by Bradon Nave
Nearly crawling down the road, Alex stared from her window—wondering which of the many windows was his bedroom window. Her fascination saddled her gaze to the estate rather than the rearview.
As she looked in the mirror finally, her gaze rested on an irritated-looking woman driving behind her. Alex wondered why the woman hadn’t simply honked, but sped up just the same and finally pulled over to the curbside about five blocks from the house.
Similar to the sickening feeling one feels when they’ve had one too many bites of ice cream, Alex suddenly felt this was too much. This poor man was mourning the loss of his brother and Alex was arguably stalking him. Her attempts to justify her actions were to no avail. Even if his post, the too much post, was a cry for help, she was in no position to assist. What was she supposed to do or say? “Hi…I’m Alex. I believe your brother’s untimely death may have saved my brother’s life. Would you like to go for a drive?”
Shaking her head and vowing to let it go, Alex reached for the gear shift just as her gaze fell on a jogger coming down the sidewalk.
Shirtless, chiseled and glistening in sweat, the young man had Alex completely in awe and caught off guard as she basically stared at him—disregarding her manners. And then his face fell plainly into view…it was him. Bishop Holloway was jogging down the sidewalk toward her. There was no time to react, no time to process. He was but one hundred feet from her and suddenly he stopped. As he approached, Alex noticed his gaze moving from her to the sidewalk—at least he was decent enough not to stare. And finally, their eyes met for but a brief moment. Bishop gave a friendly smile and then began jogging again.
Her shaking foot released the brake only to send the vehicle backward as it was mistakenly in reverse rather than park. Slamming on the brake once more, Alex halted her vehicle just inches from slamming into a parked BMW. The screech of the tires had her face flushing hot.
Gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles blanched, she breathed slowly a moment and reached for the gearshift.
The knock on her window sent a shriek from her mouth as she jumped and looked to her left.
Leaning over—smiling and panting—was Bishop Holloway.
The urge to pinch herself seemed legitimate as the scenario seemed utterly fictitious. His motion to roll down the window was obliged almost immediately.
His smile—she was but two feet from his smile.
“You okay, ma’am?”
“Um…yes. I’m good. I’m good now."
“Are you lost or something?” The rasp of his voice and the slight accent, one which Alex didn’t recognize, had her staring into his eyes.
“Oh. No, I’m not.”
Still leaning over, Bishop nodded. “Well, okay then. You should probably head out before I call neighborhood watch. I hear there’s a prowler.”
His words slapped any feeling of nostalgia from her instantaneously. “Oh…I’m not prowling. I was just…I was—”
“Just kidding.” His playful smile had her so flustered and at a loss for words, she simply smiled back.
“’K, well…later.” And then he was walking away. She was letting him walk away.
Eyeing him in the side view mirror, her chest literally thumped as she witnessed him stop—his back to her as if he were contemplating turning and walking back. Could he be contemplating turning and walking back? And then he was walking away once more.
Her hand was reaching for the door handle, pulling it frantically before her mind could inform her of how inappropriate the idea was. Exiting the vehicle, she smiled as Bishop turned to her, scratching his head. “Um, hey…I’m…I’m actually not a prowler or…a stalker.”
“Huh?”
“Running. I’m…I was scouting out some good running trails or paths in good or better neighborhoods.” Nearly tripping over her words, Alex was relieved to see the smile cascade across his face. “I live in an apartment…so…”
“I get it. I’m Bishop, by the way.” Happily, he moved toward her, extending a friendly handshake. Gorgeous…there were no other words to describe him.
“I’m Alex.”
“There’s the park about a mile from here, and this neighborhood’s pretty quiet.”
“Oh. Cool. I’ll have to check the park out sometime.”
“You’ve never been? How far away do you live?”
“Not far.” She wanted to fully engage him in conversation, yet found the situation’s entirety to be somewhat overwhelming.
“That’s good. Been running long?”
“Um…no actually. I was just looking to get into it. Get healthier and all.”
“Really? You look like a runner.”
“Oh? Well thanks. I’m usually just running around.” Stupid!
“Hm. Aren’t we all? Well, my mom’s expecting me.”
His words twisted her innards—she’d quite possibly never see him again.
Halfway turning from her, he seemed almost as taken aback by the situation as she. “Ya know…um. I run almost every day. If you wanted…well, if you’re ever running in the area or like, ever wanted to go run—”
“Like a running partner or a coach or something? That’d be awesome actually.” She felt her throat pulsating—her heart racing. Did I actually just ask this guy to be my running partner literally two minutes post introduction?
His smile widened as he faced her again. “Cool. I don’t know what your schedule’s like but I’m pretty flexible.”
“I could meet you here tomorrow morning…say, seven?”
“To…tomorrow? Oh, okay then. Ambitious, I like it.”
“Yeah. Best just to dive in.”
“Agreed…but ah, you might use a bit more caution before you hit up the running trails with complete strangers. Just saying.”
Digesting his warning, Alex took a second to truly analyze the bizarreness of the encounter. “Yeah, I get that.”
“Again…just kidding. I promise I’m not a creeper.”
