by A. J. Norris
“Yep, I’m blessed.”
“Well, you can slow down or take a rest if you want, but the truth is you’ll get caught and they will probably arrest you for harboring a fugitive. So, I’d suggest you run a little faster.”
I groaned, feeling a stitch in my side forming, but I picked up the pace, trying not to fall over any sticks or stones in the woods.
Chapter Seven
We made it about ten minutes into the woods when my will gave out.
“Ryan,” I gasped, leaning up against a tree trying to catch my breath. “Why is it, in movies, no one ever runs out of breath?” I was doubled over, trying to put my head between my knees, but I wasn’t quite flexible enough. I fought the nausea trying to overtake me.
“Because their stunt doubles are running while the actor hangs out in a trailer, or they’ve spent six months training like a professional athlete.” He walked back toward me, barely breathing heavy.
“Seriously, you’re in amazing shape.”
“You have to be, in my line of work. Now hop on my back.”
“What? No. Just give me a few minutes.”
“Lucy, I have no idea where those cops are, but you said it yourself. I’m in great shape and we aren’t far from the car. If you’re telling me you can’t make it, then I’ll carry you.”
I stared up at him for a second, and started running. I refused to be the reason we got caught. If Ryan had to carry me, it would definitely slow us down and that would be unfair to us both.
“That’s my girl,” I heard Ryan say as he caught up to me.
The sense of pride flowing through me at that moment pushed my legs faster and I ran harder. But one thing was for sure, I needed to join a gym, a running group, or at least go for a walk every now and then.
“Distract me,” I begged, as I tried to push past the pain.
“The night of the heist, we snuck in and everything was going fine. But we were double-crossed by our team. It got ugly and I tried to fight, but Les’s gun jammed. I rushed over to try and protect him, but he knocked me over as the other guy pointed a gun at us. He took the bullet for me.”
“He died saving you.” I ran faster, pushing my legs harder than before, unsure how I felt. It was just like Les to risk his life for Ryan. He cared so much about other people and never took a second thought for himself. I wanted to be pissed at Ryan. But the more I heard, the more I realized it wasn’t all his fault. Les was almost as much to blame. I didn’t know what to do with my feelings now so I just kept running.
“Yeah, that asshole should have run for it. I didn’t have anyone depending on me. No real life. He had a baby and an amazing woman who loved him, but I’m the one who survived. I took Les’s gun and fired, shooting all three of them before I ran off with the gems. I called a guy I knew who could clean up the scene. That’s why they found Les’s body in the alley. Everyone just assumed he got shot for being in the wrong place.”
“There were still tons of rumors circling that he was involved in the heist,” I told him breathlessly.
“I know but no real evidence.”
“Thanks for that.”
“I would give anything to change what happened, Lucy.”
“I know.”
Just as I thought my legs were about to fall off, again, Ryan pulled my arm to the side and we headed through a clearing and into a parking lot. There was a Nissan sitting there and Ryan dropped to the ground, feeling under the car.
“Don’t just stand there. Feel around the underneath of the car to see if you find the key. I can’t remember which side he keeps it on.”
I got down on the pavement just as Ryan found the key. He unlocked the doors and we were off. As we put as much distance between ourselves and the apartment as possible, I started to panic. What the hell did I just do? Where were we going to go? My life wasn’t that bad. I could always get a new job, I had the money to get out from under my student loans. Maybe I could buy a nice house with a dog. Then I’d have to go on walks. Hell, I could try online dating again. It wasn’t always a disaster, right? I could turn my life around.
My breathing grew heavy and Ryan looked over at me as we got in the car and headed out. “You all right?”
“I just…god, Ryan, what are we doing?”
“We’re heading to the airport. I have a guy who can get us on a plane to Tokyo tomorrow. He can hide us until then.”
“Whoa there, buddy. What’s this ‘us?’”
“Lucy, you left your phone there. They already know you’re involved in this somehow. Do you really think you can just go back to your life?”
“But that’s what I want. I don’t even speak Japanese. How am I gonna get by?”
“With my help. I gave you the option to get out of this earlier and you decided to stay. It’s too late for you to go back now. I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“Pull the fuckin’ car over now.”
“No, not a chance.”
“You’re going to kidnap me?”
Ryan was silent for a few minutes and then he pulled the car over to the side of the road. He turned to look at me, taking my hands in his and kissing my knuckles. “Fine, there is a bus station a little down the road. You can catch it to a stop near your house and go there. If the police question you, just tell them I kidnapped you. All I ask is that you let me get to the airport before you tell them where I am.”
I nodded, unable to find the words I wanted to say. For some reason, it felt almost like a second piece of my heart was being crushed. But I didn’t have the time to focus on that. I needed to get home and move on with my life before I destroyed it for Ryan.
He stopped the car in front of a bus depot and unlocked the door. I turned to him, knowing that if I left I’d never see him again. At first, I was comfortable with that. But then it started to eat at me and fear started to creep up my neck, settling in my cheeks.
“Ryan, I…”
“I know. Look, my flight is at one tomorrow afternoon so you can have some time to think this over. But please, if you decide to stay, promise me you’ll wait until then to contact the cops.”
