Page 22 of An Unexpected Turn
I climbed into my car, my loud groan reverberating against the windows. Unwrapping a cupcake, I remembered Claudia’s joke about fainting in front of a hot guy because it helped. It was a silly trope I’d never believed in, but falling into the arms of the man of your dreams did move things along—or made them even more uncomfortable and confusing than they already were.
I needed to put myself out there eventually, but I was still finding my way and hesitant after my last relationship imploded.
I hoped I’d start shaking it off soon and all of that would come in time.
But no matter when it did, it couldn’t come with Jake.
TEN
PEYTON
“Could you please slow down?” I pleaded with my uncle as he jogged ahead. When he’d invited me to go for a run this morning, I didn’t expect to have to sprint to keep up.
“You think this is fast?” Uncle Keith swiveled his head, chuckling and not even a little out of breath.
We passed lawn after manicured lawn until I spotted the entrance to the park at the end of the road. I hadn’t realized how small this town really was when I’d come to visit. Everyone congregated in the same areas, and while that was a nice notion, it also didn’t leave a person much privacy. My old neighborhood had its hot spots, but I felt much more on display here.
“Can we have a seat for a second?” I panted, pointing to a lush section of grass that seemed perfect to pass out on.
“We have to get you into shape, P.” Uncle Keith looped an arm around my sweaty neck.
“I thought I was in decent shape until just now.” I trudged into the park and plopped on the patch of grass. “I guess you have to be super fit to deal with the criminal element of Kelly Lakes,” I teased before I dropped my head between my legs, still trying to catch my breath. When I lifted my head, I spotted a few bodies near the ball field and way off in the distance by the basketball and the handball courts.
“You’d be surprised.” He rested his elbows on his knees, his lips quirking as he turned back to me. “It may not be as active as Brooklyn, but we get our fair share. So, tell me.” He tapped my ankle. “How’s it going so far? You’re not running back to your old school in Brooklyn, so I guess that’s a good sign.”
I hoped he hadn’t noticed me tensing at the question. Running back to my old school would always be a hard no, but I still couldn’t tell him why.
“Pretty good, I think. The principal is nice, and the students have been great. Parent workshops start next week, and I volunteered to help run them. Hopefully, we get a decent turnout. The first student workshop went pretty well.” I shrugged. “I’m told football is a big deal at Kelly Lakes High, so I have to show my face at the games when they start.”
“Good, but don’t spread yourself too thin either.” He lifted a brow at me. “Get used to everything first.”
“What obligations do I have? Other than moving in to my condo. I like keeping busy.”
When the words were out of my mouth, they tasted rancid. It was one thing to know I didn’t have anything going on here besides work and my family, but saying it out loud highlighted how pathetic it was.
“I know that.” He shrugged. “I’d just like to see you get out there a little more.”
“When I’m settled, I’ll get out more. I promise.” I patted his arm.
His mouth spread into a wide smile. “It’s nice having you here for more than just a visit. We’re all going to miss you when you’re out of the house next weekend.”
“It’s nice being here,” I told him honestly. It still didn’t feel quite like home yet. This felt more like a vacation, which was my intention for coming here. I could have just applied at another school in a different borough, but I didn’t realize how much distance I’d needed until I found the job opening for this high school. Being here with Uncle Keith made me think of simpler times, like when spending the day with him made all my problems fade away—at least for the moment.
“And I’ll be around. I’m only going ten minutes away.”
Maybe I’d runtohim as much as I ranawayfrom Brooklyn and all the memories that were still fresh enough to sting.
“Everyone was always jealous of us. Still are. I hear it in your mother’s voice when she calls and asks how you’re doing with usup here. Like she didn’t grow up here before she followed your father to the city.”
My head fell back with a groan. “Sounds like her.”
“She just misses you. It’s not like when I took you to Coney Island that day.”
“Oh my God.” I sat up, that day so long ago, yet fresh in my mind now that Uncle Keith brought it up. “They were all so mad at you. That was the best day, though.”
I was eight, and my father had just moved out. Uncle Keith and my grandparents came to stay with us for a weekend, and I remembered the relief of having family there to fill the awful silence. Mom had been so quiet since he’d left. It unnerved me to the point I couldn’t sit still. Uncle Keith offered to take me out for the afternoon to get a hot dog, and we jumped on the train to Coney Island. He let my mother know when we got there and didn’t take me back until after dark.
“I brought you back so pumped up on sugar, you were bouncing off the walls. I got serious shit from all of them for it, but I never regretted a single second. Seeing you smile all afternoon was worth it.”
