Page 100 of Bad Run

I promise I’ll catch you.

My heart does a little stutter step in my chest as I reread Lance’s text. He can’t possibly mean what I think he means, can he?

“What’s got you looking like you’ve just seen a ghost, my girl?” my grandmother asks in her low, raspy voice. Her presence is a comforting blanket.

Last night, when I ran out of Lance’s bathroom like a coward, instead of driving back to my apartment, I found myself headed north. I needed to be somewhere safe, with someone I could talk to without judgement.

There is only one place I can go for that kind of support.

Juju’s house.

Even though I arrived close to midnight, Juju welcomed me with open arms and set me up in her guest room for the night. No questions asked.

I watch my grandmother flip a pancake on the griddle. Her peach silk kaftan falls around her like a gossamer cloud as she works the stove, cooking breakfast for the two of us.

“Not a ghost, just a scary message,” I sigh.

She places a plate filled with pancakes, strawberries, whipped cream, and scrambled eggs in front of me, making my mouth water.

I grab a fork and dig in. “So good, Juju. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, my Gwenny girl. So, who do I owe for this lovely, mid-week surprise visit?” she asks, then sips her coffee.

I shrug, shoving another bite of pancake into my mouth. She adds a pinch of cinnamon to each batch, and I swear they taste like heaven.

We eat in comfortable silence. When my plate is clean, Juju starts in again. “Ready to talk about it?”

Not really, but I came here for a reason.

I wipe my mouth with my napkin and place it over my plate, pushing them away. “I did something really stupid.”

Juju’s auburn eyebrows reach her graying hairline, and her lips twitch. “You’ve got my attention.”

“I got married.”

Juju rears back in shock. “Can you repeat that? I think I misheard you.”

“Um. Shoot. I don’t know where to start.” I bury my face in my hands.

“Look at me, Gwenny.” She grips my wrists, pulling my hands from my face, and threads our fingers together, giving them an encouraging squeeze. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”

I nod, gripping her hands in return. Her presence steadies me as I gather the courage to open up to her about what’s happened.

“I had a one-night stand with one of Dad’s players.”

“Which one?”

Tilting my head to the side, I glare at her grinning face. “Juju.”

“Fine, continue. We’ll get back to that part.” She releases her hold on my hands and pretends to zip her lips, letting me tell her my story.

Without leaving out a single detail, I recount my story. From the first night all the way to yesterday. Juju sits quietly beside me, taking it all in.

“So, yeah. That’s what’s happened.” Juju exhales a ragged breath, making me grimace. “I know. I’m sorry.”

My guts roll and twist. I feel crummy for not talking to her sooner. Aside from my best friend, I’ve always been able to talk to my grandmother. About anything. She’s the reason I went to college back east. She’s encouraged me to break free from the Montgomery name and do my own thing.

Growing up, she always had my back. Especially when my father was being unreasonable. Like senior prom. Dad threw a fit and made me cry all because he wanted me to exchange my dress for something less revealing. But it was Juju who came in and set him straight. Smacked him upside the head and told him to fuck off.