Chasing Each Other

by J. D. Rivera

  After going out for a run, I showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and T-shirt. Grabbing my phone and wallet from my nightstand on the way out, I checked my messages. I had a few, but there was only one I cared to read.

  Miranda: Damn it! My shirt.

  I laughed and checked the time of the message. Three in the morning.

  Brad: I hope you got some sleep. I’m on my way.

  Slipping my phone into my pocket, I grabbed my Glock and ammo before locking up my apartment and walking to my truck. I cranked the engine and sent her one more text.

  Brad: I’m going to stop at the store. Want anything?

  I pulled into a gas station just down the street from Miranda’s apartment and checked my phone.

  Miranda: Diet Mountain Dew and Laffy Taffy. :)

  I had to laugh. Laffy Taffy?

  After filling up my tank, I strode into the store, heading straight to the candy aisle. Chocolate candy bars were first then the fruit flavored candy. I squatted down and took in the impressive array of Laffy Taffy flavors. I had no idea which she would want, so I grabbed a package of each.

  After piling my arms with candy and drinks, I hit up the cookie aisle. I snatched up a couple packages of chocolate chip cookies and then walked to the counter. As I set everything down, the young kid running the register rolled his eyes at me.

  “Is this all?” he asked. Fucking punk kid.

  I really wanted to teach this little pimple face a lesson, but decided against it. I was in a good mood and ten minutes away from picking up Miranda. “Yep.”

  I watched the kid as he scanned each item with the enthusiasm of a snail. I sighed, drumming my fingers on the counter.

  He held up each item, saying the name before scanning the package. “You know, most people just buy a couple of items.”

  I raised an eyebrow at the kid. This little shit was pissing me off. “Just do your damn job.”

  He held his hands up in mock surrender. “Sorry. I was just making an observation.”

  “Don’t.” It was like he knew I shouldn’t be spending time with Miranda and was keeping me from her. Or maybe it was the universe telling me to stay away. Either way, I wasn’t listening.

  After what felt like forever, I finally left the store with a smile on my face. I was looking forward to spending the entire day with Miranda. She had a vibrancy buried deep down and I was determined to bring it out.

  I pulled into her parking lot and killed the engine. My phone beeped with another text message.

  Natalie: I’m free later today.

  I didn’t even respond, just placed my phone in my pocket. I was about to hang out with the only girl I wanted to spend time with.

  ***

  “Hold it steady and take a deep breath,” I instructed, standing beside her with one hand on her back and the other on her hand. She took a deep breath and so did I, taking in her sweet scent. “Look down the sight, aim, and shoot.”

  She pulled the trigger and I felt her sway backward from the kick. “I’ve got you.”

  She pulled off her safety goggles. “I did it!” she exclaimed as she turned to look at me with the biggest smile on her face.

  “You did. Let’s go see what you hit.” A huge smile spread across my face as well.

  She was so excited, she almost skipped toward the target while I followed behind.

  “Holy shit! I wasn’t far off the bulls-eye!” she yelled as she threw her arms around my neck. I instantly wrapped my arms around her, lifting her up and spinning her around.

  After a few spins, I reluctantly lowered her to the ground. We both stared into each other’s eyes, not letting go. My eyes flicked to her full lips and I really wanted to lean in and kiss her.

  She looked away, slid her arms down my neck, and stepped back. “Sorry,” she whispered.

  Confused, I asked, “Sorry? For what?”

  “For that.” She flung her arm in my direction.

  “Don’t be sorry,” I grabbed her hand. “Come on. You need to shoot more than once.”

  She nodded and we walked back to where the ammo box was on the ground.

  I loaded the Glock and handed it over to her. Again, I steadied her hand and placed mine on her back. “Remember, look down the sight, take a deep breath, and then shoot.”

  She fired the gun, this time more prepared for the kickback. As I grabbed the ammo from the box, I said, “While learning to shoot is great and all, you might want to think about self-defense classes.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, scrunching her eyebrows together. She looked fucking adorable.

