Running From Forever (6 page)

“Uh, yeah, sorry,” I embarrassingly answered,
pulling myself back together. These New York men were going to be
the life of me. I mean the death of me.
Crap.
“I’ll just
have a Mic Ultra, please,” I managed to order without
stuttering.

He smiled before saying, “You got it,” and
turning away to fetch it. It wasn’t until his back was facing me
that I let out the breath I apparently had been holding.

“That’s Merrick.” Sami startled me, noticing my
weak moment. “He’s our eye candy twice a week. Feel free to drool.
We all do.”

“Does he have a girlfriend?” I found myself
immediately asking.

She chuckled. “Nope. Well, not that we’re aware
of. We don’t really know his story actually. The guys think he’s
gay, but there’s no way.”

“Why?” I continued to speak without thinking.
For some reason, my brain needed to know these answers and wasn’t
letting me work them out in my head first.

“Because that would just ruin the dreams we have
about him when we go home at night,” she joked, making us both
laugh out loud just as he returned with my beer.

“How much do I owe ya?” I asked him, pulling out
my wallet.

He put his hand up, stopping me. “First one is
on the house. It’s kind of a welcoming thing we do.”

“Thanks,” I answered, smiling as I brought the
bottle to my lips to take a swig. I saw him watching. I extended my
hand after putting the bottle back down, realizing I never
introduced myself. “Kayla,” I said. “I’m Kayla.”

“Merrick.” He shook my hand. It was firm,
rugged, and big, making my hand look like a child’s in his.
“Welcome to the crew.” He winked before gently resting my hand back
down on the bar and moving away to help the other customers.

“Claimed another heart, did he?” Kelly said next
to me. “Don’t worry. He has with us all. It’s inevitable; he’s one
of the reasons why we always come back to this bar.”

I shrugged my shoulders like he was no big deal.
And really he wasn’t. He was attractive, yes, but nothing that I
got all hot and bothered over. Eye candy, for sure, and that’s
where I’d leave it.

After talking with Kelly a little while longer
and grabbing another beer, I mingled around the bar, talking with
some of the new people I had just met and learning what departments
they worked in and what their job descriptions entailed. It was
nothing wild and crazy like I knew New York to be from movies and
TV, but socially fun. It was a nice alternative from the social
life I had in Cortland and much different from the college
atmosphere I was used to…another positive change.

It wasn’t until a couple hours later and a few
more beers in when a sly, familiar voice came up behind me, asking
if he could buy me a drink. The hair on my neck stood on alert and
belly warmed as I turned to face the only man that could make me
cave with just his voice.

Miles.

“Wow. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight,”
I practically purred, the alcohol inhibiting my speech and
self-control.

His expression turned intrigued. “Why would you
say that?”

“I figured this wouldn’t be an
executive’s
scene,” I said with a touché tone to my
voice.

This warranted the sexy gut-laugh that he has
done before. “I’ll have you know that you could be slightly
correct. However, today it was brought to my attention that it just
may be more
my scene
than I thought.”

I gave him an impressed look, nodding my head
and feeling my cheeks warm as they always did when he was around.
He came here for me.
Flattery was taking over.

“So, a drink?” he asked again with a raised brow
and dimple showing again.

I was weak. Exposed. Caught. There was no
denying the way he made me feel. His allure was one I couldn’t turn
a cheek to. Any previous reservations I had were quickly sliding
out the door. My old self was taking over, though even my new,
improved self knew I wouldn’t be able to refuse him. I couldn’t let
the opportunity to be with someone like Miles Blackwell pass me by,
so I agreed, following him towards the bar, allowing him to place
his hand on my lower back as we moved through the crowd around
it.

Merrick happened to be available when I reached
an opening in the crowd. “Another Ultra?” he questioned, smiling as
he asked.

“Please.”

“And a gin and tonic for me, if you could,”
Miles added, handing Merrick his credit card over my shoulder.
“Excuse me, gorgeous. I didn’t mean to reach over you,” he
whispered in my ear, causing all the hairs on my body to stand
again…exhilarated.

