Who is Mackie Spence? by Lin Kaymer Page A

lying to me, you sack of shit.”
    â€œNothing was going on then. If it had been, I’d have said so, because I don’t see how it’s a big deal. Or is it? Are you still hung up on her?”
    He doesn’t answer and stomps off.
    I look over at the other guys and shrug.
    â€œIf you had any ’nads, you’d punch him,” Cole says.
    I stare at him. Cole should think about his own gonads.
    Out on the track’s practice field, Coach has his hands on his hips, kind of rolling them to ease the joints.
    He calls out to us, “Come on, come on. Just because we took Riley Park doesn’t mean we can lollygag. Does anyone have a problem? No? Good. Listen up. You’re doing tempo runs today. Same route as always. I want everyone back here in forty-five minutes. Twenty minutes after four, gentlemen. Now let’s go.”
    I begin running with a loose stride, heading for a nearby island park with trails and woods. The air is cool and dry, more like fall than summer. After my talk with Brody I feel the urge to run hard, but that isn’t at all what Coach wants today.
    I ease into my warm-up pace, planning to reach peak speed in about twenty minutes. I’ll run hard for at least five minutes and slide back down the cycle. For a while, I coast behind Ryan and Cole. Then they increase their pace and disappear around a curve in the trees.
    How does Mackie heal animals? I’ve read about people who train or live with pets and develop an intuitive connection, but never one that involves spontaneous healing.
    In the third minute of my peak, a hard shove from behind bounces me off a Doug fir. I land on the ground, on my face.
    â€œUhhh.” My breath pops out of my mouth in a gust.
    As I scramble to my feet, Brody moves ahead on the trail. He looks back to make sure I see his smile. My arm burns from where I’ve hit rough tree bark, and my face feels hot.
    I try to catch up with him, wanting to return the shove, but he has the advantage and is too far ahead of me.
    How am I going to deal with this? I’ve wrestled with Jon, Wes, and Ty growing up, but we’ve never thrown serious punches. Staying away from Mackie isn’t an option, though. How can I get Brody off my back? So much for a nice afternoon run.
    Back at the practice field, I stretch out and cool down with Ben.
    â€œGreat day,” he says, smiling up at the sun in a cloudless sky. Being with Ben is settling, something I need as I watch Brody cowboying around with some of the guys.
    Coach claps his hands and asks, “Any problems?” He looks us over. “Good, then get dressed and get out of here. Tomorrow we run intervals.”
    He starts to walk away then turns back. “Our trophy and ribbons should be here Friday. Have a good evening, gentlemen.”
    Everyone heads back to the locker room. Unable to contain my anger, I approach Brody as we near the building. He acts like nothing is unusual, and keeps walking with Cole. But Cole backs away when he sees the look on my face.
    â€œWhy did you do that?” I ask Brody, my voice rough with anger.
    â€œDon’t act like you don’t know why,” he growls. “How long have you been seeing Mackie?”
    â€œShe’s been my friend for years.”
    â€œYou lied to me.”
    â€œNothing happened until this weekend when she asked me to the dance. That’s two months after she stopped seeing you. What’s your problem?”
    â€œOh, so now you want a piece of her?” he asks.
    â€œDon’t talk about her like that.”
    Brody grabs the front of my shirt.
    I snap, pushing back with both my hands on his chest. We end up tangled, on the ground, punching each other.
    We fight for maybe fifteen seconds before I hear Coach’s voice above us. “Cameron! Tarleton! My office. Now!”
    We lay on the ground. My lower left rib and jaw hurt. Brody has hit me hard. I search his face, hoping I’ve hurt him, too. The