by Rosa Foxxe
Cindy nodded; a wide grin on her face. “Yeah. I mean, I’m still a little bit sore and my vision keeps going out of focus. But I’m alive, so that’s good.” At my expression her own faltered. “I’m really okay with it, Michelle.”
“It was shitty luck, plain and simple,” said Taryn, stopping either of us from continuing our current train of thought. “But we’re fine. I’ve got some nasty ribs and Cindy has a head wound. So she gets a cool haircut out of this.”
“And you?”
Taryn shrugged. “I went through worse overseas. This? This is nothing.” The silence that hung after her statement made Taryn wince. “Not what I meant,” she said. With a sigh, I scrubbed my hands through my hair and shook my head. This was too much. “So, how’s Tom?” asked Taryn, changing the subject. I smiled, grateful for the subject change.
“He’s fine. No extensive injury, just shock.”
“Yeah, I’ve passed out from shock,” said Taryn. “Embarrassing, but relieving when you wake up. You’re not hurt, anyway.”
I nodded and looked over my shoulder to the hallway. “I was thinking of maybe going to go visit him,” I said. My hands twitched in an aborted shrug and I stuffed them into my pockets. My hoodie was soft on the inside and it soothed the half-healed cuts on my hands that came from everything that had happened in the last few days.
“You should,” said Cindy. “For him, anyway. I mean, he’s your bodyguard Michelle. It’s his job to protect you. Let him know you’re all right, right?” Her fingers went to grab hair that was no longer there and I winced. Cindy’s hands fell back to her lap and she fiddled with her cards. “Ice wave.” She tossed another card onto the pile between them.
Taryn stared. “Oh come on!” I laughed and stepped back out of the room. That was a cue to leave if I’d never seen one.
It was two hallways and a short elevator ride to Tom’s room. I knew that from the receptionist who’d let me through to see everyone. Every step was a challenge. I didn’t know what to say to Tom when I say him. What did you say to someone who’d saved your life? Thanks? Good job? Neither seemed enough for what he’d done last night. Neither seemed worthy to be spoken in his presence. I grimaced, wondering if I should have been there at all. He probably wanted nothing to do with the woman who’d put him in the hospital.
My footsteps seemed to echo in the hallways as I walked. The white walls stared almost accusingly at me. Should I have gone to the gift shop? And bought what – flowers or chocolate? Nothing seemed adequate. I sighed. The man who I had scorned and shouted at had saved my life without a thought. He could have died if not for the bullet proof vest. I’d been serious about the touching thing, but the rest might have been overboard. The snark, the anger, and the sneaking away. All of it seemed rash and immature now.
His room was number 501 and I stood outside for a minute, leaning against the blue painted door frame. He was lying in his bed, eyes closed. I took a few hesitant steps into the room. Flowers from my father rested on the table next to the window, right next to the chair on which Tom’s bulletproof vest hung. I couldn’t help but stare at it. I’d never seen one up close. I was almost certain Taryn had put hers through a wood chipper when she’d gotten back from being deployed. It was heavier than I expected and the weight was solid in my hands.
“I owe it my life.” I jumped and dropped the vest back onto the chair. It landed with a dull thud that shook the chair. Behind me, Tom was sitting up in his bed, his back against the stacked pillows. I bit my lip and shuffled awkwardly away from the bed. “Are you all right, Michelle?” I managed a nod and stared out the window. What was wrong with me? This man had saved my life – I should thank him. A small bubble of anger bubbled in my stomach, pointing out that fact that I have never asked for this man to be part of my life. I shoved it down and smiled at Tom.
“I came to thank you,” I said, keeping my voice was calm as I could.
Tom’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?” The incredulous tone in his voice made me frown. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, but really?” He laughed, shaking his head. “I thought you hated me.”
“I did. Actually, I might still if you don’t stop.” He nodded and zipped his lips. I was reminded, for a moment, of elementary school. Tom struck me as the kind of guy to survey the playground from the monkey bars and shoot bullies with rocks from them. I giggled.
“What?”
“I’m picturing you in coverall shorts with a slingshot,” I said. Tom’s eyes went wide, his cheeks flushing for a second. The image made me laugh even harder.
“I don’t look that good in shorts,” he said.
My gaze flicked across his splayed form and a teasing smile played across my lips. “I don’t know,” I said. “I think you’d look good in just about anything.” Tom smirked at me, his eyes teasing. It took me a second, but then I realized what I’d just said and bit my lip. “Sorry, that might have been a bit too Taryn.”
He chuckled. It was a low, throaty sound that sent shivers up my spine. I twitched to keep myself from rubbing my shoulders. “I don’t mind.” There was something in his expression as he said it that super-heated my insides. I shook my head, a smile on my face as I fought down the sudden wave of arousal.
“You’re something, you know that.” Outside the room, there was a crash as a nurse’s food tray banged into the wall. The spell broken, I looked away from Tom and coughed in discomfort. “Do you know when you’ll be allowed out of the hospital?” I asked. The tiles of the floor suddenly seemed much more interesting than Tom. A flush rose to my cheeks. He was a handsome man, so the reaction wasn’t completely unexpected – no more than that earlier burst of arousal – but I couldn’t help but curse this permanent embarrassment. He had saved my life and I had thanked him, hadn’t I? What more was there to it?
