Finding Ever After (25 page)

           
The movie ended well after midnight and I shut the TV off and closed my eyes,
but a stroll through a field of poppies in Oz wouldn’t have helped me find
sleep. I tossed and turned all night long, unable to quiet my mind. So many
things were weighing on it and they kept me up into early hours of the morning.

           
After my restless night of sleep, I didn’t climb out of bed until eleven. I was
frustrated and still thinking about the night before. I threw on a pair of
cotton shorts and a sleeveless tee over my sports bra. I laced up my running
shoes and headed down the stairs. I resolved not to spend what was left of the
day, moping, complaining or being angry and bitter about my present
circumstances. I refused to let my happiness depend on a guy, especially one
who only twisted me up and introduced me to a side of myself I wasn’t
particularly fond of.

           
I was not this jealous, clingy and irrational girl. At least not until Kyden
and I was done with feeling so out of control. There were a lot of things in my
life that I couldn’t fix. I would just have to have faith that I would get
through them and come out stronger on the other side. The way I’d been letting
Kyden mess with my head wasn’t one of those things. I could absolutely do something
about that. I hoped, anyway.

           
I couldn’t turn off my feelings but I could stop obsessing over them. A good
run along the water would clear my head and make my body feel good which was a
start to making the rest of me feel good.

           
I sliced off a piece of banana bread for breakfast and popped a couple grapes
in my mouth on my way out the door. I slid my headphones into place and passed
Vi
, who was in the living room reading. She just gave me a
wave as I left. I didn’t know who else was up, but I heard at least a few of
them out by the pool when I took off toward the water at a slow jog. I noticed
Spade’s car was gone and remembered that a few of them had to be back in Boston
this morning for work, they’d be back tomorrow evening.

           
I made it about two and a half miles down the road before I turned and headed
back. When I was within a couple hundred yards of the house I slowed down to a
walk. I was winded and feeling the burn in my calves. I was surprised I even
made it that far, I expected myself to be much more out of shape.

           
Bas, Chris, Jake and Danny were down on the boat launch near the dock launching
The
Violettete
,
a catamaran cruiser
Vi’s
parents named for her. When Bas looked up and saw me,
he handed off his rope to Chris and started walking toward me. I stopped in the
driveway and did some stretches while I waited for him to reach me.

           
“Have a good run?” He asked.

           
“Yeah.”
I answered and I meant it. Even though I was
beat and would definitely be feeling sore for a day or two, it was a good
feeling. It was a pain I could manage. “I made it about five miles.”

           
“Weak.” He grinned and I would have hit him if it didn’t take so much effort.

           
“Shut up, it’s been a while.” He laughed but then his smile shifted into a more
serious expression.

           
“You feel okay this morning, or I guess afternoon? You slept most of the
morning away.” I let out a deep breath and stood up straight.

           
“I didn’t sleep well, but I’m good now.
Really.
The
run helped me get out a lot of the frustration and-” I was cut off by the
sounds of a motorcycle coming up the road. We both turned to see Kyden pull his
bike into the driveway.

           
He looked like I felt, worn out. I’d hoped he had just gone back to Boston but
that obviously wasn’t the case. He’d slept somewhere though. I wouldn’t let
myself care though. He was who he was and I was over it. Or at least I was
going to be. He strode right past us and disappeared through the front door,
looking disheveled and very hung over.

           
I turned my attention back to Bas who just shook his head. “I really thought he
wouldn’t pull this shit with you. I’m sorry. When I saw how much you affected
him, I really thought he was changing, that you could get to him and maybe . .
. I don’t know, but I was wrong. He’s still got a long way to go. I wouldn’t
have pushed you into a room with him if I thought this was how things would
play out.”

           
“I knew you were trying something.” This time I did punch him in the arm for
the set-up.

           
“
Oww
.
Shit I said I was
sorry. You really do pack a meaner punch than you used to Jazz.” He said
rubbing his arm where I hit him. I just smirked. “Do you want me to tell him he
needs to leave?”

           
“No. It’s not a big deal. He can stay. Really he hasn’t done anything I
shouldn’t have expected. He was never accountable to me and he doesn’t owe me
anything. He’s done enough for me that I do owe him a little tolerance at the
very least.”

           
“How very understanding of you.”
Bas said skeptically.

           
“Like I said, the run was good for me.”

           
Chris hollered for Bas. They had the boat completely in the water and were
waiting on him. “We’re taking her out, want to come with? The water is perfect
for it today and Danny’s never been out.”

           
“I need a shower. Then I think I’ll just see what
Vi
is up to, but you guys have fun and be safe out there.”

           
“Always are, Jazz.” He smiled and jogged off to join the guys waiting on the
dock.

           
Vi
was, unsurprisingly, at the coffee pot refilling
her cup when I walked into the kitchen. She turned and watched me go straight
to the fridge to fill my own glass with ice water. I downed the entire cup
before filling it again and then leaning against the counter to face her.

           
“You see him?” She asked and took a sip from her cup.

           
“Yep.”
I replied disinterested.

           
“And?”

           
“And what Vi?
I saw him. He looked like sex and
smelled like booze, but we already knew what he was up to last night and it is
what it is. He’s a big boy and can do what he wants.” I kept my voice low in
case he was anywhere around. “Like I told Bas when he grilled me ten minutes
ago, I had a lot of time to think last night and this morning on my run. I’m
not wasting any more time trying to read into every little thing he says and
does and hoping it means something more. It’s better for both of us if we stick
to our agreement to keep things uncomplicated.”

