Page 7 of Punt

I held onto my towel with one hand and trotted back across the wide kitchen and up the stairs to the top story. I reached the landing just as Bernice hurried past, dusting cloths in hand.

Phew, that was close.

I grimaced at myself. I was a grown man, she was my employee. She should be watching out for me, not the other way around.

Of course, she wasn't the one walking around in a towel. She wasn't that kind of housekeeper. Naked cleaners were a thing, but my mother would kill me if I hired any. Unless they were men and she was allowed to watch. Then she'd kill me afterward and blame me for corrupting her.

As if she needed my help. I'd seen the books she liked to read. Romance which was heavy on the spice and usually involved multiple men with one woman. She waswayahead of me. She still hated when anyone said the word 'ass'. Women were complicated.

I hurried into my room and tugged on a pair of jeans and a green t-shirt. One of the things I loved the most about Bernicewas that she didn't mind coming into my room and picking up my dirty clothes off the floor. I could just drop things all over and the next day they'd be clean and back in their drawers or on hangers.

In spite of my mother's constant reminding, I never got the hang of cleaning up after myself. Until I tripped over a pile of crap on the floor. That was the only incentive which actually worked. Okay, it worked when I didn't just get up off the floor and kick the pile aside. Which was most of the time.

All right, I'd probably never learn. That was what Bernice was for.

I pulled on socks and a pair of old sneakers. I loved these shoes. Bernice had thrown them away several times, but I pulled them out of the bin and put them back in my cupboard.

So one had a hole near the toe. They were still comfortable.

I headed back down stairs and managed to make it without falling over my own feet.

I grabbed my phone. Brandi had called a third time, but still no message. I'd call her when I got back. I needed to hurry to make it across town.

Honestly, I wasn't sure why it was important to me to be on time. Something in Ashley's tone convinced me not to mess her around. She'd sounded upset. No, more than that, she sounded like she'd lost her best friend. What the hell that had to do with me, I have no idea. I guess I'd find out soon enough.

I grabbed my helmet on the way out the door and jammed it onto my head.

Some of the appeal of heading over to Waves was taking the chance to ride my bike. I liked my SUV well enough, but my bike was my first love. The rush of whizzing through the streets, wind on my face, machine between my legs. It was second only to playing football for sheer thrill. If crowds cheered while I rode, I might give up football and ride more often.

Since that wouldn't pay the bills, I stuck to riding when I could.

I led my girl out to the driveway and mounted. With the engine thrumming like a purr, I pointed her toward the road and gunned her into life.

With a roar, I rode toward Waves, my mouth closed so I didn't eat bugs as I went. I'd learned my lesson on that one, the hard way. Flies don't make good food.

Burgers, on the other hand, let me at them.

CHAPTER 3

ASHLEY

I arrived early, because of course I did. I hated it when people were late. I hated being late myself even more.

As a senior buyer for Lacey's, the biggest department store in the country, my job depended on me being reliable. That included being on time, every time, even when the people I met with rarely were. I'd still smile and thank them for meeting with me. Some days my face ached from smiling and my nerves were shredded from waiting. I loved my job, but dealing with people was the hardest part of it.

I ordered a glass of Chardonnay from John, one of the owners of Waves, and flopped into a worn, dark blue lounge chair to wait. Glass in one hand, phone in the other, I scrolled through an endless feed on social media.

Funny how everyone's lives went on, while mine had come to a screeching halt. Did no one know my heart lay in a thousand pieces on the footpath in front of my building? Right next to that stupid dinosaur costume Kris probably rolled up and shoved into his car.

Part of me wanted to call him and see where he was, and if he was in as much pain as I was.

I clicked on his profile. My breath caught in my throat. He still had it marked as 'in a relationship with Ashley'. Next to that was a photo of us on holiday in Cairns last year. We were both grinning like crazy. He wore that silly hat with the fan on top.

I smiled, but it turned into a long sigh. I pressed on my own profile and changed the status to 'single.' It would lead to a flood of messages from well-meaning friends, but leaving it as it was felt like a lie. Itwasa lie. Kris and I were done. Nothing would change that.

I turned my phone off and placed it on the table. I glanced toward the door, but saw no sign of Chase. It occurred to me then that he might not show up. Why would he? He didn't really know me. Just because I asked him to come here didn't mean he actually would.

He probably had a life doing— Whatever it was he did. Kris mentioned something about sport, but I couldn't remember the details. Maybe he worked in a sports shop, or taught at one of the local schools.