Page 5 of Wild Abandon

I fell in-love with Steven in six weeks and six-months later I was packing my bags and heading home to New York. It was the first and only time my heart was broken. Shortly after moving to Clawson, I learned that the Steven I fell in-love with was not the real-life version of him. I fell for the fairy tale. The truth was, we didn’t have anything in common.

He was from an affluent family, me a modest upbringing.

He wanted a wife who would stay home and cook dinner. I can’t scramble an egg.

He hated classical music and didn’t see the cello as a viable career.

He loved hunting, took offense when I wouldn’t eat his kill and couldn’t appreciate my passion for animals.

And to top it off, he said he didn’t want children.

We fought about everything and nothing. Our days were filled with bitterness and contempt. When I finally left, he never followed.

He was the first person I pictured growing old with. My first romance, my first love, and my first marriage. Seeing him happy with a family made me sad for the life I once thought we were going to have together.

One I thought I’d have for myself by now.

Maybe Naomi is right. I need to try something new.

What is wrong with me?

I can’t quit my job and just haul ass across the country. Yeah, sure, I was fired from my weekend gig, but I still have a day job. I teach at the Juliette Academy, a music school in the city. I can’t just not be there when school starts next month…can I?

I am just about to get up and take the longest shower known to mankind when my phone chimes. I have a new text message from a number I don’t recognize. When I open it, I literally gasp at the photo of something I unfortunately recognize too well.

I am currently looking at the hammer in all its morning glory and a text message.

Ian: Mjolnir is looking for someone who is worthy and summons you back with its powers.

I don’t understand Thor references, but I have a pretty good idea Mjolnir is Ian’s penis.

I need to get out of this city.

I’ve officially lost my mind.

chapter ONE

When I boarded a flight from New York to San Francisco, I was excited to hit the Reset button on my life. What I wasn’t prepared for was the Reset button to be so damn cold.

Jesus H. Christ, this place is freezing!

Wearing a sundress and a light cardigan, I hug my arms around my body and wrap my bare legs across each other in an attempt to find warmth. Looking around me at the people wearing jeans, I see I’m the only one who didn’t get the cold memo.

A red car pulls up to the curb with a familiar face smiling from behind the wheel.

“You’re here!” Naomi opens the driver’s door and comes jogging around the front of the car to greet me.

She looks exactly the same as she did when we were kids. Dark hair, always a mess yet perfect for her casual attitude and appearance, hangs long and curly around her oval-shaped face. She is wearing black cargo pants and a tight white T-shirt. She hasn’t gained a pound in ten years, and it’s easy to see she’s been keeping up with her Pilates.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” I say, wrapping my arms around her, hugging tightly, as only best friends do. I let out a sigh. “I think I’m having a quarter-life crisis.”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” Naomi gives me a pat on the back. Then, she holds me by the shoulders at arm’s length. “You’re too old for that. It’s more like a tri-life crisis.”

She winks as I give her the stink eye.

“Hi, Crystal!”

I look over to the backseat at the precocious eight-year-old with silky dark hair hanging out the window.