  “You said you wanted to learn for fun, but there are still a bunch of crazy people out there. Even if you get your concealed license after you turn twenty-one, it’s not one hundred percent protection. There are many instances when you won’t have a gun on you. That’s where learning to defend yourself will help you out.”

  She bit her lip. “Um, yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “Unless you just want to kill someone. But then I’d have to arrest you and that would be awful.” She glanced up at me, her eyes wide. I winked to let her know I was messing with her.

  She shook her head and laughed. “You’re a jerk.”

  “Yeah, but you love me anyway.” I handed her the gun. “Come on. You’ve gotta practice. I didn’t bring you out here for nothing.”

  She smiled and visibly relaxed. “Thank you. This is actually a lot of fun.”

  “It is fun, but I’m pretty sure it’s fun because you’re with me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Mmhmm. Whatever you say.”

  I watched her aim and shoot again, surprised by how good of a shot she was.

  After another hour of “lessons”, we decided to walk down to the pond. It was a pretty big pond, almost a lake, that held a lot of good memories for me. When my grandparents were still alive, I would spend a week with them fishing during the summer.

  My phone beeped in my pocket and I fished it out to check the message.

  Natalie: Maybe we can get together tonight?

  Fuck. She was going to be a problem. You’d think ignoring her would be enough, but I guess I was going to have to spell it out. I shoved the phone back in my pocket, deciding to deal with her later.

  “If you need to get back, that’s fine,” Miranda said, fidgeting beside me.

  I grabbed her hand and squeezed. “It was nobody important. They can wait.”

  “I can’t get over how peaceful it is out here,” she remarked as we walked along the path to the pond.

  “Yeah, it is,” I agreed. “Sometimes, when I just need to get away and forget about shit, I come out here and spend the weekend.”

  She nodded in understanding. “I bet you need to do that often. I mean…with your job. It has to be hard with all the horrible things you see.”

  “You kinda get used to it after a while.” I ran my fingers through my hair, realizing I needed a haircut. “Don’t get me wrong, I still see things that upset me, but you do get used to it, unfortunately.”

  “I understand. I wish I had a place like this where I could escape,” she said, her voice solemn.

  I slung my arm over her shoulder. “You just let me know when you need to get away and I’ll take you out here. Anytime.”

  She laughed. “I may just hold you to that.”

  She had no idea just how much I wanted to be held to that.

  Chapter 13

  Miranda

  We walked a little longer, soaking up the serenity of the trees and water. He seemed completely relaxed, while I was a ball of nerves. He hugged me closer to him, enveloping me in his scent and setting my skin on fire.

  I didn’t want to ruin the moment with my foolishness, so I decided to say nothing and absorb the moment. The rational part of me knew this was nothing. I had watched him sling his arm around Mackenzie the same way, but the daydreaming, romantic side of me wanted to pretend it was way more than just a friendly gesture.r />
  “Why don’t we walk back to the house? We can sit on the porch while you eat your kid candy.”

  I pulled away slightly to look into his beautiful eyes. “Kid candy? I’ll have you know, Laffy Taffy is amazing.”

  “You’re right…I’m sure most nine year olds would agree with you.” He snickered.

  I playfully jabbed him in the stomach with my elbow. “Whatever. You know you like it. You’ll be asking me for a piece later.” My face flamed with the double meaning of my comment.

  “Maybe,” he said with a playful wink.

  We made our way back to the house and I sat down on the porch swing as Brad went inside for our snacks. I had to pinch myself so I would know it wasn’t a dream. I was really hanging out with Brad, just the two of us, for an entire day. It was a good thing he didn’t know the real me, the addict who made wrong decision after wrong decision. He’d be hauling my ass back to my apartment and never looking back.

  Luckily, during my one slip up—almost kissing him after my first shot at the target—he had been kind and didn’t make a big deal of it.

