My problems seemed to be coming full circle, and that scared the hell out of me. I’d been on the run for several years. For what felt like forever, I’d been looking over my shoulder, wondering when they’d come for me. Either the police or Remy’s gang—one of them would catch up to me one day. Then what? I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid of prison or being killed by one of Remy’s gang members. I had known that risk when I did what I had to. There had been no choice.
It was a huge gamble coming to Atlanta and crashing at Jeanine’s place. Knowing her from the trailer park I’d lived in, she wasn’t a person I could put much faith in. However, I needed a fake ID and she always had connections. She usually knew the right guy to sleep with to get whatever was needed. When I ran away, she did too. Only she took off in one direction and I followed Remy to California. Another mistake I’d made in my life. Or was it?
Then, to top it all off, the boy I had loved so much and had shattered my heart was a regular customer at my new job. Waitressing at The Freckled Maiden had been a fluke. It was outside of Jeanine’s neighborhood and closer to the more upscale areas. It worked out perfectly: I’d make more money in tips and also avoid Jeanine and her so-called friends coming in trying to get free meals. Bumming off of me was something she had joked about when I’d told her I needed to stay awhile longer and save up money. Thankfully, she hadn’t asked where I worked yet, and I wasn’t about to tell her.
Alex was going to be a huge bump in my plans. Trying to get another job wasn’t something I wanted to do. I was already trained there, and it would take me longer to try to find another job. Leaving my job at The Freckled Maiden wasn’t an option. Then again, Alex telling everyone my real name was Cory wasn’t, either.
Reflecting on Alex made me smile. He had grown up, and I couldn’t stop wondering what he did for a living. Watching him interact with Jay saddened me. They’d always gotten along. Alex used to idolize him.
Mentally, I recounted the money I had saved just from two nights of waitressing. It definitely wasn’t enough for a bus ticket to Canada, like I had planned. I still needed to stay at this job for a while longer. Doing that meant possibly seeing Alex again and risking him remembering who I was. While my heart kept going back to what used to be with Alex, clinging to every memory before I’d left, thank God my mind continued to remind me that those days were gone. I was a different woman after all I’d been through. Being on the run and understanding my freedom was more important than the girlish dreams of the past and being with Alex. If he even cared. I’d have to try to avoid him as best as I could. If he did remember me, I wasn’t sure he’d keep my cover and that could destroy everything I’d fought so hard to protect—including my heart.
My eyes scanned the room quickly, thankful that Mrs. Finn, the laundromat owner, was staying in the back corner reading her gossip magazine. The tiny woman kept her dark hair swept back into a tight bun and was overly friendly. It had taken me a while to escape her endless chatter.
I checked the time left on the washer and plopped back down into the hard plastic chair. When I heard the bell ring, signaling someone entering through the door, I pulled the book back up to my face, not even checking to see who had entered.
Again, I began reading the same words and was positive reading murder mysteries wasn’t a good decision, but I couldn’t help it. It was like I was studying for a test, to see how I would be able to get out of my other situation. If that was even possible.
From the back corner where Mrs. Finn sat, I heard the rustling of paper along with some whispers. When I finally heard, “Thank you, Mrs. Finn,” I almost dropped my book.
Alex. My heart beat double time as I heard that deep baritone voice again. Sexy and smooth, it felt like his hand reached under my shirt and he’d skimmed his fingers along the side of my torso, leaving goose bumps in their wake. Dammit, I am not going to swoon for him. It figured Alex would turn me on even after what he’d done to me. I inhaled deeply and hoped he wouldn’t notice me.
Why was he at Mrs. Finn’s Laundromat anyway? I peeked over the top of my paperback, taking in his expensive, dark jeans and starched, white dress shirt. The wave and color of his dark hair made me smile, thinking back to better times. Pressing my lips together, I did the same with my thighs. There was no denying how good he looked as if he’d just stepped out of a GQ fashion ad. The way he was dressed, he was definitely in the wrong part of town. There was no way in hell he’d go to the bad part of town to get his laundry done. Had he followed me?
