With a raised eyebrow she asked,“The young lady you and Jeff were talking about two weeks ago? How’s that going?”
Sighing and rubbing the back of my neck I call over my shoulder,“No not her and not so well. Hopefully, I’m gaining reinforcement tonight.”Grabbing a table on the side by an open window that faced the river, I scrubbed my hands over my face and let out a very frustrated breath. I sat staring out the window watching the couples and families walk and play along the river bank. I feel a pang of jealousy. I want nothing more than to be doing that with Hayden right now. Not sitting here getting ready to try to convince her best friend that I’m not playing games and really do want Hayden. As I’m lost in thought I heard someone walk in say hi to Betty. I don’t think much of it because everyone who comes here knows Betty. That is until I hear Betty’s reply.
“Brooklyn, how are you darling girl? I haven’t seen you and Hayden in several weeks.”What does Betty mean she hasn’t seen them in several weeks? Great, there goes my home turf theory. Wait, did she just call Brooklyn and Hayden by name?
Brooklyn replied with a very evident annoyance in her voice,“Yeah well no one has seen much of Hayden. She hasn’t been...uh…feeling well.”She rolled her eyes and looked around the bar.
Fuck! This is going to be even harder than I thought and I originally thought it was damn near impossible. Betty handed Brooklyn a Budweiser, pointed my direction and said,“I bet you’re meeting someone, aren’t you?”
With a grin on her face and a wicked glint in Brooklyn’s eye she said,“Betty, you do truly know everything”as she winked at Betty and strolled over to me.
I stood as she approached pulled out her chair and offered her my hand remembering all the manners my father instilled in me from a young age,“Thank you for meeting with me.”
“You get one hour to convince me why I shouldn’t remove your favorite appendage with my bare hands.”She said straight faced accept for a challenging raise of her eyebrow.
“Shit...uh…”Damn, I really am at a loss for words. Taking a deep breath I laid everything out from what happened 15 years ago to make me turn on Hayden the way I did to walking in here to meet Brooklyn. Without realizing it an hour and half and a few beers had passed. I am surprised how easy it was to tell her everything, even with the venomous stare she gave me the whole time making me want to wither under it.
Brooklyn took a long pull of her beer, leaned on the table and said,“Ok, I’m going to help you but you don’t have an easy road ahead. You have to back off a little. Quit filling her office with memories of your past together. All you are doing is making her relive that pain, move forward. I’m not telling you to stop sending her stuff but back off the memories and simplify it. Send her flowers and a simple note. She needs to see the man you are now not the messed up teenage boy that shattered her heart.”
Betty snuck up with a glass of water with lemon in it for Brooklyn.“Isn’t that what I told you two weeks ago?”She said to me with a stern motherly look.
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow,“You were spilling yours and Hayden’s dirt to Betty?”
“No, but you obviously come in here regularly if Betty calls you both by name and knows when to bring you water without you asking. You also know very well, you don’t have to tell her anything but she knows all.”
With a tip of her water to me Brooklyn said,“True. Do you run?”
“Yeah, why”I replied questioning.
“There is a 5K run on Saturday sponsored by the local animal shelter. We were scheduled to run it with our pups. I can’t make it as originally planned but Hayden is still running it with both of our pups. I’ll switch your name into my spot. Do you have a dog?”
“No”
“Do you like them?”
“Yes”
“Ok, so show up, happen to see her there and offer to take Bella, that’s my dog, with you. She’ll probably deny any help but run with her anyway. Keep the conversation to a minimum. She doesn’t like to talk while she runs. She’ll probably stick her ear buds in and turn on her iPod, New Kids on the Block, Adele, or her running mix. If you happen to hear Staind or Hinder blaring through the ear buds you’re in dangerous territory, she’s slipped back into the past. Find a way to bring her to the present and who you are now. Once it’s over offer to take her to lunch, somewhere with a patio and sit outside but not overly fancy like you’re flashing your cash, she’ll see through it. If she still says no then break out some smile you use to use on her to get your way. She won’t be able to resist. Be nice, manly but not pushy. She’s fragile right now. She wants to talk to you but she’s afraid. She’s scared you’ll hurt her again. Got it?”
