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I didn’t know what the hell I needed.
The moment I had pulled that creaky-ass door open, I had known it was Marin’s parents staring back at me.
If her dad’s wheelchair hadn’t given it away, the resemblance would have. She had her mother’s dark chestnut hair and her father’s mesmerizing eyes.
They looked at me and then looked at the numbers on the door.
Yep, right address.
For a split second, I hoped there would be a spark of recognition as those familiar set of brown eyes lit up, and her dad would say, “Oh, you must be Macon! We’ve heard so much about you.”
Instead, I was looked upon with suspicion and a healthy dose of judgment—both of which I was used to. I’d endured much of the same from Kristy’s parents for the majority of our marriage.
I understood why Marin wouldn’t have told them about me. She’d just broken off a long-term relationship, and when you explained it to someone, it did sound crazy.
Except I knew we were anything but.
I’d just thought she did, too.
By the time I made it out to Highway 12 and back, my body ached, my chest burned, and I was starving.
It was late enough in the morning that I thought a quick trip to the coffee shop was doable. I had zero food in my house, and if I had to walk my tired ass back there, I was at least gonna do it with a fucking bear claw in my mouth.
I was nearly back to Silver Lake Harbor and standing on the side of the road, waiting to cross. A car passed by as I stared at the ground, trying to catch my breath.
“I thought you didn’t need to go for a run today.”
I nearly jumped out of my own damn skin.
“Jesus, Marin. Fucking scared the shit out of me.” I looked up to see her stopped in the middle of the road in front of me. I had been so lost in thought that I hadn’t even noticed her car slow down in front of me. “I changed my mind,” I answered her. “Needed to get out of the house.”
“Did I just sneak up on you?” She started to grin but then stopped herself, as if she felt bad for it somehow. “Where are you headed?”
I motioned across the street to the coffee shop.
“I’ll meet you over there?”
“Sure.”
I jogged over to the other side, and even that made my calf muscles burn. By the time I made it to the parking lot, her engine was off, and she was stepping out to meet me. She’d changed into a different pair of jeans and a dark orange sweater that brought out the dark chestnut in her hair.
I felt the dark clouds in my mind begin to ease.
“You look tired,” she said, her eyes taking me in. “And sweaty.”
My brow lifted. “Want a hug?” I held out my arms and took a giant step forward.
“No!” She laughed, darting away from me.
I caught her hand and pulled her toward me, making sure to keep enough of a distance.
I didn’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to touch me right now either.
“You can kiss me though,” she offered with a shy smile and suddenly everything felt right in the world again.
“Already planning on it.”
I angled my head, parting her lips with my tongue. She opened willingly and let me in with a little whimper.
