Page 107 of Love Me in the Dark

3

SLADE

Isaw her leaving again out my window. Off on another run. She runs too much and that’s saying something for someone who has two a day practice. I wasn’t sure what she was trying to forget or escape from but whatever it was it was intense.

Pulling on my tennis shoes, I hustled down my stairs and hit the pavement. I was tired and didn’t want to chase after her, but I couldn’t leave her with her own devices. What if she went into the water again and this time there was no one to save her? I didn’t care that she said she wasn’t trying to kill herself. Maybe it wasn’t intentional, but she could have died.

Right?

She hadn’t sputtered when I brought her up. She was only a little out of breath.

I could see her figure leaning up against a telephone pole. We were close to the beach. Again. She always ran this way.

“Are you going to join me or not?” She shouted.

I hadn’t planned on it. I tried to keep enough distance that she wouldn’t know I was following her. Seemed I’d failed at that endeavor.

Picking up my pace, I reached her side and looked her over. Her legs were long and lean from running. Her waist tiny with tits that I wouldn’t mind getting acquainted with. I knew they’d be more than a handful to my large hands.

“What are you doing following me?” she huffed and crossed her arms under her breasts only amplifying them more.

“Eyes up here big boy.” The humor in here voice didn’t escape my notice. When my eyes locked on hers, she smirked. “Now, do you want to tell me why you’ve been following me every night?”

“I didn’t see you at school.” Today, yesterday, or the day before. I added in my head.

Kicking off the tree, she started to run. My eyes were drawn to her breasts rising up and down with each stride as I matched her pace beside her.

“Maybe I’m homeschooled.”

“Doubtful. Does your mom know you’re ditching school?”

Even in the dark, I could see her knuckles turn white as she clenched her fists.

“She’d have to care to know. Were you looking for me, big boy?”

If anyone else called me that but her, I would tear off their heads and stick it up their ass, but for some crazy reason I like that the ways she teased me.

“I figured it would circulate around school if there was a new girl. We don’t get many newcomers here.”

“Is it because this town sucks and the only thing it has going for it is the ocean?” She wasn’t even out of breath as she increased her pace and kept talking. “Please tell me there’s something to do?”

“Besides run until you pass out?” I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see them. “Every weekend there’s a party. During the week, I usually hang with friends after practice orworking out.” I lifted one shoulder. “You might even be invited to one if you ever showed up at school.”

Her cheek caved in for a moment before it popped back out. “Is it even worth it? Once I’m eighteen, I’m out of here.”

“So, you’d rather be alone with no friends until that day?”

“Two months is all I have and then I can go back home.” She sighed wistfully.

“Where’s home?” It was out before I could stop myself from asking. Harley was obviously a private person. I barely got any answers out of her. I wasn’t sure why I tried or cared.

“Scottsdale. Have you always lived here?” She stopped running the second her feet hit the sand and slowly walked until the tips of her tennis shoes hit the edge of the water.

I stayed a few feet behind not wanting to get my shoes wet. They’d finally dried out after pulling her ass out of the water.

“Are you going to live with your dad once you turn eighteen?” If that was the case, why didn’t she live with him now?

Taking a few steps back, she sat down in the sand where I was standing. “I wish. I don’t know where I’ll live. You’re probably right though. I should go to school, so I graduate. I’m not sure how I’m going to afford a place to live if I don’t.”