9. Watch Where Youre Going!
nine
Jack
There is nothing that I love more than getting up early and going for a run. Lilly Leaf Falls this early in the morning is a thing of beauty.
It’s so quiet.
So peaceful.
I don’t even listen to music during these runs so that I can completely get lost in the nature around me. Usually, when I’m lifting weights, I love some rock music blaring through my headphones.
But these morning jogs are different.
When I lived in Miami, I didn’t ever get any type of quiet time like this. My life was a constant go-go-go. Sure, working out was a release for me, but it was also part of my job. That made it far less relaxing.
Now, I will soak in these moments every chance I get.
Every morning, I get up while it’s still dark out. I kiss my dog goodbye who stares at me from the empty side of the bed before she inevitably falls back asleep. And I head out here to run while the sun comes up.
Well, let me rephrase because it’s not sunny all that often.
I run while the sky lights up, even if it’s painted with clouds.
My feet hit the ground at a decent pace as I breathe in the crisp morning air.
As I turn to head down a different trail, I spot a deer through the trees and immediately stop to take a look. He lifts his large head to look right back at me. We make eye contact for a good five seconds before something hard slams into my side.
Did another deer attack me or something?
I look down, prepared to help a wounded animal or something. But it’s no animal. It’s Liz Lawson.
Without thinking, I spit, “Do you ever watch where you’re going?”
“Yes,” she groans, rubbing her head. “I can’t help it that you’re as big as a motherfucking tree. And hard as one, too. Shit.”
“Man, you’ve got a mouth on you,” I say, a little surprised.
“Oh, you have no idea.”
I’m sure I can imagine.
“What are you doing out here?” She asks.
“Me?! What are you doing out here?”
“Don’t ask me my own question,” she grumbles while standing up and dusting herself off.
It’s another day of athletic clothes and a ponytail for her.
Answering her, I say, “I come out here every morning to run because it’s quiet. Well, it was quiet.”
Anger pulses through my veins. Liz Lawson can come in and act like a jerk all she wants. She can intrude on my business or whatever else. But my running time is mine. That’s a compromise that I refuse to make.
“I came out here to run, too,” she says.
“I was here first. Find somewhere else,” I sternly say.
She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You don’t own these trails. Besides, I used to run these when I was a kid. So, technically, I was here first.”
“You left. That means you forfeit your rights to the trails.”
That earns me an eye roll. “Are you twelve?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, ready to go to battle, I say, “I didn’t take you for the running type. Is this really something you enjoy doing, or are you just out here to fuck with me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, Paul Bunyan.”
“Paul Bunyan?”
She gives me a quick head nod. “Yeah, because you look like a lumberjack. Get it? I can come up with nicknames, too.” The smug look on her face shows just how proud she is of herself for that one.
“Yeah, I got it.”
“But as I was saying, don’t flatter yourself. I would rather stay as far away from you as I possibly can. But—”.
She stops mid-sentence.
“But what?” I press.
“Nothing.”
“No, you started it. Finish your thought.”
I have no idea why I care.
“For your information, I love to run. It’s the only thing that keeps me sane. I came out here because I thought I”d be alone. I know a lot of people are talking about me behind my back, and this was an opportunity to do something I love without all the eyes on me.”
For the first time since I met her a couple of days ago, I see something that I haven’t seen before.
Vulnerability.
There’s a crack in that tough armor of hers. And as much as I hate to admit it, I recognize something in the way that she’s feeling.
I had millions of eyes on me when my life fell apart. To get away from them all, I moved across the country to start a whole new life. I may not have details of what happened to her, but I can empathize more than I’d like to admit.
My chest which was just puffed out, ready for a fight, has now calmed down as I see a glimpse of a real person under her bitchy exterior.
I take off my baseball cap and run my hand through my hair before putting it back on.
“Look, these trails are pretty extensive. I’m sure that you and I can both come running here in the mornings, and it will be fine. We probably won’t even cross paths.”
“Really?” She eyes me like she thinks I’m lying.
“Really.”
“Why?”
“How about you just appreciate the gesture and don’t ask any more questions?” I say.
She thinks for a moment as if wondering if she should continue to push the issue. In the end, she thinks better of it, though, and just nods and gives a quiet, “Thanks.”
Every time she has to say that word, I think it pains her a little bit. Something about it is kind of cute…in a still very annoying kind of way.
We stand looking at each other for a moment, neither of us quite sure if there’s anything else to say. A heavy awkwardness lies between us, and I don’t think it’s going away any time soon.
Finally, I decide to be the first one to leave this situation. “Well, I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, okay,” she says, and we both start jogging once again.
The problem is that we both start running in the exact same direction. So much for us being able to avoid each other. The next time the trail splits, I’ll make sure I go in the opposite direction.
Because I’ll be damned if this woman takes this away from me.