           
“Okay. I get it. I won’t bring it up anymore. I just want to see you happy,
both of you if
that’s
not too much to ask.”

           
“I know, but I don’t need a guy to be happy, and if yesterday is any indication
I certainly don’t make him happy.” A bitter laugh left my lips and
Vi
just rolled her eyes.

           
“You make him crazy. You both make each other crazy.” It was my turn to roll my
eyes. That was about to change. I was done with crazy. I’d had enough crazy to
last five people a life time.

           
“I need a shower and then if you want to do something, I’m up for whatever, as
long as it doesn’t involve talking about guys.”

           
“
Oooh
.
Okay.” She said
excitedly. “I’ll leave my car here for the guys and we can catch the bus into
Hyannis and walk around Main Street. I know you like checking out the art
galleries and shops there and then we can get pedicures.” I was confident that
by the time I got out of the shower she would have our entire day mapped out
down to bathroom breaks, which was fine with me.

           
I climbed both flights of stairs up to my room. I was looking forward to the
hot spray of the shower over my sore muscles. I shoved open the door, stepped
into the room and walked toward the dresser where I had my things stowed. I
froze half way there, then turned around and walked right back out of the room.

           
Kyden was passed out on the bed sleeping off his late night activities no
doubt. The last thing I wanted to do was
disturb
his
sleep and have to face him in that state.
No thank you.
I went back
downstairs and poked my head into the kitchen.

           
“Hey
Vi
, I’m
gonna
use the shower in your room, and can I borrow
something to wear? Goldilocks is in my bed and I really don’t want to wake him
up by going in there again.”

           
“Yeah sure.
My shampoo and all that is in the shower,
help
yourself
to whatever.”

           
I climbed out of the shower and dried off, then went to rummage through
Vi’s
closet. The sun was shining but the breeze was a little
stronger today so I grabbed a navy blue dress that would flow loosely down to
my knees and a cream colored knit sweater to wear over it.

           
My
size seven feet were
a little smaller than Vi’s,
but I found a pair of navy blue flip flops that worked. I braided my damp hair
over my right shoulder and slipped the cross necklace that was my mom’s back
around my neck before going downstairs to see if Vi was ready.

           
We took two bicycles out of the garage and rode them the two miles into the
Marstons
Mills Marketplace and waited for the one thirty
bus that would take us into Hyannis. We loaded the bikes onto the bike rack and
found a pair of seats near the back of the bus.
Vi
slid into the window seat and we both slipped headphones in. While she watched
the short trip pass by out the window, I took the opportunity to observe the
people around me. The bus was pretty crowded with groups of all ages.

           
I don’t know if people watching can be considered a hobby, but if so, it’s one
of mine. I was pretty good at reading most people too. Probably because being
able to discern someone’s intent was vital to surviving life at my father’s. Not
that it really saved me in the end.

           
 A couple rows ahead of us on the opposite side was a family of four, I
could tell they were probably first time tourists from the way they eagerly
watched out their windows, pointing and commenting on everything they saw. In
front of them the seats transitioned into the benches that faced the aisle
instead of forward. There was a group around my age, three girls and four guys
who all appeared to be together. A pretty red head seated at the end nearest
the middle of the bus, kept sneaking glances at a sandy haired guy a three
people down from her. If I could use just one word to describe her face it
would be longing. I also noticed that the sandy haired guy, who slightly
resembled Taylor Kitsch, was seriously into the blonde sitting next to him.
Isn’t
that how it always goes.

           
For the rest of the ride I watched the red head watch Taylor and blondie flirt
shamelessly. Red became more and more dejected but I don’t think any of her other
friends noticed, or at least they pretended not to.

           
When the bus pulled into the Hyannis depot everyone disembarked and I silently
wished red luck as I watched her group disappear. The streets were packed with
vacationers enjoying the summer festivities around the cape. We locked our
bikes up outside the transportation center and spent the rest of the afternoon
enjoying all the area had to offer during the summer.

           
My favorite was of course one little art gallery that featured all local
artists. I could have easily spent an hour in there, but
Vi
insisted we leave after half that. I didn’t protest because there really was so
much to see and do. We wouldn’t have time for it all if we didn’t move on.
Walking out of the gallery I thought about my interview on Friday and how much
I was anticipating the opportunity to get back into the art world.

           
We continued our trek through the streets, taking in all of the sights and
sounds. We stopped and tossed a few bills in a street busker’s case. H was
working the crowd around him with a Bruno Mars song on his guitar.

           
I’ll admit that we also admired a few tanned chests on some of the shirtless
guys wandering around, but it was the smells that really got us. With all of
the walking, we had both worked up appetites and there were so many flavors
wafting through the air, coming from the cotton candy carts, pizza vendors and
several cafes and restaurants we passed.

           
Vi
wanted to grab a late lunch at her favorite sea
food shack a few blocks away. On our way there she begged me to ride on the
carousel with her, so we stood in line with all and spent five bucks to ride
around for three minutes on a unicorn that went up and down while the carousel
twirled. It was silly and ridiculous and we both loved it, and documented it
with a picture on my phone. I sent it to Bas with a message that said we were
going to have lunch and wouldn’t be back until later in the evening.

           
When the bus pulled into the market place after nine that night, Jake and Bas
were waiting for us with the truck that stayed on the property for hauling the
boat. I was grateful not to have to make the ride back, even though it was such
a short distance, my legs couldn’t take anymore, not after the run and an
entire day exploring on foot.