Page 36 of Endurance

An hour later,I was feeling incredibly accomplished. A targeted internet search had opened up a ton of possibilities, and I’d been fortunate to score right out of the gate. Jeremiah Lanford, the owner and head counselor at Wings Halfway House, had been all too willing to let Sloan come in and work with the teens who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. He readily offered to have Sloan be a guest speaker at a public event they had planned for next week.

The problem was, I wasn’t sure if Sloan would be on board with it. He didn’t seem like the type who would jump at giving a keynote address, but I could work with him on it. This could be an excellent opportunity for him. After spending the past month with him, I didn’t believe he had an addiction problem, but he had been on a dead-end road that could have ended in catastrophe if it wasn’t for the wake-up call he’d gotten in Long Beach. He could use his experience, as well as his notoriety, to possibly influence a struggling teen.

I closed my laptop, ready to call it quits for the day, but a knock at the door made me pause and look down at my attire. Even though it was after three in the afternoon, I was still wearing booty shorts and the tank top from my yoga workout that morning. My hair was an absolute wreck, piled in a messy bun on top of my head. While the exercise was part of my morning routine, I typically showered right afterward. This morning I’d been so focused on getting straight to work, I had completely lost track of the day. As a result, I was a hot mess.

“Crap,” I cursed under my breath, not happy about an unexpected visitor. Moving to the front door, I peered through the security peep hole to see who it was. A man in a tan uniform shirt was on the other side, holding a bouquet.

That’s odd. Who would be sending me flowers?

Feeling curious, I unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door.

“Delivery for Kallie?”

“That’s me,” I replied and took the arrangement from him. “Thank you.”

After signing for the delivery, I closed the door and brought the beautiful arrangement of sunflowers mixed with vibrant roses, lilies, and snapdragons to the kitchen. Placing the bouquet on the counter, I removed the envelope from the vase.

Hey, Rainbow Brite! I know you’ve avoided being alone with me. I won’t apologize for anything, but I think we should start over—for real this time. I’ve been patient, and the planets have aligned. Dinner at my place tonight. – Sloan

I smiled after reading what he’d written on the card. I wasn’t sure what he meant by the planets aligning, but I had no intention of going to his house. It was a sweet gesture, yet a precarious one, and I couldn’t help but feel a little sad about it. It would be so much easier if I could simply trust destiny to guide the way and give in to Sloan’s advances.

But I couldn’t.

A round with my tarot deck last night confirmed as much. The upright Strength card had presented itself, reminding me to stay disciplined—especially during times of great adversity. Putting the job ahead of my desires for Sloan had been proving to be more than just a little bit difficult. It had been nearly impossible.

As I was about to put his note back into the envelope, I noticed a cream-colored satin pouch tied around the neck of the vase. Loosening the drawstring tie from the bag, I dumped the contents into my palm. It was a beaded chakra bracelet with a notecard explaining its meaning. I didn’t have to read the card to recognize that the different colored beads represented the planets.

“Is that what he meant by the planets aligning?” I said aloud to myself.

Before I could contemplate it further, my cell phone buzzed. Walking back to the kitchen table, I saw Sloan’s name on an incoming text.

Today

3:32 PM, Sloan:Hey. What are you up to?

3:33 PM, Me:Researching things to make you look like a choir boy.

3:33 PM, Sloan:Anything good?

3:34 PM, Me:Maybe.

3:35 PM, Sloan:Did you get the flowers?

3:35 PM, Me:I did. Thank you.

3:38 PM, Sloan:I picked the sunflower bouquet mixed with all the different colors because it reminded me of when you wear your rainbow hair.

I smiled, flattered by his attention to detail. I’d suspected Sloan had a sweet side to him on the first day we met after he’d pulled me into a dance on the beach. I’d slowly learned over the past month that there was so much more to him than the assuming arrogance that was often on display. He kept things close to the vest—that much was certain. But when he let his guard down, especially around the boys at The House, I was able to catch a tiny glimpse of his huge heart.

Almost instinctively, I went back to the counter to retrieve the chakra bracelet. I pressed it between my palms, closed my eyes, and focused on the beads’ energy. After a few moments of meditation, a sense of calmness washed over me, and my cloudy destiny seemed to clear a bit. From behind closed lids, all I could see was Sloan. My stomach began to flip. Opening my eyes, I stared down at the beads and chewed on my bottom lip, wondering if I’d been paying attention to all the wrong signs.

My hookup with Sloan at the track was so much bigger than he realized. For me, it was like I could feel him in every molecule of my body, his unbridled passion taking me to heights I’d never been before. It had been foolish of me to let things go so far—a moment of extreme weakness. I simply fell into the moment with little thought about the consequences. Afterward, all I could do was recall the gypsy’s warning. I thought back to what she had said to me all those years ago.

“I see travel in your future. And the sun—the sun setting in the west.”

At the time, I thought she was referencing my move to California for college. Now I wondered if she had been looking beyond my college years toward something more meaningful, as the words she’d said afterward were too much of a coincidence to be ignored.

“Destructive and doomed love surrounds you. Remember the weaknesses of a Gemini, my dear, or you’ll be destined for a life of heartbreak. Your eagerness to express your emotions will be your downfall.”

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