  “Here you go. Kid candy and Diet Mountain Dew,” he said, handing me the items before sitting down next to me.

  “Thank you. And what did you get?”

  He pulled a Dr. Pepper, Doritos, and chocolate chip cookies out of the bag. “Adult food.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. Chocolate chip cookies? I’m pretty positive nine year olds like those, too,” I quipped before popping banana flavored taffy in my mouth.

  “Hey now, these are delicious. Although, my mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies.” He opened the bag of Doritos and shoved a few in his mouth. What I wouldn’t give to kiss those lips and taste the flavor of those chips.

  “What flavor are those?”

  He held the bag out. “Cool Ranch. Want some?”

  “I’m good.” I swallowed the candy then took a drink. “So…let me get this straight. You’re a Scarface watching, mama’s boy, hardcore detective?”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Well, when you put it like that, I guess. Although, I don’t think I’m a mama’s boy. I just love my mom and her chocolate chip cookies.”

  He finished off his bag of chips and then grabbed the cookie package. “Want one? They’re really good.”

  “Sure. But I bet I can beat your mom’s cookies.” After I got out of rehab, my parents hovered and barely allowed me to leave the house, so I started baking to pass the time.

  I took a bite of the cookie he handed me and I had to admit, for packaged cookies, they were good. “Good?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  I watched his eyes lock onto my lips and I had to fight the urge to shiver. His eyes flicked to mine as he leaned toward me. When his lips were merely an inch from mine, he glanced down at my lips then back to my eyes. “You have some chocolate on your lips. Let me get it for you.”

  His lips came down on mine before I could even register what he had said. His tongue ran along my bottom lip before slipping into my mouth to tangle with my own. His lips were silky smooth and his tongue knew exactly how to make me feel everything, yet forget everything.

  My body was screaming for more and I couldn’t help the moan that escaped my throat as my hands ran through his soft hair. “Miranda…” he whispered, pulling me on top of him. My legs straddled him as one of his hands found its way up the back of my shirt while the other cupped my cheek.

  Too soon, his mouth left mine, traveling down my neck, then back up toward my ear. He sucked on my lobe before letting go to kiss me behind my ear. The feeling left me breathless and my hands pulled him closer.

  He chuckled as he kissed back down my neck, both of his hands roaming down to cup my ass. A soft moan escaped his lips as they found mine again.

  In one unexpected move, he was on his feet, carrying me into the house with my legs wrapped around his waist. His lips didn’t leave mine as he walked down the hallway and deposited me on the bed. He balanced himself above me, using his left forearm while the other traveled up the front of my shirt.

  Needing to see more of him, I grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it up. He pulled back and yanked the shirt over his head in one swift motion. I took in his sculpted upper body, my hands roaming from his shoulders down to his happy trail and back up.

  His eyes twinkled as his hands came to rest on my stomach. Slowly, very slowly, he eased my shirt up toward my breasts. His free hand skimmed my skin, following the path of my shirt. His touch set my body on fire and I found myself moaning again. I knew I should stop this. I knew he would regret it later. But I couldn’t. I loved the way he was making me feel.

  He leaned down and began kissing the path his hand had just traveled while easing my shirt up. Once my shirt was over my head, he leaned down, whispering against my lips, “You are so beautiful.” His lips landed on mine again and all other thoughts escaped me.

  After a bit, he pulled back. “Is this okay? Do you want me to stop?”

  “No. Don’t stop,” I pleaded. I never wanted him to stop.

  He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, dug out a condom, and threw it on the pillow beside me. I ignored the action, not wanting to think about why he carried a condom in his wallet.

  He slowly inched down his jeans and tossed them on the floor, exposing his black boxers. My mouth went dry at the sight of him. He had to be the sexiest guy in the world. What the hell is he doing with me? I quickly pushed that thought aside as his lips covered mine again and I didn’t have another coherent thought until we were both crashing down.

