My eyes followed Jhett as he lifted two plates of pancakes over to the same spot we ate dinner at the night before. I imagined him calling the shots in a busy kitchen, and it made me wonder if he was as cool and collected under pressure as he was with me. Joining him at the counter, I hopped up onto my pink chair and took a seat. “Yeah, well, I’m surprised it didn’t. By the way, know of any places for rent?” I asked. Half of me was hoping to get a rise out of him, and the other half was genuinely curious.
“You’re moving?” His voice filled with worry. “I mean, you can’t stay at Cameron’s anymore?”
“My mom said something about some death clause in the lease. So it looks like I have a week to find someplace new.” Anxiety crept back over me as I thought about what moving would really mean. It meant no more being close to the beach, no more being close to the last pieces of Cameron, and no more being close to Jhett – who, despite what I originally thought of him, wasn’t turning out to be such a bad guy.
“Charlie, moving is expensive and-“ I cut him off. I didn’t need to hear his lecture, too.
“Look, I’m not worried about the money. Cameron and I both secretly set up savings accounts when we turned eighteen that our parents don’t know about. I have money and I’m not afraid to work, either. I don’t need to hear it from you too, when really this whole situation is your fault.” His eyes locked with mine while he seemed to search for the right words to say.
“You’re right. Maybe you should go home, Charlie. I can’t sit here and think about everything you’re going to give up just because I wanted to get to know you.” He never looked away from me.
The flush in his cheeks told me that he had said something that he never planned to let slip out. “You…wanted to get to know me? That’s why you want me to stay? But, your whole speech about Cameron and figuring out who I am…”
“I meant every one of those things. I can’t explain it all to you right now. I remember the way Cameron talked about your parents and their crazy rules. He said he felt like he was drowning out who he was, just to make them happy. And that night I met you, I saw it in you, too - but I also saw flashes of him. It’s like you have some eternal battle of wills going on inside you: what you should do and what you want to do. If you need to know one thing about me, Charlie, it’s that I’ll always be myself, no matter what others might want me to be.” He turned his body on the chair to face me, placing his hands on both sides of my legs.
I studied Jhett’s face. It was like he knew exactly how to get under my skin and find his way into my deepest thoughts. I wondered just how much Cameron told him about me, or if he really could just pick that up from being around me for one night. He was right, though; my mind was always in a constant battle with itself. I wanted to please everyone, and sometimes that meant losing parts of myself…the parts that were really me. The parts that wanted to throw away any reservations and paint for a living, the parts that let my parents influence my decisions, and the parts that wanted to come to San Diego with Cameron when I had the chance. Maybe if I’d done that, I wouldn’t have lost him.
“Well, then here’s one thing you should know about me. Going home wouldn’t make me happy.” It was my turn to break eye contact as I looked down at my lap. Jhett’s dark brown hair fell across his forehead; much different than the way it looked a few nights ago when he slicked back and plastered it full of grease. Right now he looked like a normal guy, minus the hundred or so tattoos on his body - give or take.
“So enlighten me. What would make you happy?” He grabbed my knee closest to the counter and spun me around so that I was face-to-face with him, making me painfully aware of his legs so close to mine, as they found their way between my own like the teeth of a zipper.
A muffled giggle escaped my lips; an extremely annoying nervous habit of mine that I couldn’t stand. When I looked up at Jhett through my eyelashes, I could think of a million different things that would make me happy, none of which seemed like the ideal situation as of right now, if I really did plan on staying. I couldn’t risk scaring off the only person I knew here by throwing myself at him, even if he was seducing me with his eyes.
“Knowing I wasn’t going to be homeless in less than a week,” I spoke honestly. I was a planner at heart, and not having a plan at the moment was killing me.
“You could always move in with me.” Jhett didn’t miss a beat with his answer, which took me completely by surprise.
“I, uh…I don’t think that’s a good idea. I mean, you’re a really nice guy and all, but we just met and…” I was trying to backpedal my way out of what was quickly becoming an excruciatingly awkward conversation. Well so much for not trying to get me in the sack.
“Geez! It’s sincerely starting to hurt my feelings that you have me pegged as some kind of sexual predator. I didn’t mean move in-in with me. I meant as a roommate. Despite its small appearance, there is actually more than one bedroom in this place,” Jhett said, his charm caught me off guard; giving me only a second to feel bad about taking his invitation the wrong way.
“I really appreciate it, but, I just think that maybe I should try for a studio apartment or something small like that. They have those here, don’t they?” As much as the thought of living in Jhett’s house was intriguing, it just wasn’t sensible.
“Yeah, I guess they do.” He pulled away from me, picked up both our empty plates and made his way over to the sink.
I couldn’t help but watch him as he cleaned up from breakfast. Jhett wasn’t like the guys you saw on the covers of romance novels; they had muscles that could contend with a body builder, and were always close to being naked. Jhett was tall and lean, but his back was broad and you could see a hint of muscle in all the right places. It blew my mind that he could look so attractive in his previously slept-in clothes.
He stole a glance over his shoulder, only long enough to make eye contact and flash one of his thousand watt smiles.
