Page 78 of The Run Back Home

"Dylan," she says, shaking her head. "And trust me… the pleasure's all mine."

With that, I really do walk away, barreling down the metal staircase and weaving through the crowd until I reach the front door. When she's not there, I panic—this is my chance to finally tell her off, and I can't lose it. But the anxiety that swirls in my gut is more than just fear of a missed opportunity.

I drag a hand down my face, spinning to search for her on the street as cars whiz by and the chatter of groups standing around overstimulate every ounce of sanity I have left.

Then I remember the beer garden out back where JJ streaked last summer on his birthday, and those nerves morph into something closer to comfort.

I dart back in, dodging the dabs a few guys offer from the bar and avoiding the fuck-me eyes that women toss from the dance floor hoping they stick. When I get to the back exit, I pause—hesitating with my clammy hand wrapped around the cool metal handle.

Subconsciously, I make a plan. If she's not out here, I'll finally text her even though I shouldn't have to. I'll tell her that the next time she wants to show up at my doorstep or offer to run, she better come with an explanation—or not come at all.

I take a deep breath, flooding my mind with memories of an empty inbox, a blank call log—recent and past. Of the feeling I had in college like whatever happened, whatever I did, couldn't have been enough to give up everything we had.

I remind myself of how it felt to hear she travels all the time now. How the one thing I thought might maybe help me understand, wasn't true at all. I think of all the times I wanted to text, call, show up on her fucking doorstep. But how chasing her felt more like pushing her away.

I think of the mornings I'd wake up and forget she wasn't there—not in my bed, not in my life. Of the first of many nights I couldn't sleep.

And then I think of how much I hate myself for missing time away from V. How much it still eats at me for how stubborn I once was, and I realize that if Lenny is this fine to just do it all again, then she must not have loved me like she said she did.

And even after all these years, that still stings more than I'd like to admit.

With a deep breath, I push the door open, grateful for the cool breeze that smacks me in the face and gives me the encouragement I need to keep moving.

Because Lenny is standing there, hand outstretched toward the opposite handle like she was ready to head inside.

And suddenly, I'm right back in that park in Mage Hollow.

"Oh, sorry, I—oh." Lenny tries to back away, stumbling over the small lip in the concrete that separates the doorstep from the rest of the patio.

She staggers a few feet back, and before I can hesitate, I bolt toward her, taking just a few strides to put myself beside her. She looks at me right as her thick heel skids out completely over a freshly fallen leaf, and I wrap my arm around her waist, catching her before she hits the concrete.

Lenny squeals, and I brace for impact, securing my grip around her frame as she reaches for my chest.

She digs her fingers into my shirt, gripping it the same way I'm holding tight onto her hip. And God I shouldn't like it—her holding onto me like she's afraid to let go.

I guide her up slowly until she's back on her feet, our bodies still wrapped around each other.

She's steadier, both of us on even ground.

But now she's… so close.

Closer than she's been.

So close that I can see every detail I spent years trying to forget.

So close that it feels like no time has passed at all.

"Didn't peg you for a place like this," she says, her voice soft and breathy.

My grip tightens around her briefly before I catch myself and release her instead.

I clear my throat. "Funny," I say, still hovering over her, our breaths heavy enough that our chests almost meet on each inhale. "I was thinking the same thing about you."

We search each other's faces—me looking for answers in her eyes and her, well… just studying me maybe. We stand like that another second until the proximity threatens to smother me completely.

Because I can't read her mind like I want to. Can't go back in time. Can't do anything with the pull I still feel towards her.

So… I take a step back.