“You’re all over the place,” Hunter says from the couch. “You need to go for a run or something? You’re driving me crazy.”
I breathe out a long sigh while tipping my head up toward the ceiling. “I know. I can’t sit still. I just need to move.”
“You like this girl that much? What happened up at that camp that has you doing all this?”
“Nothing, really. She’s just—something about her has me—I just like her.”
“She’s under your skin.”
“Bad. It’s like, I felt drawn to her from the beginning, but now that she’s starting to open up, the pull is magnetic. I can’t get her out of my head.”
He scrunches his face, shaking his head like he’s about to do something he’ll regret. “Okay, I’m gonna give you some info, but if you tell Ashlie I said anything, I’m gonna call you a liar.”
“Why did Ashlie giveyouinfo?”
“Because we hung out while you two were doing whatever up at camp, and she’s cool. Do you want the info, or do you wanna ask more stupid questions?”
“Info,” I say, rubbing the hair on my face.
He puts his phone down and looks at me while he delivers the news. “Kayla’s been asking about you too.”
“She has?” I breathe a sigh of relief, feeling like my heart’s about to burst right out of my chest. It’s not a detailed revelation, but it’s enough.
“Yeah, but you gotta chill all the way out, man. You gotta move slow or you’re gonna scare her off. She’ll be back to work on Saturday, so take the next few days to calm the fuck down.”
I nod slowly, feeling the first few edges of calm enter my thoughts since seeing Kayla at the hospital last week. She’s been asking Ashlie about me, which isn’t huge, but it’s something. Something that has me a little more hopeful than I have been since meeting her at the beginning of summer.
“I’m gonna go for that run. You coming?” I ask Hunter.
“I’m down.” He stands from the couch and walks upstairs, nodding while he slips his phone in his pocket.
Feeling the cool breeze whip through my hair as I pull fresh airin and out of my lungs is exactly what I need to help get some clarity. My mind still filters through thoughts about Kayla, but I’ve come up with some strategies to hopefully move our fragile friendship into something more. I’ll give her space until Saturday, and I’ll feel her out then. But I can’t carry on pretending like we’re friends when I want to be so much more. I’m determined to shoot my shot at least a few more times before throwing in the towel.
Hunter keeps up beside me, heavy bass thumping from his earbuds, and I’m reminded of all our years on the track team. He needs the noise to run, but I prefer the silence when I need to clear my mind. Something about hearing my breathing and my pulse in my ears helps bring me inward. Give me music for training days, but not when I need to think.
The pounding of our footsteps slows as we return to the bottom of the hill under The Bluffs. I tip my head to the sky, sucking in the fresh air as I prepare to run up this hill. Hunter bends at the waist, holding his side.
“You good?” he asks, turning his head toward me.
“I will be when I beat you up this hill.” I take off, stretching my legs past him to try and get a head start on this impromptu race. Hunter still runs track for the Gradford team, while I stopped after high school, but I wouldn’t say I was ever faster than him, even back then.
“Motherf—” He takes off after me, my long-legged stride no match for his speed. I’m halfway up the hill by the time he’s right on my heels. When we reach the rental, I’m looking at his sweat-stained T-shirt back. He turns around, grinning wide at his victory. “Gettin’ slow there, Chasey boy,” he says, laughing and whacking me in the arm.
Chuckling, I sit on the porch steps, running my hands through my sweat-slicked hair and feeling more relaxed than I have in a while. I needed this, even if only to sort out my thoughts surrounding how I want to move forward. I’ll pump my brakes and follow Kayla’s lead. Slow and steady wins therace, right? I’ve proven that with the progress I’ve already made.
Hunter leans against the porch banister, looking down at me when he asks, “But seriously, you good?”
I nod quietly and look out at the trees swaying in the breeze down the hill. I’m good, and on Saturday, I’ll be even better.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
KAYLA
The doorbell at Patti’s Place jingles over my head as I walk in for my first lunch shift since my fall. My stitches were removed yesterday, and apart from a thin scar, you can barely tell I lost a fight with a log. Patti threatened to fire me if I didn’t take the entire week off to recuperate. I had to negotiate only working a half shift before she agreed to let me come back today, and I’m ready to hit the ground running.
“Hey, Patti.” I smile at the familiar feeling of being back at the diner. As tired as I am at the end of my shifts, I’ve missed this place.
“Ooh!” She rushes over to give me a side hug. “How are you feeling?”
