The Other Side of Someday by T. K. Leigh Read Free Book Online Page B

into’ him?”
    “I’m not sure, but maybe just being friends is what I need right now. Hell, I’ve only been divorced a little over a month. I was in that relationship for twelve years. Maybe I just need to know what it’s like to be single again.”
    “You can be single and still have fun,” Sophia reminded me.
    “And that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

C HAPTER F IVE

    D URING THE NIGHT , SEVEN little dwarfs had crawled into my skull, mining for diamonds or gold or whatever it was they did before calling it a day and singing “Heigh-Ho” all the way back to their little dwarf cottage. At least, thanks to all the wine I had consumed the previous evening, that’s what it felt like when the sun cruelly woke me up the following morning. My mouth was drier than the Mojave Desert in July, and it felt like I had only slept for minutes instead of hours.
    Groggily opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was the clock on my nightstand. It was nearly nine. It took a minute for that to register in my brain. When it finally did, I bolted up, grabbing my head to steady the spinning room, then ran into the bathroom. In a great feat of multitasking, I brushed my teeth while trying to diminish the bags under my eyes with concealer. I spit out the toothpaste and wiped the residue from my mouth before pulling my matted hair into a messy bun, securing the few fly-aways with an elastic headband.
    Within seconds, Sport and I were dashing through the lobby and out onto Ocean Avenue. The wind was blowing the palm trees around on that Friday morning, but that didn’t stop runners and cyclists from getting in their morning exercise. I had only seen winds like this during a storm, but there was barely a cloud to be seen, the sun shining brilliantly in the autumn sky.
    “These are what we call Santa Anas,” the doorman said as I waited at the crosswalk, obviously noticing the bewilderment on my face. “They typically come around September or October. Makes it a great day for surfing.”  
    I turned toward him. He was tall and lean with tanned skin, and I estimated he was in his forties. Based on his appearance, I got the impression he spent most of his spare time on a surfboard. My assumption could have been wrong, but something about his dark brown hair that grew lighter at the ends, carefree demeanor, and enthusiastic smile reminded me of all those 1960s beach movies I grew up watching.
    “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.” He held his hand out toward me. “I’m Jeffrey.”
    “Baylee.” I smiled, shaking his hand.
    “I know.” He winked, tipping his hat to me. “Enjoy your walk, Miss Morgan.”
    I crossed over to Palisades Park, biting my lip to reel in the grin that was bursting to crawl across my face when I thought of my impending meeting with Sebby. I slowed my enthusiastic steps so as not to appear too anxious, although I wanted to run toward our unofficial meeting spot and not waste an instant of our time together.
    Approaching the bench where I had assaulted Sebby just a few days ago, a small smile crossed my lips when I saw him sitting there, Gidget at his feet, with two coffees in hand.
    “Hey,” I said, sitting beside him, trying to remain calm and collected when my senses, and libido, were on high alert. Much like our last two meetings, he was dressed casually in a t-shirt and cargo shorts, even in the chilly temperatures.
    “Rough start to the day?” He held out a cup of coffee and I grabbed it, taking a much needed sip. There was nothing like that first slug of coffee in the morning, even more so after a night where you gave Jack Kerouac a run for his money with the amount of alcohol you consumed.
    “What makes you say that?” I asked once the effects of the caffeine dulled my throbbing head.
    He chuckled softly, a velvety smooth melody. It was as sweet as buttercream frosting. I had always been convinced you could tell a lot about a person by the way they laughed. Some were loud and