Page 123 of Run to Me

“You said that once before.” He leaves a path of light kisses from my mouth to my ear and whispers, “You lied.”

Me

On my way. Don’t hold me hostage.

Jensen

No promises.

Me

I’ll give you a drive-by kiss.

Jensen

That’s not enough to last me a week.

Me

Fine. You can have a peek at my ankle too.

Jensen

Scandalous.

Everything seems to be coming together as I make myself at home in Walford. I’ve technically moved into Jensen’s house—half of my belongings are still at Pam’s—and we’ve established a routine of sorts. He eats me for breakfast, and I deliver lunch to him at work. During the afternoons, I handle domestic chores, which I find surprisingly satisfying. Not that I enjoy doing laundry or dusting shelves. Rather, I’ve discovered satisfaction in knowing I’m taking care of Jensen in small ways, ensuring his basic needs are met.

One afternoon, while cleaning, I imagined gathering toys scattered around the floor and tossing them in a cute, hand-carved toy chest. Gasp. My mindset on love, my outlook on life, and my daydreams of the future continue to change and flourish.

I’ve been putting off my conversation with Vera, but for good reason. I don’t want her to douse my excitement about the new project offer I accepted in Jamaica, a swimwear photo shoot for the same designer who launched the perfume campaign. The team didn’t give me a lot of notice or time to consider, but I didn’t need it. My answer was a speedy, resounding yes.

I heave my oversized suitcase into the trunk of my new car, which is another big change and a symbol of permanence. Jensen took me car shopping, and I never want to suffer through that ordeal with him again. Apparently, car manufacturers don’t make enough safety features for his liking, not when it comes to my safety.

At Bruno’s, I head straight for Jensen’s office, but he’s not here. I spin around in his chair, waiting for him to get back from wherever he is. Chewing my lip, my gaze clashes with the keys lying on his desk with every rotation. He said the second floor is unsafe and off-limits, but I’m curious to know what it’s like up there.

“Fuck it,” I mutter, swiping the keys off the desk. I’ll take a quick peek and be back downstairs in a jiffy, faster if a furry creature jumps out at me.

The dark, creepy stairwell echoes with the creak of each step I climb. The battered door at the top doesn’t have a lock, so I twist the knob and open it. I wish I hadn’t.

My breath catches.

My heart stops.

My mind rejects the scene in front of me.

What. The. Fuck.

43

JENSEN

As I lumber down the steps of the town hall, sweat gathers on my forehead from the blazing sun and overwhelming stress. I can’t focus. My mind’s a hazy fog.

My plan to withdraw my candidacy failed. Going in, I felt anxious, but Gloria eased my worries when she didn’t ask questions after I informed her of my decision. Then I made the mistake of asking who else is on the ballot. Her answer sent me into a spiral. No one.

Everyone in Walford put their faith in me. They’re so confident in my ability to lead the town, not a single person chose to run against me. Not even the interim mayor, Mr. Olson. How could I possibly let that many people down? I can’t leave the town’s government in a lurch, and I’m not equipped to stand in judgment before the disappointed faces of three thousand citizens. Before, the pressure to become mayor smothered me. Now a crushing force presses against me from all sides.

Maisy will be so disappointed. She’ll think I’m a coward. I convinced her and myself I could fight for me—put my needs first. Apparently, I can’t. I’m a failure. Now I’ll be a stuck in a position I don’t want.