Merrick seemed puzzled, quickly looking back and
forth between Miles and I before disappearing to the other end of
the bar. I wondered why, but then shrugged my shoulders, not really
caring.

“Do you know him?” Miles asked, squaring his
body to mine.

Is he jealous? Christ, I met you in the
elevator yesterday and Merrick three hours ago.

“Him?” I questioned curiously, raising my chin
towards Merrick. “No, we just met tonight.” I shook my head,
blowing it off.

He casually nodded his head and though it seemed
he thought otherwise, he didn’t elaborate. It was the truth,
though. The only information I knew was from Kelly and Sami, and
that was just about him being hot, which was obvious.

Miles left it at that, leading us into a less
congested area after receiving our drinks. I didn’t mind. Being in
overcrowded areas reminded me too much of frat houses and college
bars, which weren’t my cup of tea anymore. Not to mention, although
I shouldn’t, I was anxious to get to know Miles a little
better.

The night carried on with no awkward silences as
we talked. I finally got him to stop calling me “Ms. Reynolds” and
say “Kayla” instead. It seemed too proper, making me feel older
than I was. I also learned that while Connie oversaw all the
production end of things, Miles handled the business/financial part
of ETV. They’re both considered CEOs, having dual partnership in
the network.

It wasn’t until the bar started to clear out and
Sami and Kelly stopped over to say that they were heading out that
we noticed the time. It was after midnight. Talking to Miles seemed
effortless, not to mention ridiculously intoxicating. That grin
that made my insides cave never left his face and his deep blue
eyes still seemed to sparkle in the dim light. The level of
attraction between us had only grown stronger in the short time we
spent together. We were getting dangerous close to heading in
that
direction, the one I claimed I shouldn’t go.

At least not with him.

Even being midnight on a Tuesday, well now
Wednesday morning, the sounds of Manhattan still rang loud in the
air once we stepped outside. It might be an annoyance for some, but
it was riveting for me. I loved it. The horns, the sirens…the noise
brought a surge of energy throughout my veins each and every time I
stopped to listen.

“Can I walk you home?” he asked once our feet
touched the cement.

“I believe you already are,” I answered slyly,
starting in the direction of my apartment.

He fell into step next to me. “This is the
way?”

“It is.”

“You live down here?” he asked, sounding
somewhat shocked.

“Is there a problem with that?” I questioned. I
wasn’t trying to sound rude; I was hoping for more playful than
anything.

“No. No, not at all,” he said, taken back. “The
cost of living is just higher in this area, is all.”

I snorted at his insinuation, not to be rude,
but by the simple fact that he knew the cost of living and probably
my salary. “No one ever said I lived in the Taj Mahal,” I pointed
out, nudging his arm to let him know I wasn’t ashamed or offended
by his reference or the probability that our homes were probably
night and day from each other’s.

“Well, I commend you on your choice of location.
It’s the best in the city, in my opinion.”

A prideful grin smeared my face. Not many
enjoyed the Times Square feel, but once you got off the main
streets, it was incredible. I knew my choice of living was
exceptional. “Thank you,” I happily responded, looping his arm with
mine. It was a gutsy move. We hadn’t been this close all night.
Flirtatious, yes, but touching, no. But the urge was there and I
had to take it. I couldn’t stop myself. Something about walking the
streets of Manhattan with a man like Miles by my side made the
gesture a logical and natural thing to do. And he didn’t seem
opposed to it, either. In fact, he rested his free hand over mine,
holding it to his arm.

It was only a few short minutes later that we
were standing at the base of my building. Part of me wished the
walk was longer.

“So, this is you?” he said, facing me but
glancing up the length of the building before returning his gaze to
mine.

“It is,” I confirmed awkwardly. It was that
clichéd first date moment. Even though we weren’t on a date, it
still had that feel, and I knew we were both wondering what was
going to happen next. The rush between my legs that I’d had
throughout the night was screaming to invite him upstairs, but the
more reserved, adult, wanting-to-create-a-better-image-for-myself
side was reminding me that I shouldn’t. I’d regret my decision in
the morning if I did.

Miles took things into his own hands, leaning
forward and gently kissing my cheek, whispering, “Goodnight,
Kayla,” into my ear before walking away.

