Instead, I planned to make a slow circle around the three buildings and head home. When I was on the backside of the buildings, I saw her through her window. She was sitting at a table or desk and shuffling through papers. Her hair was down, tumbling over her shoulder as the soft glow of a lamp illuminated her face. She was pensive, so focused on whatever she was looking at that she didn’t feel my stare. I stood there until the honk of a faraway horn distracted me.
I had been so focused on her, the world could have been swallowed up by a black hole, and I wouldn’t have noticed. I had to get out of there.
I avoided both the pizza place and the Critter Haven and Spa for three days after that. Part of me thought I could escape the fascination I had developed for her. I tackled my work around the complex intent on using it to fill my time and my mind. When Kimber, Dawn, and their friends sought my attention as they lounged by the pool, I gave it to them.
I watched as Kimber smoothed suntan lotion on her legs, her gaze on me the whole time. I continued to watch as Dawn stood, bending over to straighten her towel and give me a nice view of her ass. Kimber’s mouth dropped open when, instead of moving their way, I turned and walked away.
They are both as attractive as McKenzie is, but I’m not attracted to either of them. What makes her different?
I caved and found myself back at the pizza place, this time for dinner, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. When it came, it was fleeting, but a no less powerful jolt to the craving I had formed for her. She was driving the green Jeep, windows down and radio blaring the acoustic version of Eric Clapton’s “Layla.” Since she was turning left into the parking lot of the Critter Haven and Spa, she had to wait a moment for traffic to clear enough for her to go.
She danced in her seat, the hair piled on top of her head bopping as she sang along with the song. I couldn’t hear her voice but could see her lips moving. I tried to imagine the warm lilt of her words, pulling from memory the way she sounded from the night I met her. She was so beautiful and, once traffic cleared, she was gone.
It was after that night that I became determined to speak to her again. I went to the pizza place every day, alternating between eating lunch and dinner there. The wait staff, Ethan, Becky, Vanessa, and Carl, greeted Zeus and me by name. I was ordering two slices of pepperoni and a coke from Becky when Carl came out carrying a box and saying he was running some pizza over to the Critter Haven and Spa.
Becky had grumbled something about wondering why they couldn’t be bothered to come pick it up considering how close they were. I stopped Carl, claiming whatever he carried smelled good, and asked what it was. He gave an annoyed look to Becky, most likely having heard what she said and answered, veggie lovers then left.
She watched him walk away and explained, “He likes her, the girl who lives there.” Then, more to herself than me, she added, “Even though she’s way older than us.”
It appeared I wasn’t the only one interested in McKenzie.
And, she ate veggie lover’s pizza.
I agreed with Becky, McKenzie was too old for Carl. Both he and Becky were barely out of high school and, a guess, not over twenty-one. While I didn’t know how old McKenzie was, I was sure she was past college age.
I didn’t see her that night.
I didn’t see her again for another four days, and not for lack of trying, until today.
I was in my truck, about to turn in to the parking lot of the pizza place when I saw her Jeep pull out in the opposite direction.
I followed her.
She drove to the grocery store at the next intersection. I parked a couple of rows away from her and watched her walk across the parking lot.
Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail; she was wearing a black tank and a long, loose beige skirt with a black pattern. She wasn’t inside the store long and when she came out, she held a case of beer in one hand and a cloth grocery bag in the other. She paused right by the sliding doors, setting the case down and digging into the messenger type bag resting on her hip, to pull out her sunglasses.
Once she had them on, she bent back to pick up the case and moved to her car.
A cloth grocery bag and veggie style pizza, is she environmentally conscious?
Now, I’m following her out of the parking lot.
I stay a few car lengths behind her, letting another car stay between us so she won’t notice (I hope) I’m tailing her. We head north and, right as I start to worry I’ll need to pull over to get gas soon, she turns off the main road. Since there is less traffic, I fall even further behind her and almost miss her turning off and into the lot of a state park.
