Page 37 of Endurance

My breakup with Dean, followed by a hasty makeout session with Sloan in a public restroom, made her words ring true. I’d allowed my emotions to rule me in typical Gemini fashion, which was exactly what the gypsy had warned me about. As silly as it may have sounded, I couldn’t shake off all she had said. Her words were like a pulsing neon sign in my head telling me to run away.

“You will fall in love under the bright sun in the west, giving someone the power to destroy you. And make no mistake—destroy you he will. The man who tastes your lips under a California sunset will be the one to break you.”

Goosebumps pebbled on my arms as I thought back to the sunset on the beach with Sloan. While I had stopped him before he could kiss me, I couldn’t ignore the magnetic pull I’d felt toward him that night and every moment after that. Whether I denied him a sunset kiss or not, I knew then that he had power over me. And after our encounter in the bathroom at the track, I was sure that, if given the opportunity, the man could destroy me.

However, regardless of the fortuneteller’s warning or what my tarot cards said, I knew deep down that I could not continue to run from this. Sloan possessed a fierce determination that I would have to face one way or another. And if I were honest with myself, I knew I couldn’t fight him off for much longer. My heart and body wouldn’t let me. I wasn’t even sure why I was fighting it anymore. After all, I was a grown woman with a strong mind and a desire to go after what I wanted. Was it so bad that I wanted Sloan? It didn’t have to be anything serious. I wasn’t looking for that. As long as I set the pace, a psychic warning could only come to fruition if I allowed it to.

Placing the bracelet back inside the bag, I felt extraordinarily conflicted despite the clarity about the inevitable. I sighed and picked up my phone to reply to Sloan’s last text.

3:39 PM, Me:The flowers are beautiful. And the bracelet too. That was very nice of you.

3:40 PM, Sloan:And what about dinner?

I didn’t have to have psychic abilities to know that question was coming next. I glanced at the vase of flowers. The radiant yellow petals of the sunflowers were reminiscent of bright sun rays on a clear day. Mixed with the perfect combination of bold colors and gorgeous florals, they were an instant mood lifter. That was why I always associated the rainbow with optimism—something that Sloan knew because I’d told him as much. I could only guess that he aimed for an optimistic vibe when he added the note to have dinner tonight.

3:43 PM, Me:I don’t think dinner at your place is a good idea. But I do have something to discuss with you. How about we go out?

3:45 PM, Sloan:Doesn’t work for me. I want to enjoy a meal and a nice California wine with you without having to worry about reporters stalking every beverage I taste. My place.

I bit my lower lip as I considered his proposal. He had a point. It would be nice talking freely without worrying about prying eyes and eavesdroppers. However, the idea of going back to his oversized bachelor pad was intimidating. I wasn’t sure why—it just was. I looked around at my surrounding space, then glanced outside to the inground pool. The thought of inviting Sloan into my space felt safer for some reason.

I looked down at my phone and reread the entire text thread. Instead of responding to his invite, I walked down the hallway to the master suite. Once there, I went over to the dresser and pulled my tarot deck from the box. Anxious butterflies danced in my stomach as I tapped the deck twice, then gave the cards a careful shuffle. After cutting the pile three times, I broke with tradition and committed to turning over one card only. I had no intention of going through an entire formation trying to interpret the meaning of each card. I already knew what my gut was telling me. I just needed one more sign to let me know if I should follow it.

When I flipped the top card, the upright Star presented itself. I audibly sighed with relief to see a symbol of hope and love in romance. The optimistic energy I’d been feeling so powerfully was reinforced by the Star card. It was telling me that I shouldn’t ignore it but use it to rebuild my confidence so that I could move on to the next chapter—and my inner goddess was telling me if I allowed myself to turn the page, the next chapter included Sloan.

“I can control the pace,” I reminded myself.

Impulsively, I typed my reply to Sloan before I could change my mind.

3:57 PM, Me:How about you come here? I have wine.

3:59 PM, Sloan:That works. I’ll bring the food and text you later for your address. Does 7:00 sound okay?

4:00 PM, Me:I’ll see you then.

Feeling remarkably satisfied that I’d come to a decision about which path to take, I turned away from the cards and moved to the closet. Along the way, I spotted the homeowner’s smart home system and decided to take advantage of it.

“Alexa, play upbeat music,” I called to the little Echo Dot sitting on the dresser.

“The station, Dance Party Favorites, free on Amazon Music,” the computerized voice replied.

Instantly, “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey began to play.

Perfect.

I smiled to myself and opened my closet to pick out something to wear. As the music played, I eyed up a light pink halter sundress. The airy, breezy ruffle design was flattering on me and appropriate for an evening sitting by the pool. Paired with a long necklace, stacked bracelets, and pink hair extensions, the outfit completely suited my current mood. Satisfied with my choice, I pulled the dress out of the closet and laid it flat on my bed. After telling Alexa to turn up the volume, I sang along with Steve Perry and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

12

Sloan

With a takeout order from The Lucky Koi in hand, I climbed into the black leather driver’s seat of the Camaro with a satisfied grin on my face. I felt like I was finally making headway with Kallie. Even though she hadn’t given me the opportunity to touch her since our encounter in the track’s restroom, I’d used the time to pay attention to every little detail about her and knew my efforts were starting to pay off. From remembering the food she preferred and the jewelry she wore to her beliefs in the stars and the moon, it was like the meticulous prep work that went into a race—and no detail was too small. Except now, I was preparing for an entirely new kind of race—the race to Kallie’s heart.

Her unpredictability over the past month had been a challenge for me. She went from red hot to ice cold in the blink of an eye, trying her hardest to keep me at arm’s length. Two weeks ago, she would have flat-out rejected a private dinner invitation from me. Her willingness to accept it today, even if it was at her place, signaled I might finally have her attention for something other than business.

Still, I knew I had to be careful. She was a wild card. One wrong bump and our tandem could be wrecked. She was the antithesis to every woman I’d ever been with, yet the attraction I felt for her was no less irresistible—it was downright consuming. Her uniqueness just made me want her all the more, and I’d committed to doing whatever I had to do to have her.

I pulled out of the restaurant’s parking lot, shifted lanes, and followed the GPS map to the address Kallie had texted me. With the top down, I hit the accelerator and drove up Ocean Avenue toward North of Montana. Within fifteen minutes, I was turning onto Kallie’s driveaway. Killing the engine, I grabbed the bags of food and walked up the walkway leading to the single-story home. Kallie opened the front door before I reached it.

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