“I promise.”
“Good,” Ryan said and took my chin in between his thumb and fingers. “Don’t let your life just pass you by, Lucy. You have the means to do whatever you want, so do it.”
“I will.”
He leaned in, giving me a kiss on the cheek. I closed my eyes, basking in that moment, trying to memorize his scent, so I could think of it long after he was gone. Then I grabbed my purse and ran out of the car before I could change my mind. Besides, I’d know that smell anywhere.
Chapter Eight
It was a week since everything happened with Ryan. I decided not to take a bus and just got an Uber back to my apartment. I knew I’d never make it on the run. It was pointless to think of leaving home and starting this new life with him in Japan. I’d just make a new life for myself here—one that would make both him and Les proud of me.
I stayed home from work the next day and called the police. They believed the kidnapping story and I wasn’t in any trouble. Now, I was trying to move on. I sent a big check to my student loan company, resolving that debt, and now I was deciding what to do with the rest of the money.
I didn’t need a whole house, but maybe I could get a nice apartment. If I used the rest of the cash, I could put a big down payment and then have a smaller mortgage. My job at the marketing firm would pay me enough for the rest. I could pretty much live anywhere, since they encouraged us to telecommute. That filled me with a sense of adventure. I had so many options.
Cami had invited me over for dinner and I was eager to really reconnect with her. It would be nice to have a solid friend, besides, it almost felt like the baby was my niece. I pulled up to her apartment and she let me in almost immediately.
“Hey, I’m so glad to see you. I have big news,” she gushed when she walked through the door.
“Really? What’s up?”
Cami ushered m
e over to the couch where we were sitting when she told me the truth behind Les’s involvement with the heist.
“So, first thing, I got a house.”
“That’s great! You’re going to get out of this neighborhood.”
“Yep, I close on it in three weeks.”
I got up and gave her a big hug.
“I actually was just thinking about doing the same thing. But don’t they get crazy nosy about where the money comes from if you need a loan? I don’t have enough money to buy anything outright.”
“I thought I was going to have the same problem. But Ryan called to check in the other day, and he gave me the name of one of his friends. He got me the loan with no questions asked.”
“Really, so you’ve been in touch with Ryan?” I asked carefully, trying to ignore the pang in my heart.
“Uh, yeah. He’s called me a couple times. Mostly, he said he feels a little responsible for me since Les is gone.”
“Has he…um, has he asked about me?”
“No, he hasn’t mentioned you. Why do you ask?” The look on her face told me she knew exactly why.
“No reason. Um, so what’s your other news?”
“I got a new job. I’ll be doing online marketing for the rest of my pregnancy and then I’ll be working as a secretary in the office near Napa.”
“Wow, things seem to be really turning around.”
“I know. Eventually, I’m going to find a way to pay Ryan back for all this.”
“He got you the job too?”
“Yeah, he said he has a friend in town who owns this crazy business here and in Tokyo. He got back into town two days ago and interviewed me yesterday. I still can’t believe it.”
“Wow. That’s so amazing. I’m excited for you.” And I was. It was just hard to show over the self-doubt. But I reminded myself that I’d made the right decision.
“You know, I always thought there was something going on between you and Ryan while we were in high school. I was shocked when Les told me you guys hadn’t seen each other in five years.”
“It’s a long story.”
“Maybe, but what about now?”
“Now? There isn’t anything going on now. He’s in Japan. There can’t be anything going on.”
“So, go to Japan. You can always come home if it doesn’t work out. Hell, you can sleep in one of my spare bedrooms if it doesn’t work out.”
“I can’t just go to Japan. I don’t know where he’s located, or anything really about the country. Where would I work? What would I do?”
“Figure it out when you get there. Maybe just go for, like, two weeks. You can always come home and return to your life. If it works out, get the rest of your stuff and move there.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I can’t do that. My kind of adventure is moving to a nice apartment and trying to settle down with a pet. Following him around as he works with his Japanese business gang thing is definitely too big of an adventure for me.”
I changed the subject and we continued to talk about the baby and all the exciting changes coming into her life. We tried to avoid talking about Les, because it left us both in tears the one time we tried. Though, to be honest, it was kind of nice to have someone who understood. I mean, someone other than Ryan.
Chapter Nine
I didn’t sleep that night. It was hard for me to admit, but in those five years we spent apart, I managed to forget how Ryan made me feel. The saying may be that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it also makes the heart forget if enough time has passed. I just had to suck it up and wait for it to pass. It did once, so it would again.
I was going to be viewing apartments, and I was unbelievably excited. I was using the same real estate agent as Cami, and he promised me not to ask any questions either. The agent, Jeff, picked me up in his fancy Lexus and drove us away first thing that morning.
I wanted a little more privacy than the city offered. He swore he knew the perfect place.
“This is a great apartment. There are modern lines, an elaborate lobby with a gym, and it sits with woods toward the back. It is perfect for the privacy you want but still keeping with the kind of lifestyle you are looking for,” he assured me.