There are two lots on either side of a wooden welcome shelter. Purposefully, I park in the lot opposite where she parked and watch her head down a trail that shoots off the backside of the shelter. Now, in addition to the cloth grocery bag and case of beer, she carries a gift bag with balloons printed on the side and tissue paper billowing from its mouth.
I’ve been to this public park before, so there’s no reason I can’t be here, walking the trails with Zeus. Thankfully, I detect no judgment from him as I clip on his leash. Zeus, truthfully, doesn’t need a leash. Still, since there’ll be lots of people around it’s easier for me to have him on one. He’s a big dog and has scared people before, just by his size, when he wasn’t on one.
We stop by the shelter to check out the map of trails posted there. It might look bad to follow her down the one she took. A clearing with shelters and picnic tables is off the trail she took. Luckily, multiple trails all cross around that clearing. I opt for the shortest route, an alternate trail that will take me there.
There is no shortage of people walking the trails, given the nice weather. The shade from the tall trees keeps the path from being overly warm. My nerves are already messing with me. There was a time when approaching a pretty girl and striking up a conversation wasn’t a big deal. Unfortunately, those days are long gone. Since this entire outing was spur of the moment it’s not like I had time to plan what I could do.
Zeus slows beside me and sits. My nerves must be apparent even to him. He looks up at me as I rest my palm on his head.
“I’m okay, boy.”
His mouth opens in the closest thing I have ever seen to a dog smile and he tilts his head to the side. I take a moment to scratch him behind his ear before I move forward. He offers no argument and moves with me, somehow reassured I’m not about to have a panic attack.
He does this. When I start to drift inside my mind to places it’s best I don’t go, he pulls me back.
It’s ironic that he’s on a leash, since, mentally, he holds mine.
When we reach the clearing, I spot her right away even though plenty of people are around. Her skirt is what catches my eye. There’s something so sexy in the subtle way her legs are covered, and she’s surrounded by a sea of people wearing shorts or short dresses. It might be because I’ve seen her in cut offs and can picture how beautiful her legs are. It’s like a secret just for me.
The birthday party guess was a good one. The shelter she stands under has a Happy Birthday banner tied from one pole to another. A ton of kids are running back and forth from the shelter to the playground in the center of the clearing. The blonde from that night and Alec the vet are also there. She stands by them, beer in hand and looks in the direction of the kids playing.
Undecided how to get her attention, I continue down the path that will lead me closer to her.
“Can I pet your dog?”
I glance down to see a young boy maybe eight or nine standing a few paces ahead of Zeus and me.
“Hey, Brody. Make sure you ask permis—,” Alec makes his way over to us, and pauses mid-sentence when he recognizes either Zeus or me.
Extending his hand, he grins. “Mitch, right? How’s Zeus doing?”
I give him a firm shake. “Hi, Alec. He’s doing much better, thanks.” I glance back at the kid. “You can pet him. He’s friendly.”
Alec rests his hand on
the boy’s shoulder as he slowly starts petting Zeus.
“This is my nephew, Brody. We’re celebrating his birthday today.”
“Happy birthday. How old are you?”
He doesn’t take his eyes off Zeus as he answers, “Nine.”
Alec shrugs when Brody doesn’t say anything else. “He loves big dogs, but my older sister, his mom, is allergic to dog dander.”
At this Brody looks up, “We have a yorkie.”
There’s pure angst in his tone and look; this kid is not a fan of small dogs.
Alec shakes his head before turning back to the shelter, “Rachel, Kenzie, look who’s here.”
My eyes find hers the moment his words reach her and her face turns our way. Her mouth opens to say something to Rachel, but Rachael ignores her, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her toward us.
“Hi,” Rachel is all smiles when they reach us.
She moves to Alec’s side and he puts his arm around her shoulders.
McKenzie crouches next to Brody and offers her hand to Zeus for him to sniff before stroking his head. She’s close enough to touch; my fingers itch to slide into her hair to find out if it’s as soft as it looks.
