Page 98 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

I would’ve loved to have her energy. She never seemed to run out. I used to have something like that when I was living in Gulu, but I also used to go jogging every day. I considered the

consequence of jogging with paparazzi following my every move. I really didn’t want to let them dictate what I could and couldn’t do, though, so I thought maybe I should just do it. It was a well-known slogan after all.

Dumping my cup in the sink, I decided to throw caution to the wind and went to my room to get changed.

Once my tennis shoes were laced up, I tied my hair in a ponytail and slipped the door key into the little zipper compartment in my shorts. Marching to the front door, I opened it and pinned Gardner with a determined gaze. “Feel like a jog?”

The guy sighed. “You’re determined to kill me, aren’t you?”

I smiled.

“We can go, but we need a set trail before we lean. And then we need to make a Plan B.”

I gave him a deadpan look. “Really?”

He didn’t bend. “Really.”

Letting out a loud huff, I looked up to the ceiling. “Fine.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “How far do you want to run?”

“Jog, Gardner. I’m going for a jog,” I said, my gaze stern. “Running sounds painful.”

The twitch stretched high. “All right. How far do you want to jog, Princess?”

Placing my hands on my hips, I tapped my foot as I thought. “I used to jog about two miles when I was in Africa, so let’s try that.”

“How long ago was that?” he asked. I could tell he was amused.

My happiness withered. “About five months ago.”

I watched him study his cell phone for a while before he turned it around for me to see. “We’ll take the loop in red,” he said, tapping on the edge of his phone. “If anything goes wrong, we take the closest route to the blue and come straight home. Deal?”

I squinted at the screen. I wondered what app that was. It was cool. “Deal. Now let’s go before I change my mind.”

Stuffing the phone back into his pocket, he nodded. Then he led the way downstairs.

The hardest part was pushing through the stupid crowd on the sidewalk. I was surprised someone hadn’t complained and called the cops yet. I was surprised I hadn’t. Why the hell hadn’t I? I should do that when I got home.

Grabbing my arm above my elbow, Gardner dragged me the rest of the way through the crowd and pulled me into a jog beside him, darting across the road and to the path he’d planned. He humored me with a nice steady pace, unwilling to let me go too slow, but kind enough to not push me too hard. I was beginning to think Gardner was a little pussycat under that hulk exterior. But I’d never tell him that.

Following the path down a small hill, we swung into a park, following the sidewalk under the shade of the trees. It was nice. And pretty. I kind of wished I had my cell with me so I could take some pictures.

I wasn’t really watching where I was going. Not exactly. I was mostly moving on autopilot, following Gardner’s lead. I probably should have been paying more attention. If I had been, I might’ve seen the arm that flew out and coat-hangered me, right before I landed flat on my back.

Pain lanced through my entire body. My chest froze, constricting all breath. And the sky swayed side to side before starting to swing in a more circular motion.

As I lay on my back, staring up at the pretty green leaves swaying in the breeze, I heard Gardner grunting as though he was wrestling with someone. Dull thumps and grunts floated in the breeze with the trees. It was an odd combination. Then I felt a hand clasp around my wrist, shaking softly, and Gardner’s face swam into my line of vision. “Liv,” he said. “Answer me.”

I attempted to speak, but the wind had been seriously knocked from my sails, and all that came out was a whisper. Gardner’s face disappeared. I heard him speak again, but this time it was rushed and urgent, his tone hushed. I felt sick, and all I wanted was Josh.

Chapter 60

Josh

I’d never felt more sick in my life. I’d gone from excitedly signing papers to take ownership of a new apartment I was going to convince Liv to move into, to panicked beyond all capabilities, all within the span of one phone call.

Liv’s been hurt . . .

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