail carrier passed. Jake bet him he couldn't toss a letter into the box from ten steps. Sarah's stomach sank. He did this with everyone. The race, the grin, the dare. It wasn't hers. It was just how he talked to the whole street. She had to know. That was the only way forward. "Jake," she said. "The race yesterday. Was that a thing you do with everybody?" He looked up. The dog pawed his shoe. "What do you mean?" "You challenge the cat lady. You bet the mail guy." Her voice stayed steady, though her face went hot. "So the mailbox race. Was I just the next person on the walk?" Jake stood. The dog sat between them. For once Jake didn't laugh. "No," he said. "I dare people to be friendly. It's easy." He rubbed the back of his neck. "But I knocked on your door first by mistake. Then I saw your bookmark. I made up the race because I didn't want to just hand it back and leave." Sarah's breath caught. "I don't ask the cat lady for a rematch," he said. He gave a small, crooked smile. "I asked you." The dog rolled onto his back and groaned for a belly rub. Neither of them looked down. "Okay," Sarah said. The word came out soft. "Good." "Good," Jake echoed. His pig-snort laugh slipped out, and he slapped a hand over his mouth. Sarah laughed too, loud and surprised. So it was real. He had meant her. The relief made her bold and light, like she'd won a race she didn't know she was running. Then Jake checked his phone and his face changed. "I have to go. My family's coming to see the new place this weekend." He paused. "You should come. Meet them." He scooped up the dog and headed down the walk. Sarah stayed on the steps, cheeks still warm. He had meant her. But now she had to stand in a room full of his family and prove she was worth meaning.