“It’s good to see you looking so much better, Mr. Zeus. You gave us quite a scare the other night,” she says to Zeus, ignoring me.
It can’t be good that she dissed me for my dog.
Brody loses his interest in petting Zeus and heads back to the playground throwing a, “Thanks for letting me pet your dog, Mister,” over his shoulder as he goes.
“It was such luck that we ran into you today,” Rachel smiles, looking down at Zeus.
I nod, my eyes dropping to McKenzie.
“This is a great park. Have you been here before?” Rachel asks and I nod again.
“Have you lived in this area a while?” she asks next.
“A few years,” I reply.
“See.” She glances down at McKenzie and then back up at me. “We’ve only recently moved here so it’d be cool to have a local friend to show us around.”
“Rachel.” McKenzie’s head snaps up to look at her friend.
“I’m happy to show you all around,” I offer, before McKenzie can argue.
She stands, crossing her arms over her chest, saying, “Really, that’s not necessary.”
Alec looks like he’s about to start laughing. I can only assume it’s because his girl is asking me, a stranger, to show them around town, when they probably have a shelter full of friends and or family who could easily do it instead of me.
“McKenzie loves sushi,” Rachel continues as McKenzie pinches her mouth shut then tilts her head skyward.
I ignore this, and reply, “I know a good place.”
“Great,” Rachel cries, “we should all go there next week.”
Alec can no longer hold back his laughter but tries to disguise it by coughing. McKenzie’s head tilts back down and his way to glare at him, which only results in more laugh coughs.
“What day works for you?” I ask, making it clear I’m speaking to McKenzie.
She shakes her head. “You are beyond sweet to offer, but next week is bad for me.”
“No, it’s not,” Rachel argues, first looking at McKenzie, her eyebrows raised, and then swinging her eyes to me and continues. “Tuesday works for all of us. We can meet at the Critter Haven and Spa since you already know where that is. Six o’clock work for you?”
I keep my eyes on McKenzie, my reflection staring back at me from the lenses of her aviator sunglasses. “Yep.”
She blushes before excusing herself and quickly walking back toward the shelter.
“I should . . .” Rachel gestures over her shoulder to McKenzie’s retreating form and hurries to follow her, saying, “It was nice to see you again, Mitch.”
Alec turns to watch her walk away, a small smile on his face. He looks back at me, the smile now a full on grin, and shrugs. His girl might be a busy body and, from the look on his face, he thinks it’s cute. Lucky for me, her butting in is in my favor.
I lift my chin and start moving again, this time back toward the parking lot. This run in went better than even I could have planned, and her friend did all the work for me. Now, not only did I get the chance to speak to her again; but also we’re sort of going out on a double date next week.
Sure, she didn’t seem very excited about the idea. It’s cool though, I’ll wear her down eventually.
I’ve never had sushi in my life, and have a day and a half to find a decent place.
I storm back over to my beer, the one I set on the picnic table mere seconds before Rachel pulled me over to Mitch. Grasping it, I turn in time to see Mitch before he disappears down a trail leading away from the playground clearing. Once he’s gone, I lift the bottle to my lips and drink.
I swing my gaze toward Rachel and take another drink of my beer before I speak.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
Alec comes to stand behind her; and after wrapping his arms around her waist, he sets his chin on her head as they both wait for me to keep ranting.
So, I do. “We know nothing about this guy, nothing.”
This gets no reaction other than Alec removing one of his hands from her waist to grab a beer for himself.
“And,” I continue. “Need I remind either of you, I’ve sworn off men forever?”
I don’t expect an answer to this question since it’s crystal friggin clear to both of them that my life tends to drift straight down to sucking every time I start dating.
“I’m here for a fresh start and the fresh start I want includes a life with no drama.” I glance up at Alec. “No offense, but outside of you and Mr. Brody, I have serious dislike in my heart toward the rest of the male population. “
At this point, Rachel opens her mouth, but I lift my hand to stop her. Wisely, she shuts her mouth, even though she does it with a smirk.
