My legs begin to burn as I push myself to the limit. Sweat forms on my body as I set a strong pace. My mind clears, and all I focus on is the steady rhythm of my breathing and the soft thud of my shoes hitting the packed sand beneath my feet.
When I was up in Georgia, I always knew I would end up back here.
This is where I belong…
Along the shores of Blue Haven.
It’s home and always will be.
THREE
KNOX
“I still thinkyou should have given her a heads up. She’s not going to like this,” I grip the steering wheel harder as I whip down the interstate toward Blue Haven, weaving in and out of traffic. My custom black Audi R8 leaves an echoing sound of thunder in its wake. Just like on the ice, I have complete control of every movement and turn, always pushing the fine line of danger.
“Trust me, it’s better just to rip the band-aid off with Savi than let it fester for days. She knows you’re back in town, so it shouldn’t bethatmuch of a surprise to see you,” Miles’s voice filters through the speaker, and I easily detect the humor in it.
I’m glad someone is finding this situation funny.
Miles has been my best friend since middle school. He’s the closest person to me, and one of the few who know about my past. His family welcomed me right away into theirs, and for that I will always be grateful. There’s no telling where I would be right now if it weren’t for him.
He’s also Savi’s older brother, which makes things a whole hell of a lot more complicated. Let’s just say she’s not my biggest fan. Not that I can blame her. I’ve done a really good job of pushing her away and keeping her at arm’s length.
I’ll gladly take on that anger, though, and the fiery blue storm in her eyes that I always seem to evoke. Anything is better than the fear I saw in them that night eleven years ago.
Gritting my teeth, I force the emotions away. It’s bad enough I have to relive them at night. I don’t need them coming out during the day, too.
“Seeing me on the street, yes, but not in her goddamn house,” I say through clenched teeth.
“It’s my house too, along with my brothers. It doesn’t make sense for you to keep staying at a hotel until you find a house to buy. Plus, it will make us all feel better knowing she’s got you there to look after her.”
“I’m pretty sure she’s not going to see it that way,” I mutter. Part of me knows I’m walking into the lion’s den and should keep my distance from her like I’ve always done in the past. The selfish part of me, though, can’t seem to stay away no matter how hard I try, even when I know I should.
“Listen, it’s a big house, and you’re staying in Ryder’s old apartment out by the pool. You don’t even have to see each other if you don’t want to.” I hear someone in the background speaking to Miles, and listen to the muffled conversation before he gets back on. “The band that’s playing tonight just got here, and I need to talk to them before they go on. I’ll call you later when you’re settled in, and you can let me know how it went,” he chuckles.
“If I don’t answer, that means she murdered me, and it’s too late.”
“Noted,” he laughs. “You know,” he says with a pause, and I can only imagine what bright epiphany just popped into hishead. “This is probably a good thing. It will give you a chance to hash out your differences and finally learn to get along. I should have thought of forcing you guys to live together a long time ago.”
“Or…I end up in the middle of the ocean with cement bricks tied to my feet.”
“Or that,” he chuckles, before hanging up.
Sighing, I throw my ball cap on the front seat next to me before aggressively raking my hand through my hair and putting it back on.
With Miles’s wedding in the spring, maybe he’s right. Wedoneed to find a way to at least coexist. The last thing I want to do is ruin my best friend’s wedding because we can’t keep our emotions in check. Savi and I have been tiptoeing around what happened for years, and maybe it’s time to fully face it head-on. I just don’t know where that’s going to leave us once we do, and that scares the hell out of me.
Taking the exit, I head toward the small coastal town and slow down as I approach theWelcome to Blue Havensign.
Ryder’s Restores comes into view first, sitting across from the local marina to my right. The sleek black building has tall windows lining the front, and I get a glimpse of the cars being showcased on the main floor.
Beams of light shine down, highlighting each individual supercar that is being featured for the month. Miles’s younger brother, Ryder, has built a very impressive business from the ground up. Everyone who’s anyone knows he’s the one to go to if you want any work done on exotics and supercars.
He found me this beauty that I’m driving and did an amazing job on the upgrades. I tell all my rich hockey buddies to go to him, and not one has been disappointed.
Making my way further into the downtown area, small businesses line the streets on either side now. I see the lights onat Inked, the local tattoo business owned by Travis and Jake, as I pass by.
They are the only ones that I let ink me. You could say that I was their guinea pig and offered up my virgin skin at sixteen as a blank canvas for them to practice on. Inking my skin became a way for me to express my feelings on the inside when I needed a way to release them. I’ve since had both arm sleeves done and the left side of my chest, each line done with purpose and meaning behind it.
