Page 99 of Run to Me

“I can’t give her a reason to run again, man. And this?” I gesture to myself and shake my head in disgust. “This is a big fucking reason.”

I’m a lot for Maisy to manage—physically, emotionally, and mentally—but I’ve never doubted her ability to handle me. The question is whether she wants to. As a man who despises open-ended matters, I need her verbal commitment to our future at least.

“Then give her a reason to stay. Be what she needs, but only when she needs you. You can’t force her hand, Jensen. Dial back the intensity. Back off a little and give her some breathing room. In the meantime, handle your business.”

Maisy had years of breathing room while I suffocated in her absence. Now that she’s back, I’d give up everything to keep her here, including my business.

After Javi leaves, I’m wiping down the bar, waiting on the early evening rush of people who stop in for a drink after work. Tatum munches on fries while listing all the benefits of me hosting a dance night every month. I’m only halfway paying attention to her when my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Birdie

Change of plans. I’m spending a couple of days in California. See you Thursday.

I switch to the tracking app to find Maisy’s at the airport in Burbank, California, not the one in Las Vegas, where her flight to Texas is supposed to leave in less than an hour. My jaw clenches, and I squeeze my cell phone to keep from launching it across the room.

“What is it?” Tatum asks. She must notice the sudden downturn in my mood.

“Maisy,” I say.

Tatum makes the wrong assumption about what upsets me. Waving a fry dipped in mustard, she says, “It’ll get easier. I get bored when Jake’s traveling, but I find ways to keep myself busy. You should join me and Lucy on our lunch dates, or we can start a poker gang or a book club.”

“I think I’m good for now.”

Staring at the keyboard on my phone, I formulate a response. Maisy already decided on her plans and acted on them, so there’s nothing I can say to change her mind. Instead of telling her how annoyed I am with her last-minute detour, I type out the supportive text she expects from me.

Me

Have fun.

33

MAISY

I go straight from the airport to Jensen’s house, dragging my suitcase into his bedroom, intent on washing off the travel grime before surprising him at Bruno’s. The bar won’t open for a couple of hours, and this will be our only opportunity to be alone before he gets off work later tonight.

The shower’s running, and I’m kicking off my shoes when he appears in the bathroom. How does he find me before I can even take a breath in Walford?

“I haven’t heard from you in days,” he says. Not a hello or I missed you or anything remotely welcoming.

Taken aback by his stern tone, I go into defensive mode, locking away my emotions. I give him my back and peel off my shirt. “You’re not my keeper, Jensen.”

“I’m not trying to be your keeper. I just want to be kept in the loop.”

I scoff and toss the shirt aside. “If you can’t be less needy, this is never gonna work.”

“Then need me!” he yells, the running water stifling the echo.

When I get my jeans off, I sling them to the tile with force. “I don’t know what your problem is, but I won’t continue this conversation until you calm down.”

“We’re having this conversation now. You blew me off for two days. No call, no text, no signs of life. We talked about this, Maisy. You said you’d try.”

“This is me trying.” My bra falls to the floor, landing on the growing pile of clothes.

“Try harder.”

Fingers frozen at the waistband of my panties, I turn to face Jensen. His features tighten into a scowl, the crease between his eyebrows severe. I know I’m in the wrong. My impromptu trip to California to hang out with my friends didn’t require his blessing or approval, but that’s not why he’s upset. He’s pissed because I didn’t reach out to him once I got to Graham and Miguel’s house, but I had my reasons.

Before we blow up at each other because I’m too stubborn to back down or apologize, I attempt to explain myself. “For most of my twenties, every move I made was planned down to the minute. I didn’t have to check in with anyone because, if my friends weren’t in the room with me, they knew where to find me. All of that changed in a matter of months after Tate’s career ended. I’m still learning to navigate being on my own. We all are. Marcus is struggling because he’s such a control freak, so I’ve appeased him by not taking away his access to my calendar or location.”