“A few days at most, they said. Hopefully two.” I swore I could hear him smiling. “Then I’ll be back to chasing after you.” I choked back a cough at his tone. Chasing me? Is that what he thought it was? The heat rushed back to my face and I clenched on fist in my lap. I couldn’t place this emotion, though it was somewhere between anger and annoyance.
Turning to the window, I stared out at the frost covered grass, untouched by most in the hospital court yard. I took a deep breath to calm myself before I spoke again. “You don’t have to chase, you know,” I said. “I get it, I was immature. I mean, I’m still not going to let you into my apartment when I’m sleeping, but I think it’s time I stopped running.”
“Oh?” Tom’s voice was so soft I almost missed it completely.
I replied, “Yeah. You’re doing your best, so it’s the least I can do.” I laughed, nervous, and scrubbed at my hair. It was a mess from sleeping, but I hadn’t bothered to do anything but pull it back into a loose ponytail. The animals didn’t care what I looked like, so I never bothered in the morning. “So I think next time we’re together I won’t run screaming in the other direction.”
“I’d appreciate it. Might make my job a lot easier.”
“A lot less interesting though.” I grinned. He laughed and grinned in return.
“True enough,” I replied. For a little while, neither of us spoke. I watched the last of the leaves fall from their branches and drift down to the frozen grass. Clouds gathered above and sent deep shadows across the few paths where people walked. The room was likewise cast in shadow, despite the overhead light, and my eyes drifted across it. I fidgeted, unsure of what to say in this small, white room with its mysterious occupant.
“You’re ex-navy, right?” I asked after a while. “My Dad told me that when he introduced you.”
Tom did a double take, blinking. “Yeah,” he said. “SEAL, actually, but he told you that too.”
“It shows,” I said. Tom cocked an eyebrow in question. “Taryn’s ex-army and she guessed it by your stance before I even mentioned it to her.” Tom let out a low whistle of appreciation. “Yeah, she’s good with that stuff.” Another minute of silence passed and I stood, co
ughing awkwardly. “Well, I should get going or else my boss is going to wonder where I am.”
“Where do you work? Your father didn't fill me in yet.”
“I’m a vet,” I said. “Have been for a few years.” Tom nodded and I walked to the door, pausing with my hand on the frame. “Get well soon, Tom, I’m not done terrorizing you yet.”
“Joy,” he said. A smile touched his eyes though, and I knew he was joking. “Have a safe trip, Michelle.” His low voice when he said my name sent another shiver down my spine and I twitched, hoping he wouldn’t notice. No one in the world should have been allowed to say my name like that. I shook my head and walked out the door, not bothering with anymore good-byes. As I walked down the hall I patted my cheeks to get rid of the heat that still insisted on rushing through them.
It wasn’t that the attraction surprised me, or the sudden rush of lust. He was attractive enough and it had been a while since I had found company in anything but the neon colors inside my bedside table. I knew it was only natural, but still, I couldn’t help but shake my head at it. My bodyguard was the object of my lust. Even if I wanted to sleep with him – which I shouldn’t, and, for the most part, I wasn’t even sure if I did – it would have been a conflict of interest.
I sighed and walked out of the hospital, still shaking my head. It was rare that fantasies made any sense, and this was no different. Besides, if I couldn’t sleep with him, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to, the way he said my voice and the way he laughed would fuel my fantasies for a few weeks at least. Grinning, I jogged to the bus stop. Until then, though, I had work and my friends to think about. I’d worry about Tom once he was back on his feet.
Chapter 5
A week later, not long after Tom had been released from the hospital, I woke up before the sunrise. The first signs of winter had well and truly set in by then. Early morning frost coated the ground well into the afternoon and almost every brightly colored leaf had fallen in the city.
That morning, I pulled on my running gear and grabbed my music player. Twisting the doorknob, I headed out the door of my apartment. Tom was waiting for me down in the lobby. He wore sweat pants and a hoodie – a sharp contrast to my tank top and tight, black shorts.
I grinned when I caught him staring at my outfit. “Like what you see?” I asked, wiggling my hips for emphasis. Tom flushed and ducked his head, coughing and looking at the ground.
“Won’t you freeze dressed like that…” His eyes flicked up to me for a second and he swallowed, trailing off mid sentence
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You don’t run much, do you?” I asked. He shook his head. “Then prepare to be schooled.” Without waiting for his response, I shoved my headphones into my ears and jogged out of the lobby and into the city. The first mile of my run was always a warm-up. Stretching did part of the work, but nothing beat a good jog for a warm-up. As I turned the first corner, Tom fell into step behind me. I wasn’t sure if he was staying back to watch the surroundings, or because he couldn’t keep up. I pretended it was the second one and picked up my pace.