I stood there, frozen, without the will to move.
He had the gentlest lips in the world. I turned to watch him walk
away but he was already out of sight. I stared anyway, mesmerized
by the night.

When I finally put one foot in front of the
other, my body humming with euphoric energy, I followed my usual
route through the lobby, up the elevator, and down the hallway to
my apartment. It wasn’t until I slipped off my shoes and threw my
purse to the side that my body froze again, this time scared
shitless, seeing a lifeless body curled up in my bed. A smart
person in my position probably would have called 911 immediately,
but I apparently wasn’t thinking clearly. I used caution walking
forward and, fortunately for my safety, relaxed when I saw who the
body in my bed belonged to: Madison, my little sister.

Prior to moving, I sent her a letter with a key,
letting her know my new living arrangements. We hadn’t had the most
stellar upbringing. My mother was and still is a gold-digger that
had made divorcing high rollers a profession. I don’t know how she
did it, nor do I care, but she always made out, taking those men
for all they were worth.

Maddy was four years younger than me; she turned
eighteen just two weeks ago. I called her on her birthday, asking
what her plans were now. She hadn’t known at the time, but I guess
she figured it out. She ran. Just like her big sister, she ran as
fast as she could to get away from her life. There was no use for
us in Vegas. Since the day we could take care of ourselves, my
mother basically disowned us. She only used us for bait on the guys
that seemed sensitive to those kinds of things, like being a mother
to your children. But that was it. We were nothing more than that;
we were merely pawns in her gold-digging chess game. Since she was
eighteen now, Maddy must have used some of her inheritance from our
father to get here. It wasn’t much, but enough to pay for a one-way
ticket. This I knew.

Taking a seat beside her, I nudged her awake. I
needed to make sure she was okay, that nothing happened. I just
never knew with Maddy. She slowly woke up, eyes fluttering open and
looking blearily at me. I felt bad that I didn’t stay. I felt awful
that I didn’t take care of her. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t stay in
that mess. I needed my own life. I needed to start over. I needed
to be whoever I wanted to be with nothing holding me back. I think
she understood that, or at least she did now. Now she was in the
same boat I was.

“Hey,” she grumbled, stretching her arms above
her head and legs straight out. “What time is it?”

“Almost one, my time. What time did you get
here? You should’ve called my cell.”

With a big yawn she sat up, rubbing her eyes
awake. “Only a couple of hours ago. I was exhausted, so I figured
I’d just lay down until you got home.”

“Are you okay? Did anything happen?” I couldn’t
help the paranoid big sister role taking over. In so many ways she
was like a child to me. For so long it was just the two of us
against the world.

She gave me a reassuring smile, calming my
nerves slightly. “Nothing out of the norm. A new one moved in and I
was just done. I couldn’t do it anymore, K. Not when I didn’t have
to…”

I nodded my head. I completely understood. The
only difference between us was that I left the day I turned
eighteen. My bags were packed weeks in advance. I had it planned
and I was ready to go. Where I didn’t give a shit and was okay
living on my own, she’s wasn’t. She had always been more
sensitive—always trying to see the best in people. She loved our
mother; I didn’t. She saw hope in her that I didn’t even try to
find. Our mother was useless. A piece of shit, if I were to be
completely honest. I despised her. It was plain and simple. Maddy
always seemed to be holding out hope.

“Well, you can stay here as long as you want.” I
waved my arm around the tiny studio. “It’s obviously not much, but
it’s something.”

“Thanks, K.” She tight-grinned. “I have no clue
what I’m going to do. I haven’t really thought this out. I just
didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

“No worries. You came to the right place. We’ll
figure it out. We’ll find your nitch.” I leaned over, hugging her
and sighing, happy that this was where she ran to. I’d missed her.
Since our father died when we were younger, she’s been the only
real family I had.

She smiled again, but I could tell that she was
exhausted. Jetlagged, I’m sure. The late hour was starting to hit
me, as well, and I let out a large yawn. I offered up my bed,
insisting that she sleep there that night—I didn’t mind sleeping on
the sofa bed, at least for one night. It wouldn’t be long before I
had to be up for work anyway.