  ***

  He got off the bed and immediately left the room, not saying a word. I heard a door close, which I assumed was the bathroom. I lay in the bed for a few minutes longer, trying to come to grips with the fact that I just had sex with Brad. And hell, it was amazing. He knew exactly how to use his body to set mine on fire. Was this real? Was I dreaming?

  I got up and began finding my clothes as he walked back in the room. “If you need to clean up, the bathroom is the second door on the left.” He didn’t make eye contact or say anything else. He just picked up his boxers and began putting them back on.

  Had I done something wrong? “Okay, thanks.”

  Once I picked up all my clothes, I made my way into the bathroom, leaning against the closed door.

  You are good for one thing only. And that’s sex.

  I could still hear Preston spitting those words at me. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was only good for sex. Brad certainly didn’t seem to be interested in me afterwards.

  Tears pricked my eyes as I let the realization wash over me. Maybe that really was the only thing I would ever be good at. Or maybe I wasn’t even good at that. Maybe that was why Brad distanced himself from me.

  I turned on the faucet, splashing water on my face while the noise muffled my cries. After a couple of minutes, I pushed the tears away, and cleaned myself up. Hastily, I put my clothes on and opened the door. I just wanted to get the fuck out of here and go home. I wanted to crawl in my bed and never come out.

  I checked the bedroom, but it was empty. Marching down the hallway, I entered the living room where he was sitting on the couch with his elbows on his knees, hands scrubbing his cheeks. If that didn’t scream regret, I didn’t know what did.

  “I’m ready,” I announced, stepping in front of the door.

  He glanced up and nodded before standing and following me. He didn’t speak as he placed his gun and ammo in the truck or once he got inside.

  I tried to act nonchalant, as if I didn’t really care that we had just had sex, but I didn’t feel like I was convincing anyone. Not knowing what else to do, I grabbed my phone out of my purse and pulled up my Kindle app, deciding to get lost in a book. I didn’t want him to know my insides were splintering piece by piece with each second of his silence. How pathetic would that be?

  It wasn’t long before he was pulling up to my apartment building. I wasn’t really sure wh
at to say, but I knew I needed to say something. “Um…thanks for the lessons.”

  He nodded. “Think about the self-defense classes.” I wanted to roll my eyes. I was almost positive he didn’t care. I was just some whore he seduced into sleeping with him. Well, he didn’t even really seduce me—I willingly slept with him without him even trying.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “Miranda?” he whispered hoarsely.

  I tried to hide my emotions as I met his eyes. “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He was sorry.

  Sorry.

  Yeah, I was, too. I was sorry I thought for one second I could be more than just a lay to someone.

  I turned and exited the vehicle, almost sprinting to my door. I couldn’t get away from him and my shame fast enough. Once inside, I padded down the hall to my bedroom, a part of me breaking with each step.

  I tossed my purse on the floor and threw the covers back before falling into my bed. I clutched the covers and brought them up to my chin as the silent tears fell. Preston was right—I was stupid and pathetic. Why would anyone want me?

  I was an addict.

  I allowed someone to abuse me for drugs.

  Everything that had happened was on me.

  It was my penance to pay.

  And I would always be paying.

  I cried myself to sleep that night and stayed there most of the next day.

  I was nothing. Absolutely nothing. I asked myself why I hadn’t given up. Wondered why I hadn’t cut myself open completely and let the vile inside of me bleed out along with my life.

  Chapter 14

  Brad

  I was going to burn in hell. I don’t know why I ever thought I could be friends with her. It only took a few hours alone and I threw my morals out the window. And to top it all off, I was so pissed off with myself afterwards, I didn’t even speak to her. I treated her like a fucking piece of trash.

  Nineteen.

  Nineteen fucking years old.

  “Have we gotten the results back on that DNA sample from the truck?” Rob asked as he sat down beside me, breaking through my thoughts.