“You’re so welcome, Alex. Tell your father I said hello,” Mrs. Finn purred. She was obviously quite taken with him, and if she had batted her eyelashes at him, it wouldn’t have surprised me.
My stomach somersaulted as my mind raced, trying to think of what to say if he did spot me. Alex. Holding out for a boy I had hoped would save me was one of my biggest mistakes.
“Will do, Mrs. Finn,” Alex said, and I heard his footsteps echo against the linoleum floor.
I pulled my book up farther, hoping it would help conceal me—a horrible plan, but I couldn’t think straight with my heart pounding so fast.
“Miss. Your timer is going off. I’ve got a cart for you.”
Of course she did. The sweet woman had been kind enough to help me load my washer, even though I’d been doing it since I was thirteen. She was caring and considerate, for a laundromat owner. No one was ever nice to me. Well, not without expecting something in return.
“Whoa. Wow. I didn’t expect to run into you here.” Alex sounded genuinely surprised as he took a step toward me. While everything inside of me was thrilled to see him, I had to try to remember that I didn’t want him to finally realize it was me.
“Of course you didn’t.” I stood quickly and walked over to the washer. It was the only thing I could think of on the spot, since I was caught off guard.
From the corner of my eye, I watched him take a couple more steps toward me. Torn between being excited that he was so interested in me and unsure how I was supposed to not let him recognize me. I felt my breath hitch.
“No. Really. I swear I wasn’t following you or anything. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Finn?” He yelled over to her as if he wanted me to understand.
“He comes in every week, dear.” I glanced up to see Mrs. Finn smile, intrigued by our little exchange. For a short woman, she stood as tall as she could when speaking about him. She even smoothed her dark hair back into her perfectly coiffed bun while flashing a white-toothed smile.
“It’s not really any of my business,” I insisted as I started to pull my clothes out and toss them into the cart. “You happen to do your laundry here.” My eyes glanced at his shoes. They looked expensive and didn’t seem to fit in with the area. Maybe he really was following me. I wasn’t sure if I was flattered, or if he was going to realize it was me and blow my cover.
“I have it done here every week. I really do.”
I tried not to look but couldn’t resist. It was that smooth voice of his coupled with his eyes—gorgeous jade green that entranced you. It was the first time I really stared at them in so long. God, so much like the Alex I knew. I missed what we had, and inside, even though he’d hurt me so much, I wanted to go back in time.
Great, I thought, now I’m sounding like some lovesick, idiot teenager. I shook my head and inhaled deeply. How was I going to evade him if my heart wanted to go back in time to before he broke it?
“Okay.” I nodded. Averting my eyes, I walked over to a dryer and began tossing my clothes in. I could feel his eyes on me just as I had felt them on me at the bar all through my shift.
“Look, I feel like we got off to a weird start,” he said as he leaned casually against one of the washers. With that, I knew he hadn’t realized it was really me. My heart sank, and if I was honest with myself, I was a little upset—completely conflicting with the fact that I didn’t want him to realize who I was.
I perked up one of my eyebrows, wanting to laugh and hoping to hide the tears that se
emed to be stirring inside me. “You stared at me my entire shift,” I said, still looking down at my laundry.
“I know. I’m sorry about that, really I am. I…” He paused and I looked up, noticing that Mrs. Finn was eavesdropping—very obviously, too. There was no hiding how much she seemed to adore him. She quickly straightened her dress and pretended to busy herself arranging magazines at a small table.
Alex cleared his throat and stood straight while I continued to pull my laundry from the washer. “I was wondering…if you’d like to go out with me some time.” Was he asking me out because he knew I was Cory or was he asking me out thinking I was Sarah?
Was that shy boy still inside of him? It made me consider going out with him. Unless this was how he asked women out—using that endearing tenderness. What would be the harm in going ahead and taking him up on going out if he really thought I was Sarah?
