Page 140 of Fly's Path

“You never rob a bank. At least not via a stick-up. But no. I started out in sales. When I had enough money, I went to Vegas and became a poker player for a few years.” Fleeced a few too many people to stay around there long. Though it’s not like I cheated them. They were just so bad that they practically gave it to me. “Then I took what was left and started investing it. Now, for the most part, I live off the returns on those investments.”

“Are you bored now that you aren’t working?”

“No. Not bored. Lonely sometimes. When I left my family, it was odd. Then my brothers became my family. So, no, I’m never bored. What about you?”

“I don’t have time to be bored.” She gives a half-hearted laugh. “I don’t really have time to do much but work. This vacation has been a really nice break from reality. Going back next week is going to be quite the culture shock to my system.”

She’s still planning on going home. Of course, she’s planning on going home. You haven’t even been on two dates yet. How can you expect her to just turn her life upside down and move to a new place that is halfway across the country from her life, when I doubt she even considers you her boyfriend? “I mean, just being up north had to be one. Have you ever lived anywhere but inBeach Haven?” How is it she knows so much about me, but I know almost nothing about her life before now?

“It is. But…it really hasn’t been that bad. I think that’s because I have so many friends around. Then again, it might just be vacation mentality. Everything is more fun on vacation. Though I could do without the cold.”

“You cold?”

“Not really now that I’m running, but those occasional bursts.” She audibly shivers. “I could do without the cold for sure.”

“Do you think you could get used to it?” That feels like a bigger question than it should be.

“Sure, you can get used to anything you need to. But I can’t see myself moving to Urbium.”

My heart sinks. I stumble, tripping over a rock that shouldn’t be there, and catch myself with a nearby branch.

“I’m just not a city girl. Small towns, even though it’s irritating when everyone knows your business, are where I was meant to be.”

Oh. Okay. That’s good. I stand up. “Silent Valley is a nice, quiet town.”

“It seems like it. I love that they do the movies in the town square.”

“They do tons of fun activities. There’s a winter festival coming up…”

Last Chance

Vandal

The sun rose in my apartment hours ago, and I still haven’t moved from this spot on the couch. You can’t tell there was a party in here two nights ago. Everything is exactly as it was before.

Everything but the part of my life that counts the most…Lola.

Twice I tried…but did you really try?

All you would have had to do to get her to forgive you was lie.

I lift the bottle of whiskey I’ve been nursing all night to my lips.

Idiot.

You lost the best thing in your life because you were an idiot.

I throw the bottle across the room just as my apartment door opens.

The glass explodes, shattering into a million pieces, just like my soul.

The old man stares at the broken glass for a second. “Maintaince sent me up. I’m here to fix your sound system.”

That’s odd, I didn’t know it was broken. Maybe the cleaners found something. “It’s over there.” I point to the console hidden in the wall.

“Thanks. This is a pretty swanky penthouse. Have you lived here long?”

The hair on the back of my neck stands up. There’s something odd going on.