“They climb across bridges made entirely out of metal ladders.Theyhave to pause and camp if the weather sucks.Theyfall.Theyget injured.Theygo through hell for just a few moments on top of the world.”
“What’s your point?”Isaid with an annoyed huff.
“The whole time they’re struggling and fighting and failing, they’re still going up in elevation.”Jacknudged my shin with his foot. “Iwatched you throw mattresses off a second-story balcony.”Hestroked the spot where my sleeve of tattoos started, just above my wrist. “There’sa fighter in you still.Don’tlet all this ink go to waste.”
“You don’t know me,”Imumbled.
Jack’s fingers stilled, and he wrapped his hand around my wrist. “Iwant to.”
No.No.No.Iwasn’t ready for this.Icouldn’t be ready for this.Thelast guy had taken everything from me.Mymoney.Myheart.Mytrust.Ididn’t have anything left.
“What’s the deal with the house?” he asked gently. “Layit all out.Ican help you.Hell,Ican get the guys at the station out to tackle the big stuff.Imean this in the nicest way possible, but there’s no way you can get it ready to sell in three months if you’re doing it all by yourself.”
“The house is . . .It’smy way out.”
“Renovations are expensive.”
I nodded. “Aftermy great-aunt died, the house went to her sister—my grandma.Butmy grandma was just as old and couldn’t do anything with it.Whenmy grandma passed away, the house was left to my mom.Sheneeds to sell it so she doesn’t have to pay the property taxes, but she doesn’t have time to go across the country to fix it since she actually has a job.So, the deal is,Ihave her credit card to use for renovation expenses.Whenit sells,Ipay back whateverIspent on renovations using the money from the sale, and get to keep the rest to start over.”
Jack didn’t skip a beat. “Whatdoes starting over look like?”
I just shook my head and rummaged around in my bag for my debit card. “Yourguess is as good as mine.”
“Lunch is on me,”Jacksaid as he beat me to the punch and passed his card to one of the girls behind the counter. “I’mthe one who dragged you out here.”
“I don’t want your pity,”Iclipped. “Ican buy my own lunch.”
“I don’t pity you,Roar.”Hishand was warm and strong on my back as he guided me out of the little diner. “I’mjust waiting for the day when you stop pitying yourself.”
I was silent on the drive back, but so wasJack.Somethingabout what he said when we were walking out of the diner ate at me.Honestly, it pissed me off.Jackdidn’t even know me.Wecertainly weren’t close enough for him to make a brash statement like that.
I wasn’t pitying myself.Ihad been crushed.EverythingIhad ever worked for had culminated in—what?Beinga one-hit wonder?Aone-trick pony?
Instead of pulling into my driveway,Jackpulled into his.Thatwas fine.Icould hop the hedge that separated the properties.AllIwanted was to be left alone.
“What the hell?—”
Jack grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together, tugging me toward his house. “Comeon.”
“Oh myGod.Iwas totally right.Youare a serial killer.”
ButJackdidn’t laugh.Hedidn’t take me into his house either.Tomy surprise, he led me around the stilts that kept his place safe in a storm to a narrow boardwalk that led down the beach.Itwas a far cry from the overgrown deathtrap on my side of the hedge.Ihad tackled the jungle of a front yard, but the back was a project for another day.
TheAtlanticwas a crisp blue.Whitecapscrested across the horizon as sand squished underfoot.Wepaused at the end of the boardwalk and abandoned our flip-flops.
ButJacknever let go of my hand.
“What are we doing?”Ihuffed when we made it out of the soft sand onto the water-packed shoreline.Ihad no idea howJackmanaged to run the length of the beach this morning.AllIknew was thatIliked watching him from the privacy of the widow’s watch.
“Appreciating the beauty around us.”Jackslipped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. “Iwanna ask you one more thing.”
I glanced up, wary of that tone.Buthe was simply staring at the sea, completely calm.
“What?”
Jack glanced down at me. “Whatwere you doing before you wrote the book that made it big?”
I shrugged. “Justwriting.Tryingto make it big.”