“That’s good information.”
“It is…considering I probably need your phone number just in case something changes.”
“Oh…no problem.” Reaching into her vehicle for pen, she also grabbed an old receipt. “I’d write it on your hand but it’s pretty sweaty.”
“Sorry ’bout that.”
“You’re good. Here ya go.”
“Awesome. Lots of water. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Great! Nice to meet you!”
“You too, Alex.”
Her jaw agape, Alex took a moment to absorb the occurrence entirely. Nearly in shock, she drove from the neighborhood with his face etched on her mind. As the situation settled within her brain, she realized just how insane her actions were. To investigate, meet, and make plans with her brother’s lung donor’s family member was something beyond bizarre—it was something deplorable. A sickening feeling of guilt associated with the realization of just how inappropriate her actions were loomed in her gut as she pulled into the apartment complex.
***
No sooner had the plate of spaghetti been placed in front of her brother and he was ravaging it.
“Holy shit, Ty. You hungry?”
His cheeks full of food, he simply smiled in response, his focus remaining on the task at hand.
Filling her plate as well, she sat at the opposite side of the small table in their quiet apartment.
“How was your day with Becca?”
After gulping nearly half a glass of water down, Tyson’s gaze diverted as a smirk crept across his face. It appeared as though he was physically attempting to force his smile down. “Um…good.”
“Okay. Did you kids rob a bank or something?”
“Nope.”
“What did you two do all day?”
Stuffing his mouth full of bread, he looked toward the wall. “Just hung out.”
“Where?”
“Her folks house.”
“Oh.” As she twirled noodles around her fork it suddenly occurred to
her. “Tyson…you said her parents were out of town.”
His eyes widened as he offered a guilty smile.
“You little shit.”
“What?”
“I know exactly what you’ve been doing all day. And I thought you said she wasn’t like that.”
As he sat back in his chair, his smile transformed to smirk—his arms crossing. “She’s not like that. She’s my girlfriend now. Besides, I’m eighteen…it was gonna happen eventually.”
“What? You were a virgin?”
“Ouch…don’t act so surprised.”
“I’m…well I mean I kind of am.”
“’K.” His tone and body language gave the impression that this was not the conversation he wanted to cap his day off with.
“It’s just…you were popular and a ballplayer and—”
“Dying. Sick and dying. What, you thought my situation might get me a pity fuck?”
“Ty.”
“It’s different with her. I like her…a lot. And she likes me. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s natural…it’s normal.” With that, his arms uncrossed and he reached for his fork again.
Following his lead, Alex grabbed her fork too. Her appetite was all but gone, yet she needed a diversion while she formulated her words. “You’re the most normal person I know, Ty. And I’m happy for you. I’d like to meet her sometime.”
Truce came with his genuine smile as he hovered over his plate, devouring his meal. “Only if you promise not to embarrass me.”
“I swear.”
“Cool.”
With supper out of the way and the table cleared, Tyson read from his text book at the dining room table while Alex cleaned the kitchen. The dishes washed and the counters cleaned, she waited for him to stop reading. As soon as he did, she took the opportunity to ask.
“So, Ty…were you still wanting me to help you with that letter?”
“Huh?”
“Ya know. That letter you were going to give to that lady.”
“Oh. Yeah. Eventually.”
“Hm.”
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. I just thought you were going to reach out sooner.”
“I want to…I just have so much going on right now, ya know. When I contact them I want to be in a place where I can give them my full attention—they deserve that.”
“Oh, yeah. For sure. Finish up, Ty. We need to hit up the sporting goods store…I need some running shoes.”
“You need running shoes?”
“There’s only a small chance I’m actually going to need them.”
Chapter Seventeen
Just as the yellow yolks within the pan began to fluff and gain consistency, Bishop felt nauseated at the sight of them. Turning the stove off in the immaculate kitchen, he opted for a fruit-and-nut bar instead.
The morning sun was peering through the window above the sink as Bishop downed a glass of water. Just as he was reaching for his phone, his mother appeared in her gown.
“You’re up early, Bish.”
“Hey, Mom.” Cheerfully, he offered his mother a hug.
“You’re going running?”
“Yep.”
“Lovely. Do you want toast with your eggs?”
“Nah. I don’t want the eggs.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“I don’t know. They sounded good but when I started cooking them but I changed my mind. You can have them.”
“I’ll pass. It’s nice seeing you up this early. It’s not healthy to run in the heat of mid-morning.”
Smiling at his mother, he finally cracked. “I’m actually going running with someone.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I’m meeting her at seven.”
“Her?” His mother gave a curious smile as she made her way to the coffee pot. “It’s not that nasty Jenna girl is it?”
“Jen…hell no.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Nah, just some random girl I met yesterday.”
“Really? Is she pretty?”
“Gorgeous. Brown hair, blue eyes…her smile. She’s beautiful.”
“And…how did you meet?”
“She was actually looking for a place to run. I guess she lives in different neighborhood in an apartment. I was running by and we just got to talking.”
“It’s good to make friends with common interests.”