I nodded my head and asked her,“Not that I’m ungrateful but why are you helping me?”
Brooklyn’s face remained serious.“Because I believe you. She’s never let anyone in and I think it’s because she’s holding on to you, the man she once loved and cared for so deeply. She may not admit it but you still own her heart and soul. Be good to it and her. I want to see her happy. She deserves to be happy not just content.”She stood to leave. As she walked away she stopped and turned back to me with a serious face and pointed at me,“You remember what I said about your favorite appendage if you hurt her again.”With that she walked out. Man, she can be tough, even a little scary, not someone I’d want to piss off.
Brooklyn’s right. I have to stop acting like a sniffling little pussy and man up. I have to get back to the man I am. Hayden needs to see the confident, smooth, take charge guy I am. I’ve been running around begging‘love me’,‘want me’,‘talk to me’. That’s not me. I need to rethink my plan. Show her I’m not a pussy but a real man that can give her what she wants. Someone that’s not going to roll over and beg for scraps. I sat there staring out the window for the next hour contemplating what Brooklyn said and figuring out my next move.
CHAPTER 8
Hayden
This morning I almost didn’t go into my office fearful of what would be waiting for me. I do not have classes on Fridays but I really needed to get some work completed. Brooklyn left this morning for her grandparent’s place which is about an hour and a half north of us. She won’t be home until Sunday. Before she left she made me promise not to lay on the couch all weekend reading romance novels. I had to promise to come and work in my office today and run the 5K we planned to run tomorrow morning. I don’t know why it matters if I do any of that stuff, but I promised. I would have made her promise the same to me if the roles were reversed.
So here I am standing outside of my office. Taking a deep breath, I unlock the door, turn on the light and the hundreds of whatever he’s sent the last two weeks filling my office are not there today. Instead, a large, beautiful bouquet of flowers sits on my desk. A note sits at the base,
“I’d like to get to know the woman you are now. x G.”
Sitting at my desk, I take stock of my feelings. Smiling I realize this time it feels nice, not at all suffocating. No feeling of panic. Instead of analyzing further right now, I pull out my phone, snap a picture and text it to Brooklyn.
Me: This is different…nothing else but the flowers and a note,“I’d like to get to know the woman you are now. x G.”
Brooklyn: Maybe he realized he’s being an ass?
Me: Maybe
Brooklyn: How do you feel about it
Me: Not sure but not feeling suffocated by memories. Is that weird
Brooklyn: No, but H I think you might want to think about talking to him…you are clearly affected by his return into your life
Me: I don’t know…not sure I’m ready for that
Brooklyn: Well maybe you should get ready…he may be sincere…just think about it
Me: True…maybe get coffee…just to talk
Brooklyn: Holds potential
Me: See you Sunday Safe trip
Brooklyn: K see you Sunday
Brooklyn: Remember you promised to still run tomorrow
Me: I know I will
/> Brooklyn: I’m doing this for your own good
Me: K love ya
Brooklyn: Love ya too
~~~
Ugh, Saturday morning why do you have to come so early? Maybe because I was up half the night thinking about Gavin and whether I can see him and talk to him again. Trix and Bella come barreling into my room and jump on the bed. I guess they are ready to go get their run on. They jump around me barking and licking my face.“Ok, ok, I’m up.”
I got up and dressed in my yoga pants, tank top and favorite running shoes. With my hair up and secured into a messy bun, which is about all I can stand to do with this long, red, curly mess when I run; I head to the kitchen for a light breakfast. I gathered my armband, iPod and ear buds after putting on the girl’s harnesses and leashes. Off we go to walk over to the check in. I didn’t see a point in driving since the check in point is only a five to ten minute walk from my loft, plus, the walk over will be a nice warm up. The race follows the running path around the river that is next to my building. Check in is from 8:00 AM–9:00 AM with the race starting at 9:30 AM. So we have about an hour before the race starts; enough time to stretch and get the girls a last minute drink.