I peeked over at him, noting that he wasn’t staring at me but at my laundry. I glanced down, realizing my panties were hanging over the side of the cart. My red, skimpy thong. I grabbed it quickly and shoved it back into the cart as my cheeks turned the same color. Of course he’d want to go out with me after seeing that. I wasn’t sure why, but my heart sank. Alex had turned into some kind of player and no longer the sweet, bashful boy I had known. He had changed, and a little piece of what we once had crumbled in my heart.
“I don’t think so.” I kept my eyes on what I was doing while inside I was aggravated that he obviously only wanted one thing. What else should I have expected from him after what he had done to me?
“I…really? Dinner?” He paused and was genuinely surprised.
I glanced up, realizing he must not have gotten turned down very often. No. He definitely wasn’t told “no” by a woman—probably ever.
I cast my eyes down as I told him again “No, thank you.” I paused as I tossed the last piece of clothing into the cart. “Listen, I know you think I remind you of someone else, but really, I’m just Sarah—a girl trying to make it through life. Simple as that.” I turned and hastily pushed the cart, needing to go by him since there was no other way. Well, technically there was, but it would be going the really long way around the other washers and down the next aisle. Too obvious. No, the shorter way was perfect. He’d know I wasn’t affected by his charms and that I really meant what I’d said. I pushed past him as he stood there, and again I could feel his eyes roam over me. Especially on my ass.
I pulled more clothes out of the second washer and tossed them into the cart while Alex still stood there. I tried not to be angry; I had no right to be. We both changed after I moved away. He went on to live his life and this was who he had become.
“I just…” From the corner of my eye, I watched him shake his head. “I guess I’ll see you around at the Maiden.”
I had finished loading the dryer, and with my fabric sheet already thrown in, I shut the door. As I folded a shirt and placed it in my cart, I watched him for a moment. I felt a tug in my heart and realized that trying to avoid him was going to be more difficult than I’d originally thought.
“Anyway, I apologize for staring so much. I’ll sit in Cassie or Alina’s section next time.”
I took in a deep breath. His scent was just as desirable as his deep voice—sandalwood and some sort of spice, similar to what my dad used to wear. I couldn’t help but smile, and I bit my lip wondering if that was how he attracted all the women. I glanced and noticed he was almost at the door. “You don’t have to do that. Now that I know you weren’t trying to be some weird stalker.” Our eyes met and he gave me a faint smile.
The bell rang, marking his exit, and I watched as he walked out the door. He glanced back one last time through the glass and waved. I nodded my head and pressed my lips together.
I dug into my pocket, pulled out some quarters, slipped them into the slot, and shoved the tray in to pay—all the while trying to keep the tears at bay. The sound of the dryer must have drowned out the steps of Mrs. Finn. Startled, I turned to see her right next to me.
“He has eyes for you,” she said. Her accent was something I couldn’t place, but she seemed to have a very determined personality for such a small woman.
I nodded, sidestepped her, and walked back to my seat, ready to pick up my book.
“Alex is a sweet boy. I can’t imagine being your age and not falling for his charms.”
His charms. My stomach twisted with some sort of jealousy thing I had no reason to have. No, I couldn’t imagine any woman not falling for his charms. Then again, they didn’t know how he had treated a young girl when she really needed him the most.
Three
Alex
“I don’t get it. I mean, I know I probably came off a little—”
“Like a stalker?” Andi noted and snickered, her curls shaking slightly as she laughed at me.
“No. I wasn’t going to say that, thank you.” I was at my brother Cal’s apartment. Andi and Cal were expecting their first baby very soon. For some reason Cal insisted Andi stay home so he could rush her to the hospital the second she went into labor.
Cal and Andi had met in an extremely odd way. A simple car accident started their relationship, and when Andi was in another one, it left her with amnesia.
I couldn’t help but stare at her swollen belly as she did some weird maneuver thing to get up out of the chair.
“Do you need anything?” Cal jumped up to help her as she waved him off.
Rolling her eyes at him, she swatted his hand. “Alex, would you please tell your brother to quit being so anxious. Even I’m not as eager as he is, and I’m the one who has a baby pressing on my bladder.”
