Page 34 of Run
“Ugh.” I place the soda on the table, bite my bottom lip, and ask, “Is he cute?” Sophie gawks. “What?” I ask.
“That’s disgusting, he’s my foster brother.”
“Exactly! He’s not blood related. You may as well be neighbors.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I wish I could suck them back in. Sophie jumps right on it. “Speaking of which … heard anything from him?”
I sit back in the booth and huff. “Of course not, Sophie. It’s been almost a year. There’s nothing to hear. He’s out living his life.”
“What about Fonz? I thought he kept in touch with Ethan.”
Even hearing his name makes breathing hard. I am quiet, trying to decide if I want to entertain my memories anymore.
As per his mom’s wishes, I waited until I knew Ethan and his family would be gone before moving back in with Lena and Axel. New renters—an elderly couple—had already moved in and replaced them. Of course, the first thing I did when I got home was run down to Fonz’s house, where he and his whole family squished me up in one big hug, and there were tears. Fonz filled me in on how Ethan and his parents moved. He pulled out his phone to call Ethan and tell him I was home, but I stopped him.
I forbid him from ever telling Ethan I came back. It wasn’t easy, because of their friendship, but I think even Fonz knew it was better for Ethan if he remained in the dark.
Looking back up at Sophie, I prop my elbow up on the greasy table in front of me and wave my hand, as if I’m actually trying to wipe away the memories. “It’s in the past.” The waitress heads our way with our dinners. “Besides, we’re here to talk aboutyou and that guy who sits behind you in calculus. Branden? Brenden?”
“Ugh, Brenden!” Sophie says dramatically, smashing her head on the table obnoxiously right before the waitress arrives.
“Careful, sweetheart. Don’t wanna hurt yourself,” the woman says as she deposits our plates.
“Thanks, but it’s too late. My heart hurts.”
After having dinner with Sophie, the Millers pick her up—giving me hugs and reminding me I have a place with them anytime I want to come back, legalities be damned—and I drive myself home. Axel is already there, and as soon as I get in the door, he grabs my purse and pulls my wallet out, stealing what he thinks are all the tips I’ve gotten today. “That all?” He fans out a few bills in his hand. “You better start being a little nicer to the customers. Or start showing some more ass. Somethin.’ These tips are pathetic.”
As usual, I say nothing.
Grabbing a pair of sweats, a sports bra, and a hoodie from my dresser, I change quickly in the bathroom before heading back into the living room. Axel gives me a look from his seat on the couch. “Little late for a run, don’t you think?”
Bending down to pull on my running shoes without looking at him, I hear the couch creak as Axel pushes off it. The familiar pull on my scalp burns as he grabs a fistful of my hair and tugs me up to a standing position, his face in mine, the alcohol on his breath invading my nostrils. “Did you hear me, girl?”
I grit my teeth and bite out a “Yes.”
He tightens his grip on my hair. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, sir.”
He lets me go with a shove.
Stepping outside, I slide earbuds in my ears. Axel knows I have a phone now, and although this one is password protected, I still delete all calls and text messages on it.
I kick my legs back to stretch out my quads a little, then lunge left and right before taking off. It’s dark, and the country road is barely lit. With the music pulsing through my ears, I can’t hear any approaching cars. It’s the best adrenaline rush. Every time a car whizzes past me, swerving because the driver didn’t see me, and a gust of air swooshes my hair around me, I grow a little braver.
I’m not sure how far I run or for how long, but eventually I circle back and Fonz’s house comes into view, and I decide to give my friend a visit. He opted to go to community college after high school, taking night classes so he can help his dad on the fields during the day.
I text him, slowing my run to a jog, then a walk, and I climb his front steps.
Coming in for a landing!
I can hear the twins fighting inside. They’re ten now and still go at it like cats and dogs. I knock lightly and am surprised when Fonz pulls the door open. “Why the face?” he asks.
“I’m just surprised you could hear me knock over all the commotion inside.”
Fonz steps aside to let me in. “Eh, I guess I’m just used to it.” When we get to his room, I plop down on his bed and lay back.
“So, what’s new, gurrrrl?” he drawls, belly-flopping next to me, kicking his feet up behind him. Fonz let his hair grow out even shaggier so he can now tuck it behind his ears.
