Run Like Hell by Elena Andrews Read Free Book Online

and starts snacking like he’s starving. I sip water and text Traci while Jack watches his game. She and Carlos saw a movie earlier and are on their way to eat. She’ll call me later tonight. I thumb through a recent magazine and I snuggle on the couch beside Jack. I can’t help wondering who rang the bell earlier before I sleepily doze off.
     
    I awaken to Jack snuggling against me on the couch.
     
    “Hey sleepyhead,” he murmurs. “I figured I’d let you sleep. You passed out as soon as you sat down.”
     
    I did? I don’t remember being that tired but my body aches from last night.
     
    “I’m sorry, Jack.” I lay against him, enjoying his arms around me.
     
    “Nothing to apologize for. You took a nap and I watched the game on TV.” He kisses the top of my head. “But you still have to tell me how you got that gash on your head and why somebody dropped your wallet off.”
     
    “I know we haven’t talked today,” I begin but Tiger’s wet nose nudges me and I’m torn between the two males in my life I love. I smile sheepishly at Jack. “And now we’ll have to talk outside.” He understands because he has two dogs at home and loves them dearly.
     
    When we’re outside I’m surprised at how late in the day it is. The moon hangs in the sky like a lit paper lantern and a cool breeze blows across my face. I zip up my hoodie against the evening chill. I’m wearing a pair of slip-on-sneakers, not the most fashionable shoes but convenient for walking Tiger.
     
    Jack’s fingers lace through mine. Tiger walks beside us, stopping to sniff and lift his leg periodically but he’s not frantically pulling on his leash. I don’t tell Jack the whole truth about last night. Instead, I tell him that my car ran out of gas, my cell phone died, and I walked to the gas station, where I met Traci since she received my last text. Regarding my cuts and bruises, I tell him I stumbled through some bushes and fell on my way to the gas station.
     
    I don’t want Jack knowing about my lapse in judgment. Getting into that guy’s car is a secret between Traci and I and I want it to remain that way. I tell him my wallet must’ve fallen out of my purse when I was jogging to the gas station in the dark. He’s convinced it’s his fault since we didn’t ride together and he didn’t have his cell phone with him. Plus, he’s upset that I walked to the gas station in the dark.
     
    “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?” His hand squeezes mine protectively.
     
    Um, yeah. I have a pretty good idea. His question lingers but he’s distracted when we turn onto my street and he notices a black car parked next to his in my driveway.
     
    “Who owns the Jaguar?”
     
    It’s easy to spot her. She’s sitting on my porch smoking a cigarette and waving her hands in the air at the two of us. Tiger recognizes her and I release his leash so he can run over and greet her. He knocks her backward but she manages to keep the lit cigarette away from him, finally grinding it on the walkway with her stiletto shoe once the dog eases up on her.
     
    She’s laughing and smiling and I can tell Jack is processing her appearance – tight jeans, tank top with spaghetti straps barely supporting her large breasts, and tattoos on her arms and back. Her black hair hangs long and loose. She’s incredibly sexy and beautiful, and she also happens to be my mother’s younger sister.
     
    Jack can barely keep his eyes off her. I swat him playfully. “Jack, this is my Aunt Rory.”
     
    Jack’s mouth hangs open even wider, much to my humiliation. He’s supposed to be drooling over me this weekend, not my aunt. It occurs to me that Jack has never met Rory. Weird, considering that Jack and I have been friends for years.
     
    Tiger’s still licking Rory but she stands, surprisingly steady on her high heels. “Nice to meet you, Jack.”
     
    Jack foolishly stares instead of talks so I speak instead. “Have you been here long?