Running Back to You (The Running Series, #1) (16 page)

E
mmy and I meet at Bubbakoo’s Burritos for lunch.  A lot has happened
over the last few days that I can’t wait to share and get another girl’s
perspective.  I tell her all about our sunset cruise and our morning jog.  Emmy
is a good friend and a great listener.

“It’s so cool that we both have new boyfriends at the same time.  Maybe
we can all go out together.”

“Seriously, Emmy?  I haven’t seen you in two days and you drop a secret
surprise boyfriend on me?  Who is it?  How did this happen?”

“You kind of know him.  He’s blonde, 27 years old, lives in Derek’s
house.  Ring any bells?”

“Grant?  Is it Grant?  What the hell happened?”

“Remember Saturday when we all went to the movies?  Well, Grant and I
have been texting back and forth since then.  I asked him to come over to help
me replace a light switch, which just happened to be in my bedroom.”  She gives
me a wink and a smile. 

“So, do you like him?  I mean really like him?  Does he make your toes
curl?”  Her last boyfriend was kind of a dud in the chemistry department.

“Oh, yeah!  There was some serious toe curling, hip grinding and spit
swapping.”  There’s not a shy bone in Emmy’s body and I’m more than a little
jealous.

We decide to take our men out to meet, but the details will have to wait
for now.  An hour later, and I’m home again getting ready for work.

I walk in to find Auggie in his favorite position, sitting at the kitchen
island reading the news and gossip on his iPad.  “Come here, kitten, I found
something for you.”  He invites me to sit with him as he flips through some web
pages until he finds just the right one.

“What did you find, Aug?”  Now I’m curious.

“I’ve been thinking about the flower Evan gave you last night, so I
looked up pink tulips and guess what it said?”

“I have no idea, just tell me.”

“Well, it says that pink tulips symbolize affection and caring.  This boy
is good, Jette.” 

“What do you mean, he’s good?”

“See, red tulips are a declaration of love, and it’s way too soon for
that.  Yellow tulips mean ‘I will love you forever’ and that’s too soon, too. 
Purple symbolizes royalty and wealth.  Affection and caring is just right,
don’t you think?”

“Auggie, you sound a lot like Goldilocks.  One flower was too weak, the
other two were too strong, but the pink one was just right!”

“I’m just saying that I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he gave you a
pink tulip.  Right?”

Actually, he’s not wrong.  If he’s correct, then Evan truly is a very
thoughtful and resourceful man.

T
he bar is surprisingly packed tonight.  Emmy, Derek and I take our usual
positions at the patio bar while tonight’s DJ rocks the house.  The bar is
crowded with college students who like to dance and drink in equal amounts.  A middle-aged
man who is clearly out of place and obviously trolling for young girls pays for
his drink with a ten and tells me to keep the change.  Then he winks at me.  I
just shake my head and walk away.

Now that Emmy is dating Derek’s roommate, all the flirting is directed
towards me.  Derek is keeping a respectable distance from Emmy now and I think
it’s sweet.  He and Grant are good friends and it’s nice to see that Derek
respects those boundaries.

We keep pretty busy for most of the night.  I get to make a few new
cocktails tonight and I even entertain the crowd with some well-orchestrated
flips and turns.  Derek and I dance when the mood strikes and Emmy plays the
prudish chaperone trying to keep us apart.  It’s a cute Vaudeville Act we
choreograph on the fly.  The customers are eating it up and the tip jar is
getting pretty full.

Sometime around midnight, the DJ announces a song dedicated to the pretty
brunette bartender on the patio.  He goes on to say, “This one’s for you,
Juliette.”  Immediately, I look over at Derek.

“Derek, did you do this?”

“Hell, no!  Listen to the song, it’s the classic stalker anthem.  Not my
style, Jette.”

I stop for a moment to listen.  The DJ is playing the Police single
“Every Breath You Take” and the lyrics are sending chills down my spine.  Sting
is crooning about how he’s watching every move that I make.  I send Evan a text
to check and see if it’s him.

I look around the bar but I don’t see anyone I know who could have done
this. Immediately, my hands are clammy and I’m feeling nauseous. Why is this
happening?  I ask Derek to speak to the DJ and find out who requested the song. 
While I wait, I place my hands on the bar to steady myself and try to calm my
breathing.

Before I can relax, he’s back.  “He said it was a male customer.  Gave
him a $20 tip to play the song.  The bar’s too crowded to find the guy.  It’s
probably nothing, Jette.  Has anyone given you a hard time tonight?”

“No, not tonight.  You’re probably right.  I’m sure it’s nothing.  Let’s
get back behind the bar.”  We return to the bar where we left Emmy alone and
she attacks.

“Thank God you’re back.  Here.”  She throws a bar towel at me.  “Grant
just got here and I’m going to go say hello.  Cover for me.”  Emmy runs around
the bar and leaps into his lap.  Her small frame flies gracefully through the
air and Grant welcomes her with a grand embrace.  She plants kisses all over
his face and he is beaming with delight.  They cuddle, kiss, and chat for a few
minutes until Emmy rejoins us behind the bar.

“That was quite a show, Emmy.  It’s getting kind of late now.  You guys
have plans after closing?”

“Oh, yeah.  We’re heading back to his place tonight.”  She elbows me in
the side.  I guess I know what their plans are.

Grant stays until closing and the whole time, they cannot take their eyes
off one another.  I wonder if that’s what it would be like for Evan and me.  I
know I would have a difficult time concentrating if he were here with me. 