At the starting line with the girls, I hear my name called. Knowing who’s calling my name I don’t bother to turn around. However, he’s caught up to me before I can get my ear buds in and the damn iPod turned on.
“Hey, Hayden how are you?”
Crap! I looked up into his eyes and now I’m locked. I can’t look away no matter how badly I want to.“Hi Gavin, stalking me in public now not just in my office?”
He starts rubbing the back of his neck which I remember to be a nervous habit.“Yeah, sorry I got carried away filling your office. I really wanted to talk to you and went about it wrong. I’ve been shown my error.”The error of his ways? By whom?
“So where’s your dog?”
“Um, I don’t have one. I had a friend that couldn’t make it so they asked me if I wanted to run instead. I’m always looking for a good cause to support and excuse to get hot and sweaty.”He said the last part with a twinkle in his eye. My stomach is suddenly filled with butterflies. Damn, I remember that twinkle, it usually meant he was up to no good. Smiling he said,“You want me to take one of your dogs?”
“Actually, Bella,”I say pointing at Bella,“is Brooklyn’s and Trix is mine. Brooklyn couldn’t make the race today so I’m running with both of them. Though, I have a sneaking suspicion you already knew that.”I raised a challenging eyebrow.“Thanks for the offer but no, I’m good. This isn’t my first race.”I grinned and hooked the pup’s leashes to the lead belt I’m wearing around my waist. I think I’m going to have to have a talk with Brooklyn on Sunday. Just what kind of meeting did she have Thursday that went until 9:30 PM? Gavin and I talked about the pups for a few minutes while we waited for the race to start. It was nice to talk about something simple.
As the event MC got everyone fired up for the start of the race, Gavin looked at me with the most adorable hopeful look,“Mind if I run with you?”
I looked him dead in the eye and let a mischievous smile toy at my lips,“Do I have a choice?”I paused as he shook his head no, a grin kissing his own lips, his sexy dimples coming out to play.“If you can keep up.”He threw his head back and laughed. Ok, so maybe I’m toying with him a bit. Is that so bad? I hit play on my iPod, my running mix starts which most definitely include all of songs from New Kids on the Block’s, The Block album.
With a bang of the gun the race started and we were off. I worried he would try to talk to me while we ran. I can’t stand it when people want to talk. Leave me alone. I want to get lost in the music and sights as I run. Frankly, running is a time for me to get out of my head, so to speak. If you want to have a discussion go to the patio of a nice local bar, sit, have a beer and chat. Seriously, runs are for cleansing the soul. Surprisingly, he didn’t try to talk.
At one point in the race I glanced over and he was a few steps ahead of the pups and me with ear buds in and looking just as lost in his run as I get. I took advantage of the moment to admire the way his muscles moved with each step. He has to work out. No one has a well-toned body like that without putting in some serious face time at the gym. Thank you Mother Nature for the unseasonably warm weather we are having. He’s wearing a gray sleeveless shirt that gives me a nice view of his large well developed arms. I wonder what is tattooed on his upper left bicep. My eyes wander down his taut back wishing he would take his shirt off and run without it. I’d love to see the sweat drip down his back as each muscle in his back flexed. My eyes continue their descent over the beautiful male specimen running in front of me across his tight ass to his legs. Damn he looked good in basketball shorts. His legs are clearly runner’s legs. I watch as the muscles flex with each step he takes. Hmm, this isn’t so bad running with him. Dare I say it was peaceful? Oh, the view is definitely a bonus!
