Page 91 of Run
I toss the other one on the dresser and turn toward the mirror, draping the tie behind my neck and looping and sliding the pieces together in front of me. It comes out uneven, so I loosen it up and try again, but this time it just looks like shit.
Fonz jumps off the bed and comes toward me when I yank it open with a curse. “Ooookay,” he says, grabbing me by the shoulders and turning me to stand squarely in front of him. “Here, let me help.”
Fonz gives me a look as he makes a loop and pulls the thicker end of the tie down to meet the other end. “You OK?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You’re perspiring quite heavily.”
“Fonz.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, and he adjusts the material around my collar. “Just tie the damn tie.”
His eyebrows shoot up and he mouthsOKas he steps back and appreciates his work. I turn and look in the mirror, seeing it’s perfect. My eyes meet his in the mirror. “Thanks.”
Checking the time on my phone, more panic sets in. “Gah! I’m late!” I slide the phone into my pocket and grab my keys and wallet off the dresser as I make my way out of the house.
“I’m headed out tonight as well.” Fonz follows me toward the door. “I’m not sure what time I’ll be back, but either way I’ll try to stay out of your hair.”
“Yeah, OK.” I pat all my pockets to double check that I have everything, then open the door to the garage and turn to Fonz. “Wish me luck?”
“Luck!” Fonz crosses his arms in front of his chest and leans back against the counter. As I’m pulling the door shut, he yells, “Don’t take drugs!” and I respond with “Almost Famous” before the door clicks closed.
Pulling into the Millers’ driveway, I park the Jeep and head for the garage. However, it’s the front door that swings open, and Meg steps out on the stoop, arm outstretched, palm straight up. “Stop!” she shouts.
I freeze on the spot, near the bottom of the walkway.
Sensing my panic, Meg begins rattling, “She’s coming! She’s right here. She wants to show you something.”
I stand up straighter as Meg moves aside and Ari steps out, grabbing Meg’s hand as she does. I can’t stop the smile that stretches across my face. She looks adorably perfect in a deep blue dress that is short and poofy on the bottom with two layers of skirt. It’s fitted around her core and has spaghetti straps that go delicately over her shoulders. It’s a little adorable, a little fun and flirty, and a whole lot of sexy.
Ari twists and shows me the back, which is open, and scrunches her nose over her shoulder at me when she sees my stare darken. Her red hair is shiny and smooth and falls in big curls, or waves, or whatever the hell you call it, around her shoulders and back. If she’s wearing makeup, it is artfully done, because her face looks the same as it always does—flawless.
Ari turns back around so she’s facing me again, and her eyebrows furrow. “What did you do to your face?”
I bite my lip nervously and fist my hands in my pockets. “You like it?”
She tilts her head to the side. “Depends. Is it softer?”
“Why don’t you come down here and find out?”
Meg practically melts.
Ari looks back at her foster mom, who gives her a thumbs up, before facing me again and starting to move. I take a step up the walkway and both women throw their arms up in another “stop” gesture. Ari drags in a breath and slowly puts one foot out and takes a step, then another. My eyes roam from her feet in her flat dress shoes up her body to her face, and my heart soars as I watch her take steps all on her own. She’s smiling and pulling her shoulders up to her ears, her arms straight down her sides with her wrists bent at right angles so her hands stick out horizontally, like a penguin.
Clasping my hands behind my head, I watch Ari get to the first long step, look down and feel out the step with the bottom of her foot, before dropping it down and slowly bringing the other down next to it. Letting out a satisfied breath, she clasps her hands in front of herself. “Uh, that’s about as far as I can go right now. I want to save energy for tonight.”
Bounding up the remaining steps until I am toe-to-toe with Ari, looking down at her, our eyes dart between one another’s. “When did this happen?”
“This week. DeShawn says my progress will really start advancing quickly now that I’ve got a lot of my muscle memory back. And he worked me like a freaking dog this week.”
We smile at each other as I brush hair behind her ear. “You’re amazing.”
“And you’re”—she reaches a hand up and trails her fingertips down my cheek, jaw and neck—“soft and smooth.” A smile curls up the side of her mouth and I feel all sorts of tingling inside. I bend down and just barely dust my lips over hers.
Behind Ari I see Meg reach inside the house, then come up behind her. “Here, don’t forget this.” She hands Ari a shawl, which I help drape over her shoulders. “And this.” Meg hands me a backpack.
“That’s my overnight stuff,” Ari says as I hoist it over my shoulder.
I raise my brow at her. “A little presumptuous, don’t you think?”