I knew I was caught, but tried to play it off like I was taking in the rest of the house. Everything about this place was unique, just like Jhett. Each corner held endless possibilities of treasures, new and old alike. It almost made me regret turning his offer down, but I already accepted one offer from him. I wasn’t about to get too crazy.
Over the next few days, I really started to become accustomed to having Jhett around. He was quick to take the reins in the search for a new place for me to live, and I happily accepted the help. It was either ride around on the pink bike, which I still couldn’t quite figure out, or let Jhett drive us around in his beater of a truck, although he insisted it was just vintage. Either way, he was my only shot at getting around this town in a timely manner, and he knew how to get where we needed to go and fast.
I enjoyed his company when I was with him. He was easy to talk to, even when he wasn’t very agreeable. We saw at least twenty different places and none of them were up to Jhett’s high standards, but each one had some type of quirk that I fell in love with. I couldn’t understand his reasoning behind disliking them all, except for one that he was not shy about expressing. They were all too far away from him.
My phone went off, lighting up with a text message.
Finished with work early. Dinner? You pick the place.
He only dropped me off a few hours ago from our latest apartment hunt failure. It amazed me that a few sentences could pick up my mood so quickly. I looked forward to any messages from Jhett.
Sorry. Going for a run tonight. Finally learned my way around the beach. Tomorrow?
I felt bad turning him down, but I actually put my phone to good use and downloaded a running app with pre-mapped out running courses using the GPS. It was perfect and just what I needed. I picked up a pair of running shoes while we were at the mall recently, and went on a few short runs during the day. Tonight I could feel the urge for a long run pulsing through my body, singing to me to get into that zone, begging me to clear my mind.
I guess I can wait until tomorrow to see yo
u again. Run, Forrest, Run.
I plugged my headphones into my phone as I giggled and put on my Pandora running station. I always ran to the ‘Hip hop and Rap Workout’ station. Normally I couldn’t stand that kind of music, but when you got into the running mindset, after three miles, you needed that tempo to keep you moving. I cranked out my stretches to some Nicki Minaj.
Bounding out the door, I made my way down the stairs and started a brisk walk covering the few blocks to the beach from the apartment. Once I hit the boardwalk, I picked up my pace to a jog. The bass thumped in my ears and I racked up mileage. The sun threatened to set soon, making the beach absolutely breathtaking; it was golden hour. After my phone alerted me that I hit three miles, I decided to turn back and head home. I wasn’t paying much attention to the faces that I passed by, but I noticed that there seemed to be no particular person that enjoyed the beach; people of all ages and backgrounds were there.
Feeling recharged and rejuvenated, I made it back to the spot where I needed to turn to go back to the apartment, but the sunset captivated me. I stopped, facing out towards the water, just before the concrete barrier. I went through my cool down stretches, engrossed in the watercolors the sky painted above the horizon.
Goosebumps quickly crept over my body, causing the hair on my arms and neck to stand up as the feeling of unwelcomed eyes washed came over me. I popped my headphones out of my ears and looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary; it was just the same busy boardwalk with people shuffling by. I continued to stretch, ignoring my gut feeling that something was off, and searched the corners of my vision for something unknown.
After five extra minutes of cool down stretches, I decided that whatever gave me the weird feeling was gone. I found no van without windows parked on the street, and no one who looked particularly questionable wandering in the shadows. I took it slow and walked home without my music playing, just in case.
I made it about a block away from the apartment, when quick footsteps coming from behind me made my entire body stiffen with fear. My breath quickened as I picked up my pace. Panic struck me when the realization hit that someone may really following me. I saw the Lifetime movies about girls being stolen and never found again. I suddenly found a new reason to run.
My jog stayed slow at first. I knew that if I needed to, I could probably outrun my follower, but I also knew that if I ran back home, I could lead the person back to my apartment. Taking a quick glance over my shoulder, I could have sworn I saw the outline of a man.
That was all I needed to set me off; fear toook over and I sprinted forward, adrenaline pumping through my veins. My only thoughts were about what I would do if he caught me. How would I fight him? Who would even notice I was gone? Would Jhett come looking for me?
Jhett! That’s when I saw the little white picket fence only a few yards ahead of me. Rounding the corner and bounding into the front yard, I took one more glance behind me, but couldn’t find anything but the shadows. When I reached the bright door, my fist beat against it as if my life depended on it, and for all I know, it really did.
Feeling the door give way beneath me, I shoved it open and blew past Jhett who stood in shock. “Shut it. Shut the door, now!” Panic rose out of my chest as tears stained my face. I couldn’t catch my breath, much less concentrate on what just happened. My throat was tight and dry, refusing to let me swallow. All I could do was look at Jhett’s bewildered face still standing by the door.
“Jhett! Someone was following me. I was done with my run and I started walking home and I could hear them behind me. I swear I saw someone. I just didn’t know what to do and I panicked!” I panted, using my unsteady hands to tell the story.
My mind couldn’t focus as Jhett’s arms pulled me into his chest, his chin resting on top of my head. Once again, those beautiful tattooed and muscular arms were holding me together. My hands found their way around his waist, gripping his shirt, willing my body to stop its violent shaking. I didn’t realized just how terrified I was.