We finished the race in average time and start to make our way to a table with water and treats for the pups. I’m not sure why I’m following him. We’ve removed our ear buds but aren’t talking, just walking. He keeps looking at me and smiling. His smile is so captivating and stirs up butterflies in my stomach. Why is his smile, his mere presence doing this to me? Why am I following him? Why don’t I just say, well it’s been nice seeing you and walk back home? Could I be ready to actually talk to him? To find out why he walked out on me the way he did? I’m definitely still attracted to him. He’s even better looking now than he was then. What good would talking to him do me? The only thing that is going to happen is I’m going to fall for his shit again and end up hurt. And then it happened. I fell and ended up hurt, literally! I got so wrapped up in my thoughts and sneaking glances at him I wasn’t watching where I was going, tripped over a parking curb, got tangled up in the pup’s leashes and hit the concrete. I hit my right knee hard on the concrete tearing my yoga pants; skinning it up along with my palms and wrists. The sound alone of my knee hitting the concrete is enough to make me sick to my stomach let alone my knee feels like it’s going to explode.
Damn it hurts not just physically, but my pride too. I’m so embarrassed. I want to cry from the pain exploding in my knee, from the embarrassment and from where my thoughts are leading. I want to jump up and run off. I don’t, though. I roll to my butt, remove the leashes from my belt and start to examine my swelling and bleeding injuries.
CHAPTER 9
Gavin
I’m really enjoying this run. I usually do enjoy running but this one is different. I finally feel like I might be running in the right direction. Hayden didn’t accept my offer to take one of the dogs but she didn’t fight me about running with her. She even flirted back with me a little. So far everything is as Brooklyn said it would be. She looks content when she runs, like she doesn’t have a care in the world. She looks like no one has ever wronged her, never broke her heart. If I have my way I will repair what I broke and protect it forever.
A few times I hung back a little to check her out. Hey, don’t get pissy at me. I can’t help it, I’m a guy. Guys always look even if they tell you they don’t. We are simply doing what we learned from a very early age. Besides, I’m pretty sure I caught her checking me out. She’s absolutely beautiful. I’m glad to see she doesn’t waste her time doing all that shit girls do to their hair to make it straight and load on the makeup. I will always go for a chick with a natural look over Barbie any day. She was like that back then and that doesn’t seem to have changed. She is simply beautiful.
I’ve always loved her long, curly, red hair. Makes me wonder if everything is as red? What? Shut up, I refer to my earlier statement: I’m a guy! Anyway, her body has changed a bit over the years but is still hot as sin. She was never one of those stick straight girls that look like a stiff wind would blow them away, but she didn’t have the curves she does now. God bless those curves. Her waist is still small but her thighs and butt, oh man, those thighs and butt could make a monk drool. She has a P.H.
A.T (pretty hot and tempting) ass. I even caught a few gleams of her tits bouncing as we ran. Man, I’d love to see them bounce without anything covering them. Ok, I’ve got to get myself under control. She’ll never believe I’m serious if I walk up sporting a hard on I could pound nails with. Think, Gavin, think…um…water. No now I’m picturing her naked in the shower, pressing her against the wall, kissing her as the water-. Shit, that’s not helping. Umm…..my apartment…no scratch that it opens up too many thoughts. My family…yep that’s working…my mom…my grandma. Yep, ok that worked.
We finish the race and start to walk over to the water table. After we both removed our ear buds I asked her if she had plans this afternoon but she didn’t respond. When I looked over at her she had a confused look on her face. She looked like she was lost in thought, like she was struggling to figure something major out. Damn she is breathtaking with a few red curls that broke free bouncing around her face and sweat glistening on her body. I can’t help but smile at her. I started to tell her to watch out as we neared a parking curb but it was too late. She tripped over it and got tangled in the leashes. I grabbed for her hoping to catch her but the dogs blocked me from getting to her. Shit, I know that sound, the sound of her knee hitting the ground. I immediately get down to the ground to help her turn over so I can check her out. My heart about stopped when I saw the cuts and the pain on her face. I wanted to pick her up and run home with her to take care of her.
“Shit, Hayden! Are you ok?”
“Ouuuuccch, no. It really fuckin’hurts.”She groaned out.
It shouldn’t tickle me to hear her cuss but it’s really kinda cute.“Can you bend your knee?”
“Yes, though it hurts like a bitch.”
“How about your wrist and fingers, can you bend and wiggle them?”
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