The four of us walk out together a little after two in the morning.  My
car is parked on a side street a few blocks down the road.  The streets are
well lit and very safe.  Derek insists I let him drive me to my car, just to be
safe.  I’m actually a little relieved and I accept his offer.  I explain where
my car is parked, and he takes me right to it.  He waits for me to get in and
start the engine before he leaves.  Derek is really a good guy and I’m lucky to
have such good friends.

As he’s pulling away, I notice a paper on my windshield.  I hope I didn’t
get a parking ticket for being too close to a hydrant or something.  I step
out, grab it, and quickly get back into my car.  It’s a note written in
scratchy printing. 

M
y hands are shaking.  This is not right.  I need to get out of here.  I
check my rearview mirrors and slowly pull out.  Just as I do, another car turns
its lights on and pulls out behind me.  I hit the switch and lock my doors. 
Then I turn off the radio.  I need to concentrate.  It may be nothing.  It may
be something.  There’s only one way to find out.

I turn onto Arnold Avenue and begin driving towards the bridge that leads
me home.  The car behind me does the same.  After crossing the bridge, I make a
quick turn onto Herbertsville Road, and the car is still with me.  I make two
more turns down random side streets, and I still have company.  This is not a
coincidence.  I am definitely being followed.  Now I have to decide where to
go.  I can’t go home.  Auggie isn’t there, I’d be alone.  Besides, do I want to
lead him right to my house?  No!  Evan. I have to go to Evan’s house.  My hands
are shaking, so I employ the help of Siri to get Evan on the phone.

“Siri, call Evan.”

“Do you want me to call Evan Thomas?”

“Yes, call.”

He answers on the second ring.  “Hey, Juliette.  Are you just getting out
of work?”

“Evan, I need you.  I’m in my car and I think I’m being followed.  Can I
come over?”  My voice is shaking and I’m sure he can tell I’m a wreck.

“What the fuck?  Are you sure?  Come straight here.  Do NOT stop
anywhere.  Do you hear me?  Come straight here.  How far away are you?”  I can
hear drawers opening like he’s pulling out clothes to get dressed.

“I’m just going back over the bridge.  I’ll be there in two minutes. 
Evan, he left a note on my car.  He said he’s watching me.  I’m really scared.”

“Stay on the phone with me.  Don’t hang up.  Can he tell you’re on the
phone?  Are you holding the phone up to your ear?”

“No, you’re on speaker phone.  He can’t see my phone.”

“Good.  Just keep driving.  Can you tell what kind of car it is?  Is it a
truck, an SUV, a car?”

“It’s definitely a dark car.  I can’t tell any more.  It’s not a sports
car or convertible or anything.  Just an average small dark car.”

“I’m outside in the driveway waiting.  Drive right up to me, but don’t
get out of the car.  Do you understand?”

“Yes, I’m almost there.  Do you see my headlights coming down the road?”

“I’m here and I can see you.  Just calm down, you’re almost here.  Hang
up now, okay?”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”  Evan’s driveway is all lit up and I can see
him waiting.  I pull right in, and my pursuer slows for a moment, and then
speeds off.  Evan runs into the street, trying to catch a glimpse of the
license plate number.  It’s no use.  It’s dark out and the car is gone.

I turn the car off and I just sit stock-still.  I can’t move.  Evan
instantly appears at my door, but it’s still locked.

“Juliette, it’s okay, he’s gone.  Open the door, sweetheart.”  I can’t
move.  “Juliette, please open the door.”  I’m frozen.  “Juliette, you have to
open the door now or I’m going to break your window.  You’re safe.  Please.”  I
find the strength to push the button to unlock the door.  Evan whips the door
open and is kneeling beside me.

“Juliette, look at me.  Are you okay?”  I nod my head and swing my legs
to get out of the car.  Evan helps me onto my unsteady feet.

“You sure he’s gone?”  My voice is still quivering.

“Yes, I’m sure.  Let’s get you in the house.  Can you walk?”

“Yeah.  Can we please get in the house quickly?”

Evan rushes me to the house and engages the security system.  “Do not
open any doors or windows.  I just set the security alarm and it will go off if
anyone from the inside or the outside tries to open a door or window.  Okay?”

We walk to the living room and I’m still slightly trembling.  I try to
pull myself together and sit on the couch.  “I’m getting you a drink of water. 
Do you want something stronger?”

“No, thank you.  Maybe a few aspirin if you have them.”  Being here has a
great calming effect on me and I can feel myself begin to relax.  My pulse
begins to slow and my heart rate is returning to normal.

“Here’s your water and two Tylenol.”  I gulp them down in one swig.  “I’m
calling the police, Juliette.”

I don’t know why, but I really don’t want to call the police.  Maybe I’m
just overreacting and I wasn’t being followed.  Maybe it’s just a prank.  “Can
we wait until tomorrow?  Please don’t call yet.  I just want to calm down, and
then I’ll head home.”

“There’s no way you’re leaving tonight.  If you leave, I’m going with
you, so what’s the point?  Just stay here.”  He’s sitting beside me on the
couch now.  “Come here.”  He opens up his arms for me to crawl into.  “Tell me
what happened.  And don’t leave out any details.”

There’s not much to tell.  I explain about the song dedication and how I
thought for a moment it might be him.  Then I tell him how Derek drove me to my
car and waited until he thought I was safe.

“Remind me to thank Derek for that,” Evan interjects.  I give the final
details about the note and the car following me.  “Is that everything?” he
asks.