Page 16 of The Runaway

At the very least, I had enough money for a really nice sandwich.

Tapping the back of my phone case with my fingernails, I scanned the display case as regret stained my tongue. I couldn’t read the little signs marking all the toppings, damnit! Frustration burned my cheeks, and I turned my gaze to my phone. Areally nicesandwich might be out of the question— I may only get an average, boring sandwich. All because I couldn’t read English.

“Wishing you could read?” Tensing, I twisted to find Jacob standing behind me, and I frowned even as relief smoothed the crease between my brows. “Hey, Joci.”

“Hi— yes. I do.” Nodding firmly, my lips crested in a smile to mirror his, and he reached to scratch my crown tenderly. A gentle warmth replaced to scorch of embarrassment as Jacob gestured to the person next to him.

“This is my coworker, Mark. Want to eat with us? My treat.” Hastily reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my American dollars, but Jacob covered my hand with his. “It’s no big deal. You don’t have to pay me back. That’s why it’s a treat.”

“But I told you I will.” He didn’t protest further, slipping a 5$ bill out smoothly, and I nodded in satisfaction. “You working today?”

“Am I? Yeah, I got 45 minutes for lunch. What about you? Anything fun happen over the weekend?” I wassoglad to see Jacob, and I nodded again as his palm trailed down my back. “I had a nice weekend— quiet. Caleb is trying to get me to not kick him out, but I’m not giving in.”

“Good. Caleb’s an asshole.” Screwing up my face, butterflies fluttered in my abdomen when Jacob chuckled. Everything about him was so warm, and I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. “I had a meeting this morning. It was so boring. I wanted to die.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. Ah— Mark, this is Joci. Joci— Mark. We work together a couple blocks away.” Holding out my hand for him, I smiled as Mark blushed furiously. My gaze didn’t stray from Jacob for long, and we three shuffled forward as the line shortened. “So, do you need help choosing what to get?”

“You can’t read? They don’t teach English where you come from?” Mark didn’t sound judgmental, simply curious, and I shook my head. His brows rose, surprise flashing in his blue eyes like lightning. “Did you learn by yourself?”

“I had for my job, but someone is going to, yeah.” His face sort of blanked out, and I frowned under furrowed brows. “Yes.”

“… Okay. That’s really cool that you can learn another language at all, let alone without help. I know like 4 words in Spanish, and I took it for 4 years in high school.” Uncertainty balled against the roof of my mouth, and Jacob nudged his friend with his elbow to roll his eyes. Turning to me, he pointed up at the board hanging over the register to draw my attention.

“So, they charge you by pound of toppings, here. The bigger your sandwich, the more you pay, basically. There’s regular rolls and garlic rolls. Is there anything you don’t like?” Shaking my head, I inhaled through my nose in preparation as my mind whirled from all the possibilities. “They make the roast beef here in house. It’s got mushrooms, potato wedges, cheese, and a gravy dressing. I suggest it highly.”

“I’ll get that, too.” Actually, that soundedwaybetter than a ham sandwich, and Jacob nodded as we reached the counter. I stopped paying attention while he ordered for the two of us, and his heat radiated up my back from his palm just above my tail bone. There was something so pure and free just being in Jacob’s presence, and I glanced down my front.

I should show him so I don’t get too comfortable.He’d be disgusted— everyone was disgusted. The vague threats he’d experienced… they weren’t real. But the terrible marks on and inside mewere, and Jacob had a right to know.

“Can I come over tonight?” Glancing at me, Jacob smirked lightly, his hand flexing against my back. My cheeks warmed, and his smile widened before he urged me down to where the sandwiches were being made. “So… how’s work today?”

“It’s alright. I’ve been stuck on helpdesk all morning. We recently finished a project, and we won’t start the next until the new year. I was hoping to run into you, actually, Joci. Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Russia?” The confusion on my face was enough of an answer for him, and Jacob tilted his head at me. “There’s a lot of food and alcohol involved. Families get together and eat and stuff. I was wondering if you wanted to come to mine.”

“Oh… okay. When?”

“Thursday. I have work off, and we’ll head up around 11am, yeah?” Ducking my head in a nod, I reached to swipe back my hair as Jacob opened his mouth again. “You can sleep over Wednesday night, if your boss lets you.”

“Yeah? I can ask.” Suddenly, Mark’s clean-shaven face flashed in my peripheral, and I bit my inner cheek at the obviously curiosity drenching his expression. “I’m in America for work. I’m being here for a long time.”

I could see it in his eyes that Mark couldn’t understand me; the ugly mix of my accent coupled with my lack of grasp on English seemed to confuse everyone.Everyone but Jacob.He only shook his head with a slight shrug, and I pursed my lips to sigh through my nose.

“I need an American phone. I have to ask my boss.” Fishing my phone out of my pocket, I swiped the screen without unlocking it. “Do you know where for this kind?”

“You can get a smartphone at Walmart. I’ll take you when I get out of work. Want to meet back here?” Jacob was so quick to help, and he was so nice… it filled me with incredible sadness and anxiety. Tightening my grip on my phone, I fought a frown while he reached over the case to grab two grinders. “Let’s sit. What was your meeting about?”

17

Jacob

Excitement put a pep in my step, and my heart thundered when I caught sight of Joci hanging out near the sub shop. Just hours ago, we’d parted ways here, but this was a milestone— we hadplansto meet up again, not just expecting to run into each other. Her long, shiny waves hung over one shoulder, and she smiled broadly when she caught sight of me.

“Hey.” She’d changed into a thick, woolen dress and stockings, and her unzipped coat bunched up when she crossed her arms over her chest. Ducking to kiss her lips, a smirk tilted my own at her dazzled expression. “Ready to go shopping?”

“Yeah. I have a card. My boss said to be wise since I won’t get more.” She puffed out her lips as I wrapped an arm around her waist, and Joci cocked her head. “I need a phone.”

“That you do. So, what happened after lunch? Did you get permission for Thursday?” Joci nodded, but disgruntled wrinkles rippled across her face as she scrunched up her small nose. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I can go. It’s just… I have to show you, and— you know— you probably will not want me after.” My mouth dried at the reluctance in her tone, and she shook her head sluggishly. “We’ll find out.”