“Ease up, asshole,” I told Cal as I laughed.
“Please. You’re stalking some woman you just met and I’m worried about my pregnant fiancée. I think you’re the asshole here.”
“Alex, why don’t you ask her out?” Andi asked as she walked toward the kitchen.
“I did,” I told them as I leaned forward and grabbed my beer. “Last night when I ran into her at Finn’s Laundry.”
Andi stopped just inside the kitchen and winced. Her mouth looked like she had just sucked on a lemon. “You saw her again outside of the Maiden?”
“I was picking up my laundry.” I shrugged. “She happened to be there.”
Cal choked out a laugh. “Right.” He drew out the word.
“I swear I’m not following her or anything.”
“Speaking of stalkers, how’s Gracie?” Andi asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She loved asking about Gracie.
“That’s not funny. Gracie…” I rolled my eyes. “…is Gracie.”
I had met Gracie at a bar one night. Another guy was hitting on her, but I swooped in as a bet with Jay that I could steal her away, and it worked. Talk about a huge ego booster. The problem was, I couldn’t shake her. The woman was decent enough in bed, but she insisted we were meant to be together—as she said, no matter how long it took me to realize it.
“There’s a woman who would devote her entire life to you,” Cal said and then chuckled, taking a drink from his water. He’d insisted he wasn’t going to drink with me so that he’d be sober in case Andi went into labor. At the time, I’d rolled my eyes. However, seeing how uncomfortable Andi looked, it seemed possible she might really have the baby at any second.
“I don’t want that. I want someone who’ll think for themselves. Gracie is like a doormat sometimes. There’s nothing challenging about her.”
“And this woman is. Sarah is just a challenge for you,” Andi said with one of her eyebrows perked up.
“Well, yeah. What’s the point if you get the woman too quickly?”
Both Andi and Cal looked at each other and smiled. They knew what I was talking about. Andi had wanted nothing to do with Cal at first. Their whole love story was nothing shy of a good chase.
“See?” I waved my hand at them and laughed that they were living proof of my point.
“Well, you
might have something there. But then again, maybe this Sarah woman really doesn’t want to be with you. Just because,” Cal said, as he gave me a pointed stare.
I exhaled and went ahead and told Cal. I knew he’d understand. “I think it’s Cory, but she wouldn’t admit it.” I shook my head, still trying to convince myself it really was Cory. “Sarah’s” personality seemed completely opposite—at least from what I remembered of Cory.
“You think it’s Cory? As in, Cory from Granny’s house?” Cal asked. His eyes widened and I knew he got what I was saying.
I nodded. “Jay saw her last night. I mean, he could have confirmed it right on the spot, but he was so busy being a jerk, I didn’t feel like dealing with him more than I had to. Carissa, was bugging him to come home, so he never really got a good look at her.”
After briefly explaining to Andi about the first girl who ever broke my heart, Cal shrugged. “If it is Cory, why was she saying her name was Sarah?”
“No idea. And she wouldn’t come right out and say it, either.” I rubbed my jaw as I continued thinking about it.
“What if this girl really isn’t Cory and you just like the chase?” Cal pointed out.
I shook my head. “I think it’s her. There’s gotta be something more to this. Why’d she come to Atlanta and why is she going by some other name?”
“You’re just convinced no one can resist your charm,” Andi teased as she glanced over at Cal.
I laughed. “Well, I haven’t had much of a problem with women since I left high school.” It wasn’t to sound conceited, but I had always been shy, never able to talk to a girl comfortably without coming off as some weirdo. After I accepted that I’d never see Cory again, I decided it was time to get on with my life. That and visiting my older brother Jay at college and hanging out with him. After finding out how easy it was to talk to women at college frat parties, I started my freshman year of college a changed man. Making women giggle with silly pranks and jokes made me a shoo-in with the ladies. I had no problems at all getting laid left and right. Things had really changed for this shy boy.
Trust Me Forever (Forever Happens Series Book 2) Page 2