“I appreciate what you two are trying to do for me.” I take another drink of my beer, finishing it. “I’m not ready to even consider going out with someone.”
At this, Rachel speaks before I can cut her off. “Then be his friend.”
I huff and look skyward before looking back at them. “You are so full of it if you think I’m going to believe for one second that you aren’t trying to create some love connection here.”
Alec’s gaze stays focused on mine; but Rachel looks away, which is her tell that I’m on to her. Reaching out, I take one of her hands in mine.
“I love you so much. You’re the family I chose and are the sister of my heart. You don’t have to worry about me. I promise I’m okay and don’t need a boyfriend to be happy.”
At this, her shoulders drop, and she steps out of Alec’s arms to fold me into hers. “Fine, I only got excited because it seemed like fate that he’d show up here today.”
I step back. “It’s a park. He has a dog; it’s chance, nothing more than that.”
“But he’s so hot,” Rachel argues, but quickly adds, “You know I love you, baby,” to Alec, who chuckles.
“I don’t care that he’s hot,” I mutter.
“Liar, I saw you checking him out; and he’s not only crazy hot, but he’s also a dog person.”
“What does him having a dog, have to do with anything?” I conveniently avoid the fact she did see me checking him out.
“Dogs can sense assholes,” she whispers assholes as she looks around to make sure none of the kids are close. “Remember how Lady (our neighbor’s golden pug doodle something or other) always growled at Tyler? We should have taken that as a sign right then and there that he was a dick in sheep’s clothing.”
“I think you mean wolf,” I laugh. “Besides, just because Lady didn’t like Tyler, and Zeus likes Mitch, who I should point out, feeds him, doesn’t mean Mitch is a good guy. For your theory to work, we’d have to introduce Mitch to Lady and see how she reacts.”
Rachel throws her hands up in the air and shouts, “Road trip,” only to blu
sh and duck her head when people turn to look at her.
“You are such a nut.” I shake my head but do it smiling.
“Promise me, you won’t cancel on sushi.”
“Rachel—” I start, but this time she cuts me off.
“Do it for me. I need to find a decent sushi place,” she whines while Alec shakes his head.
“Why do we need some stranger to do it? How about every week we try out a new place as a girls’ night out?”
“Hey,” Alec exclaims, “I like sushi too.”
“Fine,” I mutter, “you can come too.”
Rachel grabs my empty and passes me a fresh one. “We aren’t going to cancel because that would be rude.”
I twist off the cap and send it sailing toward the closest trashcan, internally celebrating when my shot goes in, and take a drink. My nonresponse is answer enough for her, she grins up at Alec.
My attention turns from Mitch to Brody as we all gather to sing “Happy Birthday” to him.
My mouth moves, the words of the song coming out even though mentally I’m miles away. I need to figure out a way to convince Rachel I’m fine. Otherwise, she’ll be setting me up with any and every single guy we meet. The only person who has ever been able to make her see reason is Alec; however, in this situation, he seems to agree with her, so I’m screwed.
I love my best friend more than any other person on the planet; however, she is a serious pain in my ass. She should be focusing on the Critter Haven and Spa, not my lack of a love life.
Her claim that Mitch and I should be friends is BS. Sure, he didn’t come right out and ask me out; but he gave a seriously interested vibe when Rachel suggested the whole sushi thing. All I need to do is keep brushing him off. A guy that hot probably has women throwing themselves at him all the time, even if he lives in a creepy basement.
I won’t cancel on sushi, but only because of Rachel, and that’s it.
I inhale a piece of cake while Brody opens his presents. The Star Wars Lego set I got him is a hit until he loses it when his mom doesn’t let him open it and put it together immediately. Little Lego pieces and the greater outdoors do not mix well. He gets over it when Alec tells him he can shoot him with the Nerf rifle they got him.
Chasing Daylight Page 5