“Great, I’ve been meaning to join a gym.” I tried to make my voice reflect that, but it was a little forced. We drove for a little over an hour while the realtor talked about interest rates, mortgage insurance, and other real estate terms I didn’t really care about.
“Here we are,” Jeff said as he pulled into the same apartment complex that Ryan took me to last week.
My mouth fell open. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?”
“Oh, yes. There is an apartment for sale and the price is perfect for your budget.”
The realtor started walking toward the building and I convinced myself this was just a coincidence. Besides, I had really liked this building. It wouldn’t be hard for me to imagine living here and eventually, I’d forget about the night Ryan and I shared.
I had been so busy talking to myself, I didn’t realize we’d walked up to the apartment from the other night.
“I like to show my clients the apartment next door and I thought I’d introduce you to the neighbors,” the realtor said and turned back to me and smiled. He knocked on the door and I started to panic. If Ryan’s friend came to the door, what would I say? Should I ask him where Ryan was? I just couldn’t help but think that maybe I’d made a mistake.
“Lucy.”
“Ryan, what are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t leave you.” He ran to me, pulling me into a hug, squeezing me so tight that I thought I’d burst. “Thank you, Jeff,” he said to the realtor.
“Wait, did you set this up?”
“Guilty. I wasn’t ready to give up on us just yet. The apartment next door really is for sale. If you want it, it’s yours. I won’t buy it for you. I know you need your independence, but I just wanted to talk to you one more time, so I had Jeff bring you to me. Please, come with me. I can’t lose you too.”
Without a moment of hesitation, I knew in my heart I needed to be with him too. I’d been kidding myself thinking I’d forget him. “I’m so sorry! I should have gone with you,” I said into his shoulder. I pulled away and brushed the hair out of my face. “This whole thing just happened so fast and it was overwhelming. But now I know I need to be with you. I was trying to move on from you and all this drama. Looking at you now…the part of my heart that hurts for Les is like singing. I can’t help thinking he’d approve.”
“I fuckin’ love that man, and you.” Ryan pulled me into a kiss, dipping me with his intensity. He let go and smiled big.
“I love you too.”
Chapter Ten
The next day, Les’s friend got us on a flight to Japan. He basically could get us on any flight we wanted. Definitely a good guy to know. We were sitting in first class seats, drinking champagne, when I looked over at Ryan.
“I can’t believe this is really happening.”
“I know. I’ve waited for so long to have you all to myself and here you are.”
“I could stare at you for the next eleven hours.”
“Maybe we could stare at each other for the next ten and a half hours. I have a few things planned for the next half hour.”
“Like what?”
He took my drink, placed it in the pocket of the seat in front of us, and leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“Meet me in the bathroom in five minutes.”
“What? No! People will know what we’re doing.”
“Who cares? It’s not like you’re going to see any of these people again. Besides, all they have to do is look at you to understand why I can’t keep my hands off you.” He kissed me quick and walked casually to the bathroom by the front.
There were only two rows in front of us so it wasn’t like I’d have to walk past a lot of people. I checked my watch and stared at it for the entire five minutes as I mentally tried to build up the cour
age to go in there with him. In the end, my desire to be with Ryan again was almost too much for me to bear.
I undid my seatbelt and headed to the front of the plane and walked directly into the bathroom. When I opened the door, I realized the problem. There was almost no space in there.
“How do you plan on making this happen? We barely fit together as it is.”
“Shhh, don’t question it.” He reached his hands around my neck and kissed me again. As my eyes closed, I was transported into a different world. Ryan lowered his hands to my waist and slid his hands under my shirt. It felt like electricity flowing through me as he then grabbed my butt, lifting me up slightly.
Then he spun me around and pushed me against the wall, leaning into me. I dropped my head onto his shoulder as he kissed my neck and moved his hand up my shirt and groped me over my bra. I moaned a bit as I tried to reach for him. Ryan let me go and slammed my hands against the wall.
“Just stay there and enjoy the altitude.”
I nodded, leaving my hands on the wall, and he quickly undid my jeans. There wasn’t enough space for me to bend down so I kind of shimmied them down my hips until they were on the floor. My underwear quickly followed them as did his jeans and boxers.
“Spread your legs as far apart as you can,” he told me, caressing my hips, dropping to squeeze my butt.
I tried to get them as far apart as I could, but it wasn’t enough.
“Grab the sink,” Ryan growled in frustration. He backed up as far as he could, standing with either foot on the side of the toilet.
I reached for it and felt Ryan grab my hips. Within a moment, he was inside of me. I leaned over the sink and held on tight as I felt him moving fast inside of me. Ryan groaned, and his fingers dug into my hips as he fought to keep his balance with each thrust. But he never fell. Instead, he bent me further over the sink and pushed deeper inside of me.
“Ryan,” I begged as I felt my orgasm building up inside me. The altitude left me feeling astounded, as it felt like that time I’d tried pot. This was the best I’d ever felt during sex, but it was more than that. Ryan wanted to be with me. Knowing that made it all seem more special, more intimate, and even more thrilling as I let out a scream when climax pushed through me, not caring if anyone heard.
