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“Listen, Bud, I think your real problem here is that you’re having some thoughts and feelings about this girl that you weren’t expecting, and now you aren’t sure what to do about them. I’m sure your definition of getting off on the wrong foot isn’t anything that can’t be rectified. Especially if the two of you have gone to a dinner in the same place and it didn’t turn into a shit show,” Miles said.
I sighed. “This is why I called you. I needed you to talk sense to me.”
“As if you didn’t know any of this yourself,” he replied. I could hear the eye roll in his voice. “You just wanted permission from someone telling you it’s okay to be attracted to a younger woman.”
“Right,” I said. “I’ve been a bachelor for years, and happily so. I never really thought about getting involved with anyone, then she had to fucking move in right next door. It’s not fair.”
“Or maybe fate has better ideas of what you should do with your life rather than just hide out in that little hut on the beach,” he said. “I’m not saying you have to marry the girl, but why don’t you try to make friends with her at least? If you both like music, start there. I’m no matchmaker, but it could lead to something good for both of you.”
I nodded as I ran, although he wasn’t able to see me.
“Thanks, Bud,” I said. “I’ll think about it. I knew talking to you would be a good move, though.”
“Glad I could help,” he said.
He started going on about what he had been up to lately, but I stopped him.
“What?” he asked.
“I thought I heard something,” I said.
“You heard me telling you how much my life rocks these days,” he laughed.
“No, like I think I hear something wrong,” I told him. “Let me call you back in a bit, I’m going to go check it out.”
“Oh shit, okay,” he said.
I hung up the phone and looked around. I had been jogging on a trail that was fairly well-used, but this early in the morning, it wasn’t exactly busy. The sun was coming up, but it was still dark in the trees. I held my breath, listening for anything that might clue me in on what was going on.
I was about to dismiss it as nothing more than paranoia and hearing a bird when the sound came again.
“Get away!” a woman’s voice shouted. “I’ll fight you. You creep!”
“Shit,” I muttered, now running in the direction of the voices. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew one thing: there wasn’t going to be any man attacking any woman in my town. I’d kill him with my bare hands if I had to, and I wouldn’t think twice about it, either.
I broke into a small clearing along a trail that ran perpendicular to the one I was taking, and there, right in front of me, was Krissy struggling with some man I’d never seen before.
“Get off me!” she cried again. “I’ll scream.”
I didn’t stop to think. My body wouldn’t let me.
As soon as I assessed the situation in front of me, I flew into action.
I was on autopilot.
This guy didn’t stand a chance.
Chapter Nine
Krissy
My mind was spinning.
It took a minute for me to even register what was happening.
The morning had started out so peacefully it was difficult for my brain to catch up with the attack.
I’d gotten up after a mostly sleepless night and figured I would start my day off right by going out and playing my guitar. Being so close to the other bungalows and being so early in the morning, I didn’t want to bother anyone else.
