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Maybe this is as good as it needs to get.
The flyer Savy gave me burns a hole through my jeans. But…speed-dating? Nice try, sis. I think I’ll stay over here in my safe corner, with my happy family, and avoid the crazies of this small town.
The love of my life already exists. But only in my dreams.
* * *
In and out.In and out. My lungs burn with each breath I suck down, each one reminding me I’m okay, I’ve lived another day, I’m in charge of my life and what happens with it.
Like clockwork, I pound the pavement at exactly six in the morning every day, rain or shine. Can’t have anyone claiming I have a dad bod. Also, just because my wardrobe is only T-shirts and jeans doesn’t mean I don’t care what’s underneath. Everyone’s a little vain and my health is vital no matter how many cookies I consume on the side. I’m a human trash bin when it comes to sweets. Once an addict, always an addict, but I’ll take the sugar and obsession with crime shows over life-altering alcohol consumption.
Today I’m running out the feeling of Scarlett’s voice in my ear as she hugged me after Theo’s competition. And all she did was tell me when she’d be dropping him off, but her soft breath on my skin and the scent of cotton lingered all night. I push myself to eliminate the feel of her body against mine, a body I took in the past on one of the worst nights of my life. I stretch the miles under my feet to curb the urge to drink away all the unrelenting emotions. It works mostly, so I keep doing it—religiously, faithfully. There’s too much at stake if I don’t.
Sweat trails down my bare chest and flies off my fingertips as I round the corner of the outdoor track. Judging by the temperature and lack of oppressive humidity, it’s going to be a mild day. Perfect for inspecting the new property.
My pocket buzzes with a call and I halt my steady pace. Slicking back my damp hair, I wipe my hands on my mesh shorts before sliding out my phone.
“P, it’s Saturday at six-thirty in the morning. Don’t you ever sleep in?” I huff out over the wailing of a child in the background.
“I haven’t slept in six years, Grey. Six years. These tiny humans… I can’t even articulate how sleep deprived Savy and I are. Coffee doesn’t cut it anymore. I need jet fuel in place of creamer.”
I bark out a laugh and wipe away the sweat dripping from the tip of my nose, scuffing my shoe through the loose gravel on the edge of the tarmac. The sun peeks through the tall pines and I shield my eyes, listening with amusement as my brother laments. “I remember that phase. They eventually grow out of it.”
His exasperated sigh has me rolling my eyes. But then again, the twins are two and Alistair is six, so my brother lives on the struggle bus.
“You’re so lucky. Theo sleeps ‘til what? Noon now?”
“Ten usually on the weekends.”
Another exaggerated noise from Preston. “Well, if I snap your head off today, you know why.”
I’ve walked back to my place and toe my shoes off at the front door before opening it, the A/C eliciting goosebumps to break out over my skin.
“When do you not bite my head off? Just two days ago, you berated me for the snack machine being out of damn Skittles for your wife. Last I checked stocking the vending machine for Savy Lee isn’t my job.”
“You see firsthand how she gets if she doesn’t have her candy,” he mumbles into the phone.
I laugh and slide off my damp shorts, tossing them through the basketball hoop I installed above the basket in the laundry room. Figured it would make chores fun for Theo. You know, since preteens think they don’t have to do anything other than slug back a gallon of chocolate milk and eat all the good snacks. All in one damn day. I fucking miss being a kid.
“Look, I gotta go shower. We can finalize the details on the property and contact some contractors when we get there. Good luck with your vampire children.”
Ending the call, I toss my phone onto the sofa and do some stretching on the plush carpet so my muscles aren’t sore later.
Energized for the day, I pop into the kitchen, grab a protein shake from the fridge, and sit at the breakfast bar, pulling out my notebook from the wooden tray near the coffeemaker.
I click my favorite pen and open to today’s date.
1. I’m grateful I didn’t trip on the tarmac today. That hurt like a motherfucker the last time, so paying someone to sweep up the rogue gravel was probably the smartest decision I’ve ever made.
2. I’m grateful Preston ended up finding Savy her precious candy because cranky Savy isn’t a pretty Savy.
I pause, calling out to my phone in the living room, “Siri! Remind me in an hour to tell Preston to snag this week’s coupons from the mail. There’s a fifty percent off coupon at Bob’s Candy Store Emporium.” Here’s to hoping she got that. I turn back to my notebook.
3. I’m grateful it’s only going to be eighty degrees instead of ninety today. Theo’s competition gear REEKS when it’s hot. He claims he doesn’t know how to use the washing machine, when he can use the microwave just fine.
4. I’m grateful for that kid every fucking day of my life.
5. And his mom. I’m eternally grateful for her too.
