The Baby Thief by L. J. Sellers Read Free Book Online

She hadn’t really been anywhere since meeting Eric at the coffee shop, except once to the gym. For the first time in her life, Jenna now carried a little can of hot pepper spray her apartment manager had pressed on her. As a tall, muscular woman, Jenna had never worried much about being attacked. Now she felt like a victim and she hated it.
    She hadn’t figured out what to do about Eric either. For now, she’d asked him not to call her, claiming she needed time to herself. The truth was, she was scared. Loving and losing someone like Eric would be more than she could take. Jenna felt paralyzed. She was afraid to let their relationship move forward, yet she couldn’t let Eric go.
    Going through the motions, Jenna grabbed a blueberry bagel out of the fridge and sat down at the table with the newspaper. She stared at the front page for five minutes without comprehending a word. Her head was a mess and her brain jumped from one negative thought to another.
    She pushed the paper aside and poured herself a cup of coffee. It was only after she’d taken her first sip she realized she’d already eaten her bagel. Food had lost its importance over the last year, and eating fast was against the rules. Today she didn’t care. She’d probably drop two pounds during the run. Even that didn’t cheer her.
    As she drank her second cup of Italian brew, her phone rang. Jenna jumped to answer it. As soon as she picked it up, she regretted it. This would be bad news.
    “Jenna, it’s Katrice. I know you’ll be disappointed, but I can’t run with you today.”
    “Don’t say that.”
    “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I twisted my ankle playing basketball yesterday.”
    “Why didn’t you call me last night?” Jenna tried not to sound upset. Katrice, a bartender at Geronimo’s, had been her best friend since she moved to Eugene. It wasn’t right to make her feel bad about something she couldn’t help.
    “I was afraid you’d decide not to run if I called last night. I know you’re dressed and ready now and drinking that killer coffee, so you’ll go anyway.”
    “You know me too well.”
    “I’m sorry. You sound so down.”
    “Don’t worry. I was bummed before you called.”
    “What about?” Katrice sounded surprised. “It’s not like you to get depressed.”
    “Nothing. Everything. I woke up feeling weird.” Jenna started to tell her about the dream, then changed her mind. Katrice was superstitious, even mystical about such things. “I haven’t been myself since the robbery, but I’ll bounce back, don’t worry. I’d better go. Since you’re not picking me up, I have to catch the next bus.”
    “You don’t have to ride the bus.”
    “Yes, I do. I can’t rationalize driving such a short distance by myself, and I’m not leaving my bike in the park for three hours even if it is locked. I paid too much for it to let some junkie with bolt cutters have it.”
    “You’re a bit much sometimes, you know?” Katrice was half serious. Like everyone else, she thought Jenna’s commitment to environmental issues was excessive. “This is about that guy, isn’t it?” Katrice was friendly now, teasing her. “The reporter you told me about.”
    “That’s a big part of it.”
    “Go out with him and see what happens. What if he’s your soul mate and you let him get away? You think you’re unhappy now?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Just do it. It’ll make you feel better, I guarantee.” Advice from a person who believed in lucky stars.
    “I’ll see you later.” Jenna hung up, not giving her friend a chance to protest.
    She finished her coffee and headed out the door before she could change her mind. She’d promised herself she would do this and she would, but it had seemed like a better idea at the time.
    * * *
    Eric couldn’t find a parking place within three blocks of Skinner Butte Park. Jogging from his car to the registration table had made his heart hammer like a set of cylinders in the Indy 500. He had