“It’s good to make friends with different body parts.”
“Bishop.” His mother sported both a scowl and a smile as she chuckled.
“Just kidding. She’s just wanting a running partner for in the mornings. I figured…why not?”
“Well, I’m happy to hear your new friend is health-conscious. Are you sure you don’t want these eggs? I’m going to wash them down the disposal if you don’t.”
“Please do, they smell like ass. Love you, Mom.”
Her arms wrapped around his waist. “I love you too, sweet boy. You are so precious to me.”
“I’ll be back in a while.”
Nearly five minutes after seven and Alex was yet to arrive. Glancing over at his phone once more, Bishop entertained the idea of conjuring a sarcastic message. Just as he began entering her number, her vehicle came into view.
She appeared somewhat disheveled yet Bishop found her smile completely disarming as she parked and walked toward him hastily.
The leggings and Under Amor top she sported showcased her petite and tone figure nicely—yet Bishop only gave her body a glance—his attention was anchored to her face.
Bishop was completely uneducated on cosmetics and other womanly things; however, he could plainly tell that Alex was wearing not a stich of makeup and yet her face was strikingly beautiful even with the bedsheet impressions along the left side.
“I’m so sorry! I overslept.”
The face she made while apologizing—the way her nose slightly scrunched as she bit her bottom lip—left him speechless for nearly three seconds. “What are you talking about? This isn’t boot camp.”
“Ha. Good. I was up late.”
“It’s all good. We can stretch really quickly and take off.”
“Sounds great, coach.”
“I’m diggin’ your new kicks.”
“Huh?”
“Your shoes.”
“Oh…thanks. Yeah no scuffs yet.”
“And the left one still has a tag on the heel.”
“Holy shit…I think I need to go back to bed.”
Alex placed her hand on her forehead as she looked to the ground. Bishop found himself completely entertained by her normalcy. “Nah, you’re good.”
The small talk was just that—slightly awkward and only skin deep, and then they were off. Bishop was sure to pace himself with her, running right by her side.
Pigeons and readers spotted the benches and sat beneath large trees, but the sidewalks were clear for the most part. The park was beautiful and surprisingly still.
Bishop was sure this jog would produce at least a few rest stops for Alex, yet she never once mentioned needing a break or motioned to rest as they jogged down the winding sidewalk under tall oaks and willows.
Nearly thirty minutes later they’d completed the full circle and were back to their vehicles. Panting slightly, Bishop noticed the look of accomplishment and attentiveness in Alex’s eyes.
“Good…good job. I thought you didn’t run, Alex?”
“Oh…I’m…I’m sure I’ll be sore as shit tomorrow.”
“Lots of water.”
“That…won’t be a problem. I’m about to thirst to death.”
“O.J.?”
“Huh?”
“Orange juice? As in, want to grab breakfast?”
“Like this? Um…sure.”
***
“So I was literally like on my seventh mile, just beat, and I come around the corner and there’s this gorgeous blonde girl on one of those hover boards. So, I’m thinkin’, now’s my time to shine…strut and shit. I take off full spe
ed—drenched in sweat—I’m sure I looked ridiculous. I guess while trying to impress this girl, my fatigued feet decide they’re going to conspire to humiliate me.”
The darks of Alex’s eyes anticipated the climax of Bishop’s story as they sat in a corner booth of a hole-in-the-wall diner near the park.
“Just as I reached top speed—as fast as I could go with what reserves I had left, my right foot clipped my left heal and sent me flying through the air, busting my ass in front of this girl and about twelve other people.”
With this, Alex grinned largely, chuckling slightly.
“So I’m like, writhing in pain—legitimately hurt, and bleeding—and I look up to see this girl’s boyfriend laughing at me. It was seriously the worst thing ever. To top it off, I left my phone at the damn house so I couldn’t even call Nathan…so I…so I couldn’t even call for a ride. I just had to hobble home all beat up.”
“Oh. That’s so sad. I won’t lie, I would have laughed at you too, but I would have helped you up and given you a ride home.”
“You’re too kind…you’ve single-handedly restored my faith in humanity. But seriously…if someone asked me to describe my most embarrassing moment or day, that would be it.”
“Ouch. So how would you describe today?”
Her smile—naturally beautiful white teeth—pulled the definition from his lips rather effortlessly. “Beelderig.”
“Huh?”
“It was beautiful. The day’s been beautiful.”
Fading from her face, her smile and whimsical expression gave way to a more serious tone as she seemed to study Bishop briefly.
“So, Mr. Bishop, your accent…it’s quite fascinating.”
“Really? Most people don’t seem to notice anymore. I’ve been here most my life.”
“It’s noticeable.”
“I was born near Cape Town. My parents moved here to practice medicine when I was little.”
“That’s amazing. I’ve never been out of the USA. Do you ever go back home…or, back to South Africa?”
Summoning the waiter for the check, Bishop nodded. “Yeah. Pretty frequently actually. My aunt and uncle live in Johannesburg—they’re both infectious disease epidemiologists. I have cousins there…we’re pretty close. My dad is there now. What about you? What’s your story?”
