Page 12 of Fight

“Busy traveling to aquariums to train those dolphins?”

He grins. “You know it. But seriously, if you ever want to jog together, shoot me a text.”

What’s his endgame? I raise an eyebrow. “Are you hitting on me?”

He extends his arm in front of me, and we slow our gait, coming to a halt at the intersection of another street.

“Real talk. I’m not just giving you a line. There can be a lot of nomads in town for work. Not all of them are someone I’dwant you to run into by yourself. I’d say the same thing to my sister.”

I catch my breath and study his features, searching for any sign of insincerity. “I’m not a big fan of talking when I run,” I state.

“We don’t have to talk.”

“I’m just trying to learn my way around town.”

“Want a personal tour? Okay,nowI might be hitting on you a little bit.”

There’s that smile again. He’s determined.

“Maybe. But I should probably head home, I’ve got an early morning,” I say, turning right at the intersection.

“It was nice running into you,” he says.

I wave goodbye and take a few more steps backward. “Get home safely, I hear there’s some weirdos in this town,” I joke.

Cal smirks. “Consider my offer?”

“I’ll think about it.” Spinning around, I return to my jogging pace.

“That’s not a no,” he calls after me,

“It’s not a yes,” I shout back, turning my head to the side.

I take another right at the next intersection and return to my apartment. I smile seeing my building, gaining confidence in my newfound independence. Though, once I get inside my studio, my smile slips. After looking at all those pretty houses, it’s a pathetic sight with a floor mattress and a laundry basket filled with a few of my belongings. The road to Spencer Avenue will be a long one. My apartment has a damp, musty smell, and I make a mental note to get a candle or something when I have some extra money to splurge.

In the small bathroom, I yank the sweatshirt over my head. Red splotches on my chest match the ones on my cheeks after the run in the brisk air. I turn on the water in the shower and frown at the weak water pressure. My phone buzzes in my hip pocket, and I tug it out, then peel off the leggings.

Cal the liar

Checking in to make sure you got home safely.

Even locked my door to keep out the riff raff.

Callahan Woods. I go into my contact settings and change his name to just Callahan.

Callahan

Smart girl.

I bite my lip as the butterflies invade my stomach again. Talking to Callahan is like getting a hit of dopamine. It’s invigorating. I like flirting with him, it’s fun and exciting and new. Makes me forget who I am or where I come from. After stripping from my sports bra and underwear, I step under the shower spray and drag the flimsy curtain across the rod.

“Someday…” I promise aloud, “things will be different.”

This time, the silence doesn’t creep in around me. Maybe it’s simply the high from running, but my heart feels almost… light? I quietly hum a song I heard on the radio. Even the music is better on the outside.

My phone dings with a new fire assignment in Oregon.

“Shit.”