Page 13 of Save Me
My drink done, I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Love you too, Eve. See you in a few hours.”
Chances are she’ll go back to sleep after I leave. This has been our routine for the last year, since I found myself again. It was a hard road, but I’m here, and hopefully better than ever.
When I get to the beach parking lot, there are only two other cars besides mine, which makes me extremely happy. Opening my bag, I get my earbuds, putting them in my ears before connecting them to my phone, and grab the water bottle I like touse. Getting out of the car, I take a deep breath. The salty air fills my lungs, washes over me, and reminds me of how lucky I am to be here today.
Stretching over, I carefully make my way down to the beach, closer to the water so that the sand is a little easier to run on. That’s when I let go. Stride by stride, my mind clears, and the only focus I have is on the lighthouse at the inlet—how far it is away from me, and how much closer I get with every slap of my shoe against the sand.
Amy before the accident would never have done this; in fact, she didn’t do it. Her therapy was going shopping or spending the afternoon at a coffee shop with friends. This Amy is older, more of a loner, and self-reliant. I’ve worked hard to become the person I am today, and I like her. This run, five times a week, is part of the person I am and one of the reasons I’m able to support my daughter and myself. It’s given me drive, focus, and determination.
Getting to the lighthouse, I come to a stop, check my Fitbit, and take a bit of a breather. Taking the earbuds out of my ears, I glance out over the water. It’s choppy today; the waves hit against the rocks with more ferociousness than normal. It feels like a storm may be moving in. I make a note to check my radar app before I pull out my paints and canvases.
“Funny meeting you here.”
I’d know that voice anywhere now. It haunted my dreams last night, making me want things I haven’t in a very long time. “Hey, Gunner.” I turn around, giving him a smile.
The smile quickly turns to a sigh as I get a glimpse of the man who has invaded my thoughts lately. Today he’s shirtless, showing ink I didn’t know he had, along with the ink I could see. On his ribcage, I seefamily. His dark hair is tousled, like he just got out of bed, and his arms are the kind you want wrapped around you any time of the day.
He smirks, obviously realizing what’s going on as I look him up and down. “I didn’t know you were a runner,” he gestures to my attire.
“Five days a week.” I curl some strands of my ponytail around my finger in a nervous gesture I’ve had for years. “Eve watches Rosa for me. I run, and then I get to paint.”
“You run here five days a week? I’m here a couple times a week doing the same. I can’t believe I’ve never noticed you before.” He runs a hand through his hair. The motion causes his bicep to flex, and damn if I don’t think about him holding me tight while he does whatever he wants to me.
“Maybe we weren’t meant to meet each other before that,” I shrug.
“You believe in all that right-place-at-the-right-time stuff?”
“Yeah, I do. Too many things in my life are right, directly after they’ve gone wrong, for me not to believe it.”
We stare at one another. My thoughts aren’t pure, and judging by the heat in his gaze, neither are his. Putting a hand on my chest, I do my best to regulate my breathing. Nobody has ever affected me like this, not even my husband. It’s disconcerting, and I wish I knew why.
“I’ve gotta get going back that way.” He points to the way we came. “I have to pick up my niece today. I’m watching her while my sister works.”
I want to ask so many questions. Like why is he watching his niece and not the father? Is his sister a single mom like me? “I’ve gotta get going that way too.” It’s where my paints are, still in my car.
We take off at a run, pacing ourselves with each other. He’s probably going much slower than he normally does, so I can keep up with him. His gait is much larger than mine. Neither one of us speaks, both concentrating on our workouts. As weapproach the parking area, we slow, both of us stretching out our muscles one more time.
“So,” he breathes heavily, “I’m taking my niece to the boardwalk later today. It’s her favorite when we’re together. Would you and Rosa like to meet us there?”
Remember what I said about the right place, right time? He’s issued an olive branch, and I want to take it. Rosa loves the boardwalk, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to while she does all the fun kid stuff.
“Sure, we’ll meet you there. By the way, Rosa’s wrist is just sprained, and she’s almost already back to normal. Crazy how kids just bounce back, right?”
He pulls his phone out of his pocket. “It really is. I’m glad it wasn’t anything horrible. That would’ve made the summer a bummer for her. Give me your number so I can text you, let you know when we’re leaving. It’ll probably be later on this afternoon.”
“Perfect.” He gives me his number, and I text him mine.
I can’t help but watch as he waves goodbye before I move up to my car, grabbing my paints out. Today, unlike most days, I know exactly what I’m going to paint.
CHAPTER NINE
GUNNER
“C’mon, Corabelle.” I grab my niece out of her booster seat, setting her down from my truck.
One day she’ll be able to get down by herself, and that will probably break my heart. I love the way she stretches her arms out to me, letting me know she trusts me to make sure she gets down safely. Quickly locking it, I scan the parking lot for Amy, but when I don’t see her, I grab Cora’s hand with one and my cell with another.
“I’m so excited!” Cora hops up and down at my side.
