Page 4

Shit. He's smart. He’ll know the first person I’ll go to is Lana. My only friend—my only family.

I swallow back the fear rising in my throat.

“Hey.” Lana places a gentle hand over mine. “Whatever happens, we’re in this together.”

My eyes dart up to meet hers. “I would never purposely involve you in something dangerous, Lana. I hope you know that. I’d never come here knowing I’d put you at risk.” But now that I think about it… “Maybe this is a bad idea. Coming here.”

“Absolutely not. I won’t lie and say I’m not a little freaked out here, but I’m more concerned about you and your safety.” Even now, Lana is still looking out for me over herself.

“I’m truly so lucky to have you. At least there’s one good thing, he can’t trace me. I left his credit cards. And the car parked in your drive is kind of registered to my maiden name.” Not sure how legal that is. I also kept it in Mr. Hendrick’s vacation house. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt.

“Credit cards, hiding your identity. Jesus, Sora. What kind of man did you marry?”

You have no idea.

“A bad one,” I tell her.

“Shit. I keep the pepper spray in the top drawer with the butter knives. Just so you know.”

“With the butter knives? So, I’ll be reaching for a knife to butter my toast and accidentally burn my eyes out?”

“Hey. I live by myself. Extra protection never hurt a girl.”

“You live next door to a mountain man who wears a backward baseball cap.”

Lana chuckles. “That does help in making me feel safer.” When her phone buzzes on the table, she stares at the screen with a sigh. “This is the worst timing ever, but… I met a guy.”

I straighten with excitement. “Lana, that’s great.”

For as long as I’ve known her, Lana never really dated. She was the quieter, more studious one. Now, she seems to have blossomed out of her shell, which makes me happy.

“It’s early in our relationship, so it’s not that big of a deal. But he is taking me on a day trip. The thing is, it’s a couple hours away, so I’ll just tell him I can’t make it and—”

“No way. Go. Have fun. I’ll be fine. I don’t expect you to sit and babysit me. It’s Saturday, and I showed up at the last minute. But I expect more details about this man after your trip.” I smirk, lifting my brows.

Her face lights up. “You sure? Because I have zero attachment at the moment. I can ghost him. You come first.”

“Seriously. I’ll be upset if you don’t go.”

“Okay fine. I’ll dish out full details tomorrow because if things go well, I won’t be back tonight, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh. I know what you mean. You get it, girl.”

“Ew. Don’t be weird.” She chuckles. “I love you and if you need anything, call me. And don’t forget about the pepper spray.”

“Iye. Iye. Captain.” I pirate salute her in a jest manner.

“Oh, and you’ll have to go grocery shopping because there ain’t shit in my fridge.” She drops money on the counter. “You’re taking it. No arguments.”

Grocery shopping. Holy hell. I don’t think I’ve been to a supermarket in years. Jason had personal shoppers for that sort of thing. My past is, in retrospect, embarrassing. I really have lost all sense of self preservation and survival.

“It’s the least I can do for letting me stay,” I tell her.

“Sora. You don’t need to feel that way. I want you here.”

I flash a warm smile as she runs upstairs to grab her suitcase and then we say our goodbyes. I practically shove her out of the duplex so she can go spend the day with her mystery man. Her finding potential love, or at least someone who makes her happy for now, makes me joyful.

It warms my heart.

I take a moment to step onto the balcony at the back of the duplex.

We’re surrounded by trees and nature. Birds fly overhead embracing the freedom to which they are gifted with.

I lean over the railing, my focus peering out at the lake and the mountains in the far distance.

Being secluded with only nature surrounding us is different.

I inhale the fresh pine air and take my chances on glancing over to the other half of the balcony.

The shared space seems oddly comforting.

After rinsing the dirty dishes, I load them into the dishwasher.

At least I can manage basic chores. I’d like to believe I’m not that useless or pathetic.

Sometimes, being bored out of your mind, you decide to help the housekeepers with cleaning and whatever else they had to do.

Susie wouldn’t always allow it because if Jason caught us, he’d punish her.

But Jason never caught us, and he never hurt Susie.

To be completely honest, he’s never intentionally hurt me. Physically, that is.

I contemplate a nap before heading to the store because I can barely keep my eyes open, but I don’t want to be a horrible roommate my first day here.

Here’s to starting over.

I grab my car keys, lock up behind me, and then head down the driveway.

I’m reminded of the tires I need to get replaced.

How the hell am I going to afford tires?

A job, duh, Sora. You need to get a job.

Nausea forms at the base of my stomach. The only recent encounter I had was being eye fucked by older, horny men, which isn’t exactly a career move.

The only time I came close to working a normal nine to five, I was sixteen, and it was at a gas station just before everything happened, and my boss, fifteen years older, groped my boob. So, there’s that.

I steal a quick glance over to next door. I don’t know why I’m curious if Logan is home. Perhaps because it’s crazy that he actually lives next door to Lana.

When there’s zero sign of life, I get in my car and drive into town. It’s easy to find, partially remembering it from last night.

I borrowed a pair of shorts from Lana before leaving and I’m glad I did because it’s already blazing despite the cool mornings and nights.

Which reminds me, I need to go shopping for clothes.

I’m sure they have a thrift store somewhere around town.

Since I don’t have much, I have to be smart with my money.

I mosey on through the bread aisle, getting questionable looks from other shoppers. Guess they don’t like strangers coming through their town. Can’t say I blame them much. People are unpredictable.

I grab the essentials along with the ingredients to make my special brownies and head to the checkout.

When it’s my turn, and the clerk lets me know my total, my stomach sinks.

I left the cash on the table. I check my pockets, hoping Lana left money in them or I at least put the cash there without thinking.

“Come on, lady. You’re holding up the line,” an older man yells from the back.

The heat rises to my ears and a sudden vulnerability takes over. Did everyone in this town wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

“I’m sorry but I forgot my money—” I begin to tell the clerk, but the deep clearing of a throat stops me, and a familiar cedar wood scent invades my space.

Warmth surrounds me as a dark shadow towers over. When a veiny, tattooed forearm reaches past me to the credit card machine, I gape up to the familiar face. Mr. Grump… I mean, Logan.

This really is a small town.

My cheeks blaze with fire, and my entire body breaks out in a nervous but minor sweat. Is he really witnessing another humiliating moment of mine? Not even a day apart.

Kill me now.

He moved on from the jeans he wore last night and sports a pair of sweatpants and a tighter T-shirt. He looks relaxed and comfortable. And good.

“We all got places to be, honey!” the same angry man in line yells again.

A low grumble comes from Logan as he presses a button on the machine.

“I am not letting you pay for my groceries,” I quickly tell him. He already towed my car and changed my tire for me. For free. He would not be paying for my food, too.

As I drown in self-pity, he must have wrapped up the transaction because the clerk now smiles at me, bidding me to have a good day while passing me my receipt.

I make a slight turn, brushing against Logan’s solid frame. Then I sigh. “Thank you, again.”

He casually nods as the clerk rings up his stuff.

I eye the moving belt filled with meat, spinach, and fruit.

No wonder this man is built so well. He eats like Popeye.

He isn’t bulky or overly large, but he takes care of himself.

Clearly. And his muscles look crafted naturally from heavy lifting. Of what? I don’t know. Houses maybe.

Where Jason is handsome, Logan is rugged. Sexy. Smoldering. And I am staring at him like a weirdo.

I also need to pay this guy back before he thinks I’m a total ditz who got nowhere in life.

I escape as fast as I can, setting the bags down on the passenger seat of my car. The thought of being here when he came outside is mortifying. With humiliation still fresh, I can’t face him. Not right now.