You Can Run by Lisa Wheeler

Author:Lisa Wheeler [Wheeler, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lisa Wheeler
Published: 2024-04-10T00:00:00+00:00

15

Iawoke slowly the next morning feeling warm and satisfied. My muscles ached ever so slightly, alluding to the activities of the night before and a soft smile touched my lips at the memory. I stretched out leisurely, allowing my eyes to flutter open. The space on the bed beside me was unoccupied, but the wrinkles on the pillow showed where Jack had been.

I sat up slowly, holding the sheet to my body, the daylight bringing a new level of insecurity in regard to my nakedness. I could hear the water running in the bathroom, the squeak of the tap, and the running water stopping abruptly. A few moments later, Jack exited the bathroom, in his trademark jeans and white polo, rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

“Good morning,” I smiled. He glanced briefly in my direction; his posture was stiff and unfamiliar.

“Morning…” his voice was hard. My skin prickled with a warning.

“So… last night…” I hedged.

“Was a mistake.” He was blunt and matter-of-fact. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. My smile disappeared immediately.

My mouth opened, and I willed myself to formulate a response, but the words just wouldn’t come. I was suddenly hyper-aware of my nakedness which could go hand in hand with my humiliation.

“Don’t get me wrong. It was great,” his voice softened slightly, but returned just as quickly to all business. “But at the end of the day, we lost sight of the reason we are here. The very real and ever-present danger of the people who are after you. What would have happened if they had ambushed us last night?”

I must have looked like a goldfish. My mouth was moving as though it was hoping the words were just going to start flowing and make sense. Instead, my stunned silence continued. My wounded ego was sucking all the articulation from me. It was great. That is what I get. Did I get a gold star too? Awarded an A for effort? I inwardly rolled my eyes.

“We’d be dead,” Jack continued, as though he hadn’t already effectively made his point.

“I get it,” I managed to respond.

“This isn’t a hook-up opportunity,” his voice was cold. “And I certainly am not here to be your rebound, as convenient as that might be for you.”

My eyes narrowed at his insensitive jab.

“Right,” I stood from the bed, dragging the sheet with me and wrapping it around myself. “Are you done in the bathroom?” My voice matched his coldness. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me hurt.

“Yeah…” his bravado faltered slightly seeing the steely way that I held myself.

I didn’t bother responding. I walked past him, grabbing my bag of clothes on the way and shutting the bathroom door behind me probably harder than was necessary.

Behind the security of the closed door, I allowed the crushing weight of my emotions to take me. I turned the shower on, stepping under the scalding hot water, allowing the sting on my skin to match the searing heat of pain that tore through my insides.

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