“Hey, you’re safe now. No one is going to get you here. All the doors are locked.” Jhett’s raspy voice soothed my jumbled mind as he spoke. My eyes shut, reveling in the emotions I felt, as I rode out my dwindling adrenaline rush. He placed his rough hands on both sides of my face, guiding my eyes to look up into his. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Charlie. I promise.” He didn’t have to say anything else because it was then that I knew he wasn’t lying. He was my protector. It was like his soul had found it’s way into mine with only his touch, and all I could do was bury my head back into his chest. I wasn’t ready to let go.
“That was quite an entrance. I heard that you knew how to make grand exits, but that was talented. ” A delicate, female voice came from the couches next to us, making me disturbingly aware that we were not alone. As I stood there in my tank top and running shorts, my skin still slick with sweat, my heart began to race again uncontrollably.
Reluctantly, I peeled myself away from Jhett, who stayed close to my side, his arm resting loosely around my waist. My mind tried to wander into thoughts of what would have happened if we were alone, but I unwillingly pushed them away. For all I knew, he really was just a friend, someone who needed to protect his best friend’s sister.
The thought of another woman in Jhett’s house slammed into me unexpectedly. I was shockingly irritated, and maybe even a little bit jealous. Jhett and I spent every day together recently, but it seemed as if I was reading everything wrong. Something deep down wanted to believe that maybe this connection wasn’t one sided. It was stupid to believe that something could actually happen. I mean, we barely hugged, and now there was another woman in his living room.
Once she came into view, all my irrational thoughts slipped away. I recognized her based on her looks alone; there was no need for introductions. She sat on the shorter couch, wearing a baby pink button-down blouse with denim high-waisted shorts, but it was her hair that gave her away. A mane of fiery auburn hair fell past her shoulders and draped around her porcelain skin. She looked as if she were painted; she was that flawless.
“I’m, uh…sorry about barging in like that. I didn’t know Jhett was having people over.” Even though she obviously knew who I was and I knew who she was, I felt about three inches tall. Not making a good first impression was something I loathed.
“Well, I’m just glad that I finally get to meet you. I was beginning to think he was hiding you from me.” She sauntered over to where Jhett and I stood in the entryway and threw her arms around my neck before I could protest. I was totally and completely taken aback by such a forward gesture.
After what felt like the longest ten second hug from a stranger in my life, she released me. “Just call me Ginger. Everyone else does.” She had the same warm brown eyes as Jhett, but I recognized something in them that I had only seen in my own before. It was pain from the loss of someone who you loved as much as you loved yourself. You could try and push the sadness away, but a little always seeped through the cracks.
“I’m Charlie,” I replied, mentally cursing the fact that I was never good in awkward situations. What was I supposed to say? Your brother told me that you had a thing for my brother and I’m sorry he died? Yeah, better just stick with the basics.
“Jhett’s told me a lot about you. In fact, he hasn’t shut up about you since you got here.” She shot him a sideways glance that caused him to look down at his feet, which made him look so guilty, he couldn’t try and argue it even if he wanted to.
“Hopefully he wasn’t just complaining about me the whole time. I’ve been dragging him around trying to find a new place to move in to, but he hasn’t been much help. Nothing is up to his exacting ‘standards’.” I used my best Jhett-voice to mock him.
“What can you expect coming from the guy who’s the mayor of this hippie wonderland? Obviously nothing is going to strike his fancy unless it looks like it came out of a coloring book.” Ginger rolled her eyes and motioned around Jhett’s house with her h
ands. I wanted to tell her that this place was amazing, but decided to save that conversation for another day.
I loved everything about this house, hippie or not. “What’s not to love about these colors? They’re fun and warm.” Throwing my hands on my hips, I tried to defend Jhett. He found his way back to my side. It was the longest we held body contact since he let me lay on his lap, and it was utterly distracting.
“Okay girls, this is tons of fun, but Charlie and I have someplace to be as of right now.” Jhett looked at the clock on the wall.
I turned towards him and wondered what the heck he was talking about. I wasn’t going anywhere in my sweaty running clothes. “We do?” I asked.
“We’ve got to go get your stuff from the apartment.” His tone of voice was one I normally wouldn’t try and argue with. He sounded as if we made these plans years ago and I was the forgetful one. But I still had no idea what he was trying to get at.
“Why? You can just drop me off there and we’ll do something tomorrow.” My eyes narrowed as I looked up at him, trying to figure out his game.
“We can get the big things tomorrow. For now, just grab your clothes and small stuff.” He busied himself, searching for his keys among the clutter of items on the kitchen counter.
“Um, excuse me? Why exactly? You’re speaking in code here, Jhett. I don’t understand what are you’re trying to say.” Following him into the kitchen, I decided that I wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. Who the hell did he think he was?
He whirled around, only inches away from me. “You’re moving in here like you should have done a week ago. You’re not going to be staying in that apartment alone when someone just tried to follow you home. I’m not letting that happen. I refuse to put you in danger like that.” His voice was a low growl, and his stare could have turned me to stone, it was so cold. His brown eyes had been replaced with a cold amber hue.
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