The dark of the sky lightened as we ran. It was only now beginning to lighten to deep, grey-streaked blue. All around us, the city slept. I breathed deeply. Early morning air had a sharp, untouched smell to it that always raised the hairs on my arms. I could see my breath as I ran, but I didn’t feel the cold even in my shorts. Few cars drove the frost covered streets this early, and even fewer people walked them. I took another breath, watched the way it dissipated in front of me, and picked up my pace. The warm-up jog faded into a run – not quite a sprint, not yet. The sidewalks beneath my feet did not betray my destination. I turned the next corner and headed toward the city’s waterfront.
My focus slipped from my surroundings and turned inward to my running. My feet pounded in rhythm with my heart. The heavy bass of my music set the speed of my run. I let my breaths come in deep, steady sets. As my focus sharpened on these, the rest of the world faded away. For a while, there was nothing else. Nothing but the heavy music in my ear buds and the beat of my feet and my heart.
It was half an hour later when the waterfront came into view. I swung left at the next corner and pushed myself into a sprint. The muscles of my legs flexed, feeling the burn completely in the last stretch. My shoes slapped the ground as my music reached its crescendo. I bolted across the park, leapt over a rock, and touched down with a slight skid. The water was mere feet away when I slowed to a stop. Bending over with my hands on my knees, I reminded myself to breathe. My ear buds fell into the dip of my sports bra, but I couldn’t be bothered to pull them out.
It took all of my concentration to force myself to keep the steady, deep breaths I had maintained for most of my run. In and out, I reminded myself. One breath at a time. As I breathed I could feel my heart rate slowing down.
Beside me, Tom came to a stop as well. His own breathing was fast and uneven and he was soaked from head to toe. His face was drenched, his hair and hoodie were sticking to his skin, and he was redder than the apples I kept in my kitchen. All in all, it was quite the sight to behold. I couldn’t quite believe it. Here was Tom, a SEAL who had taken down kidnappers only days before, defeated by a simple run.
“Not bad,” I managed to say. A smile broke the rhythm of my breathing for a moment.
He shook his head. “God, you are fast,” he said between gulping breaths. I started to laugh, but choked after a few seconds. Still coughing, I looked out over the water. On the horizon, the sky had turned from deep blue to streaking orange-red. Slivers of pale, yellow light scarred the water and broke the solid blood tinted sunlight. I managed to slow my breathing again as I watched the colors. “Do you do this every morning?” asked Tom. I didn’t answer at first; I continued to stare out at the water. Pale pink and purple were flicking into the clouds now, and what was left of the navy sky bled into the ocean, leaving behind yellow, orange, and palest blue.
“Every morning I can,” I finally replied. Tom started, his head twisting to look at me. He had been as enthralled with the sunrise as me. “You know, for a Navy SEAL, you startle easily.”
He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was trained to keep an eye out for enemies and threats to the country, not joggers who enjoy sunrises.”
“Fair enough,” I replied. I stretched my arms over my head and yawned. “Now this,” I said, gesturing toward the water, “this is the best part of my day. Everything is quiet and peaceful – the world is asleep, the sun is just coming up.” I sighed. “Times like this I like living in the city.”
“Huh.”
I looked at him. “What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing, just… you surprise me, every time we talk.”
“You expected me to be some kind of… aggressive, daddy-hating, dance girl, didn’t you?” I asked. I folded my arms and shook my head at him.
“Yes,” he admitted. “Your first words were to me were to tell me to not to touch you.”
I shrugged. “I don’t regret that, I don’t like people touching me. And besides, I had had a long night.” I didn’t have to make excuses. Tom was nice, but he didn’t need to know my life story inside of a month of us meeting. It simply wasn’t how I worked.
“All right, I can understand that.” He rolled his shoulders and lifted his chin.
“You really are military,” I murmured.
“How do you know that?” asked Tom. “I know your father told you I was a SEAL, but you’ve pointed out a dozen details about my military background since we met on your own. As far as I know, you aren’t military, so how do you know them?”
“My friend, Taryn, the flirty one, she’s ex-military. I mentioned her before. She had you clocked as navy before she said a word to you. I distinctly remember you thinking she was impressive.” Tom nodded. “Anyway, she picks it out and I have picked up some of her skills over the years.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking,” said Tom. “Why is she ex-military?”
“I don’t know the whole story myself, she never told me.” I shrugged. “But Taryn went overseas, as a foot soldier. The things she saw… they couldn’t have been good.” With a sigh, I shook head. “But she manages, and I know she and Cindy are closer. Closer than we are, at any rate.” Tom nodded, pressing his lips together.
“I’ve seen some things too, that I wish I hadn’t seen. It’s the price of living the way we do,” he said. He fell silent after that, his shoulders hunched and his gaze flicking back to water. The sunrise had finished now, but a faint pink remained on the horizon. I shuffled awkwardly, rubbing at my arm and wondering what to do next.
“Michelle?”
“Yeah?” I looked back at Tom. In my running shoes, I realized just how much shorter I was than him.
“Thank you, for showing me this.”
I smiled, my eyes crinkling. “Everyone deserves to see the sunrise over the ocean. It’s one of the best and most relaxing things in the world.” He nodded. “You’re welcome.” Then I reached out, half-heartedly slugged him in the shoulder, and jogged backward away. “Race you back!” I called. With that, I spun on my heels and bolted for the street.
