The sun is pouringin through the blinds, and a slight breeze from the open window is sweeping across my face. For a moment, I allow myself to believe I’m living in paradise. All the furnishings in my bedroom are white and clean, and when I peer outside, I see crystal-clear blue waves crashing into the cream-colored sand.
I need to sweep yesterday off and move forward with my reason for being here.
Men are not the reason I’m here.
I pull my hair up into a high ponytail, securing it with the elastic band I keep around my wrist. I remember I didn’t unpack much yesterday after running into roadblocks and distractions, so I toss my larger of the two suitcases onto my bed and rummage through my clothes for my jogging shorts, sports bra, and running shoes.
Running on the beach will give me a better workout than the one I’m used to, and it’s only six in the morning, so I have hope that the beach will be clear of more … distractions.
The bathroom is free of Krow and Kricket, making this a seamless transition of not having to face anyone before I get my run in. I splash a handful of cold water onto my face and glance in the mirror.
What is it that made those men want to come after me yesterday?
I’m pale, I don’t wear much makeup, and I have light freckles covering every inch of my face. My hair is reddish-brown with ashy-blonde highlights, but that’s the most amount of effort I put into my beauty upkeep. I’m not a showy person, and no one seems to be interested in the au-natural type these days. Plus, all of those men looked like the kind of men who need a vanity girl in their life. That is not me. Although, maybe I’d try a little harder if one of them was the beautiful Noah James from The Clam Pit.
I can safely assume I won’t be seeing that eye-candy again, though.
I pat a towel over my face and give my teeth a quick brush before I hustle down the stairs and make my way out of the slider.
Day two has to be better.
I jog down the rocky path I took last night that was lit up with tiki torches. Today, the flames are gone, and the path is no longer highlighted or pointing in the direction of where I’m supposed to be. I cut through the beach grass and head for the wet, harder sand to warm up.
My earbuds are in place, and I pull my Red Sox hat down over my eyes, so I can focus on the horizon and nothing else.
The temperature is perfect, a little balmy, but it’s an improvement from the weather in New England.
I could get used to this.
Minutes of unwinding fly by when the sensation of being watched comes over me. I glance to the sides, seeing nothing. The beach is empty for as far as I can see, so it must be in my head.
The idea of being alone is gone once I spot a shadow growing next to me. It’s not-so-shockingly a man—a half-naked man, with a t-shirt hanging out of his back pocket. His sweat-covered tan tells me he’s one of them—the pod-men.
He’s pouring water over his face as he slows his speed to stay next to me. “Hey, beautiful,” he says, breathlessly.
Jesus. “Hey,” I respond, adjusting my earbuds.
“Thirsty?” he continues.
Obviously. I’m running. “I’m okay,” I tell the man.
He reaches his water bottle over to me anyway. “I’m not sick.”
Yeah, you kind of are. “We met yesterday, right?”
“Yes, I was the one who brought you a rose,” he says, seeming a little deflated. I probably should have remembered the rose guy’s name.
“Right, of course. I remember now. I just—I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with all the new faces, and the speed-dating game I was taking part in last night.”
“There was a speed-dating game?” he asks. He’s totally serious. You’d think I told him he missed out on being the winner of a big lottery.
“I'm being funny.”
“Ah,” he says, trying to catch his breath. “Well, in case you forgot, I’m Leland Patrick. I’m a Finance Manager at—”
“The real estate company, right?”
“Yes, you remember. Fantastic,” Leland continues. “Anyway, I’m—ah—twenty-five, just moved out of my parents’ house, and I’m ready to get my life moving, ya know? I should mention that I just got out of a serious five-year relationship to the woman I thought I was going to marry. It just—it didn’t turn out exactly the way I thought it might. My heart was pretty broken, so I knew I needed to make a change. But, that’s why we’re all here, right? Change.”
