Page 2 (1/2)

"Just awas fine in bathroom land, and stuck my shoe under the dryer while I soaked up the inside withwet, I put the shoe back on h

I took a step, the water seeping into h

I unlocked and opened the door to see a patron looking at ely She eyed the bathroo some pretty odd noises in there Also, there was a trail of water dripping behindto lessen the squish, squish, squish of my footsteps I smiled broadly at Ash and took my place beside him, ready to man the machines

"Perry, what, uh…"

"Don’t ask," I told him, and turned to face the rest of rey, dreary and mild, as per usual for the Pacific Northwest I didn’t have to work, so I laced upshoes and hit the trails down by the Columbia River Aside froedin order to restore so of happiness inout alht that I had shed from my bootcamp sessions in November came back on It was only about five pounds or so, but on a short body like mine, I could tel the difference My ex-trainer and one-date wonder, Brock the jock, cal ed ain, but aside froile, I felt like I would have just disappointed hi to do, to not be interested in a guy but stil want them to be interested, but it’s the truth

At least running cleared ized Ever since Seattle I’d been dealing with the restlessness I used to get, that nagging urge to be anywhere but here I felt lost and directionless and o back to the happier ti was possible But it wasn’t that way and I had to keep my eye on the prize I needed to ain

My life had reverted to the way it was before I h, perhaps I was a bit wiser

After I left the river bank and hit the long street that led me back to my house, I slowed, then stopped and stretched my muscles by a row of roadside bramble I was surrounded by bare oak and cherry trees and the dull, frosted hborhood consisted of family homes and retirement ranchers with an overal Victorian vibe and almost everyone, my house included, had at least a half acre of land or ardener, but soardens, while others had swis, thanks to the generous zoning laws

I was bending over for hbor with the pigs walked past with Cheerio, her gorgeous chocolate lab I ss and waved aardly at his owner I was pretty sure the dog s as happy as ever How could he not be happy; he lived with a bunch of pigs

I straightenedthe road toward ns of exercise- induced dizziness It hen I was al brick drivehen I noticed a car idling on the side of road, facing the opposite way It didn’t look out of place, as it could have been so turn down our street (people often got lost on their way to theand anyone butand nized the car before I did

It was a little hatchback and though I couldn’t see as in the car, I could smel the person, the cloud of pot smoke and perfume that emanated from the half-openThe car turned off and my heart thu legs clad in ca out and landed on the asphalt with a faint echo

I stood there, red-faced, sweaty and confused, as Rebecca Siave me a shy smile

I could only blink So I blinked so the car door, causing the cloud of smoke to dissipate in the daainst her car and looked around her at the sprawling acreages and spacious yards "You’re almost in the country here It’s lovely"

I stil couldn’t say anything Part of h what happened with Dex and , she had dropped hints that perhaps hooking up with his wasn’t the best idea I’lad now I only did the former, and not the latter I would have never recovered lossy black hair behind her ears, showcasing a row of diaant ensemble, and turned to me

"I know I shouldn’t have just shown up like this," she explained in her set a hold of you I tried cal ing you"

"I changed

"And I tried eot a new eenta lips "Wel , anyhow, E her folks

They live in Beaverton I thought I’d escape froht"

I folded my arms and let out a short breath of air

"No It’s not all right, Rebecca," I told her, looking her straight in the eye "There’s a reason why I didn’t want anyone to get a hold of ured And I understand, I real y do I’d do the same if Emily…wel , I just wanted to see you"

"Wait," I said, holding up my hand "How did you knohere I lived?"

She dropped her eyes to the ground "A little birdie told er erupted deep inside my chest

"Is he here!?" I exclai calm My fists automatical y curled up into tiny, hate-fil ed bal s and I craned er side

"No, no he’s not here," she said, eyeing me nervously I’d never seen her nervous before I must have looked ready to punch her in her pretty face "He’s at home He’s in Seattle

It’s just me I promise"

"So he sent you here?" I sneered

"No," she said and walked toward me She stopped a few inches away, a sy to do with him At allI came here because I wanted to know if you were OK"