Chapter 19
Lilla
The minute Jace turns to leave, I haul ass to my office.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, closing the door, I pace my office floor, damn near burning a hole, releasing a big breath, my thoughts start spiraling out of control.
Great, now I have to move, start over again, find a new house, a new job, a new life.
I can’t be here with him, in my town, in my space, after he just left.
My pacing becomes frantic as I speed walk the tile, turning swiftly just before hitting each end of the room.
Breathe bitch. Breathe. We don’t let assholes win, right?
He’s an asshole. This is my fucking town, my office, my life, my space.
No. He doesn’t get to come back here all sexy with a smile that makes me weak in the knees, ohhhh no, big muscled man, not today.
I sink into my office chair, turning in circles, pumping myself up.
Deep in thought, my office door opens, and Vicky steps in, “You have a client ready in room three. Are you okay in there?” I know I look like a mess. I can feel the sweat dripping from my hairline. My chest rises and falls hard, as if I’ve just run for miles. Standing up, I march over to Vicky.
“Very good, I’m fine, I’m absolutely perfectly without a doubt, A-Ok, perfectly fine.” She watches me as I struggle to clip on my badge, the one I didn’t realize I had ripped off in my downward spiral.
“Hmm, would this have anything to do with the hunk who just left, because he was very curious about you?” She pulls her vibrant yellow glasses to the tip of her nose, looking at me through the tops with a cheeky smile.
Sliding my hands down my white coat, I march to her, “What did you tell him? When I opened, how long I've been here, what I do, where I live, my birthday, did you tell him what days we are closed?” My heart is throbbing against my chest, and Vicky’s almost hurling over in laughter.
Vicky backs up into the hallway, “Sugar, I told him everything, even your favorite color.” Ugh, I want to stomp my feet like a child and wage war on the person who let him back in this town.
“Relax, honey, I only made his sweet dog's follow-up appointment, and told him we look forward to seeing him, because do we ever. He was yummy.” I drop my head back, looking up at the ceiling.
“Ugh, don’t remind me.” I compose myself before sliding into room three.
A week has passed since I saw Jace, since he stood in my bubble, in my office, with his soft-spoken words that came out in his demanding tone; he’s always possessive. Haley got a kick out of the meltdown, but I knew she feared what his being back here would do to me. I did too.
For almost eight years, I have done everything in my power to forget the never-ending fall I endured.
I can’t say it was all his fault; I chose to lose myself, but what I didn’t decide was to pick up the pieces he left.
I was officially ‘the boyfriend stealer.’ The slut who stole Ava’s boyfriend and ran off, oh, then gave him my virginity.
I didn’t intentionally steal him. I didn’t ask him to save me, but in doing so, I became a walking target, and the shots they fired were deadly.
To put the thoughts away, I decide to head to the gym, my sanctuary, where growth is seen and felt.
The gym has only three people in it, just how I like it.
Well, I would prefer to be here alone, where I can grunt and scream while giving it my all, but we can’t always get what we want.
I start on the treadmill, getting my heart pumping and blood flowing; with my iPod nano set up and ready with my workout beats, I slip in my earbuds and get running.
Once I’m feeling the burn from the cardio, I jump off and head for the leg press machine.
Loud music silences all outside noise as I complete each set with stability and stamina.
Sweat drips down my face as I push with everything I have.
Completing a full body workout, working out my anxiety and fear that I will falter.
This is my town. I walk out the rest of my frustrations, tipping my head back, talking myself up, I will not fail.
I am stronger now. I’m Lilla fucking Lane, no damsel in distress, not anymore.
I shake my head and my arms, letting out the tension and thoughts, numbing myself, just as I trained myself to do.
Grabbing my towel, I wipe my drenched, red-hot face before chugging my water bottle.
Sitting on the bench, slowing down my intense breathing, and refueling everything I just unleashed.
A large man in a grey cut-off shirt and gym shorts stands next to me, placing his gym bag on the bench, his dark coal eyes find mine.
Just as I remove my earbuds, his deep voice reaches me, “Looks like you had a helluva a workout?” His thick eyebrows arch as he asks the question, then a smirk lifts his full lips, showing off his snowy-white teeth.
“Yeah, it was much needed.” He laughs, running his hand along his short obsidian beard.
“Gotta watch out, she’s fiesty, always has been.” I jump to my feet, capturing the attention of Mr. Nosey and Captain Asshole, flying off the bench as if it’s on fire.
Turning towards Jace, I stare him down. He wears black athletic shorts and a bro tank, matching his friend. Cute. I roll my eyes, looking towards Jace, “You.” Standing up, I grab my stuff off the floor. Jace’s neck muscles flex as he looks at his partner with a grin, then back at me.
“It’s Jace, in case you forgot, and this is Hayden.” I wave at Hayden and give him a kind smile, turning back to Jace, with shooting daggers and pressed lips.
“Hmm, it’s Lilla, in case YOU forgot. Hayden, nice to meet you.
” Throwing my towel over my shoulder, I pass them, shoulder-checking Jace.
Looking at Hayden, I see his cheeks lifted so high in a smile that I laugh.
“Keep an eye on this one, he’s quite a magician; he has the disappearing act down.
” Jace’s brows furrow together as I turn back around, making my way towards the gym door.
Hayden yells in my direction, “Nice to meet you, Lilla!” I send him a wave back.
“Yeah, nice to see you again, Lil!” Just as I push the door open, I flip Jace off, sending him the middle finger, without looking back. Jerk.