Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
With the gruff mountain man gone, I rinse the dishes and maybe do a tiny bit of research around his cabin, which involves opening every closet and searching all of his cabinets. But there’s nothing to tell me who he is or why he’d be on the run.
The only thing interesting about him besides that scowl is his pantry. It’s filled with so many canned jars of different fruits and vegetables. He’s easily spent months—maybe years—amassing this much food.
When I finally have to admit that I have more questions than answers, I slip into my faded running sneakers and start my favorite playlist on my phone. There are hiking trails nearby that are perfect for running. It was what made me want to rent this cabin in the first place.
Outside in the bright sunshine, I stretch slowly to give my muscles a warm up. The first few minutes of my run are the hardest. They always are. It’s the time when I want to give up. Everyone talks about how running creates endorphins. They don’t talk about those long few moments before those endorphins show up.
I keep my run light and easy today since I’m not familiar with the trail yet. But I’m still sweaty underneath the warm autumn afternoon sun when I head back to the cabin. As soon as it comes back into view, that feeling of peace washes over me again. I wish I could stay here forever. I’d love coming home to this little scenic spot everyday.
As I walk up the long driveway, I spot Whiskey kneeling by my car. He has it up on a jack, and he’s changing my tire.
“What are you doing?” I demand as I huff and puff up the steep incline. My face has to be red and glistening, and my hair is back in a messy ponytail. But when he takes one look at me, attraction flares in his expression.
“What does it look like?” He mutters, dropping his gaze.
“Like you’re changing my tire. Tires,” I correct the word to the plural form when I survey the other three old tires that are carefully stacked together. I knew the tires needed to be changed. I was planning to get around to that. “Why are you doing this?”
“So that when you leave, your car won’t go skidding off the side of my mountain.”
His words make my stomach swoop like I’m on a rollercoaster. He’s so confusing. He wants me gone, but he’s also worried about my safety.
“Yep, I’ll be gone in just twenty-nine days,” I remind him as I start back toward the porch that needs some furniture and throw pillows. I’ll miss the view, the running trail, and the autumn foliage. I will not miss the gruff mountain man.
He calls after me before I disappear into the cabin, “I’m counting down the days.”
“Don’t tamper with my brakes,” I yell over my shoulder and go inside with a smile on my face. Something tells me the next four weeks are going to be more fun than I imagined.
Chapter 6
Sophie
It’s been a week since Whiskey changed my tires, and we’re slowly falling into a routine. I make breakfast in the mornings then he leaves for whatever he does. He always returns in the late afternoon, covered in dirt and sweat and looking more at peace than when he left. I think the work is the only thing that soothes him, just like running soothes me.
The ‘ghost’ is still haunting me, probably because I’m sleeping in Whiskey’s bed. Furniture is always being moved around, and messages are left on the bathroom mirror. Though the one from this morning told me to have a nice day. I guess she really is a friendly ghost. Or maybe Whiskey doesn’t hate having me here as much as he’s pretending to.
I spend my days training for the upcoming 5K race, reading e-books on my tablet, and daydreaming about my future. I always thought I would spend my life working with my mom. Now, I have to find a new dream. I’ve been experimenting with recording videos on my phone. I’ve been playing with the idea of starting a video channel, but I haven’t decided what it would be about just yet.
My mom still calls me every day to check in. She sounds better with each call, less worried. I hate that this has been so hard on her too. I wish I could snap back into my old self. But since I can’t, I take my pills and do my weekly check-in with my therapist using a video app to meet with her virtually.
After Whiskey comes home, he makes dinner for both of us then we spend a few hours watching TV together. I’ve been introducing him to my favorite horror shows, and he shares his favorite documentaries. It’s oddly calming to spend our nights together on the couch with Bella and Tobias between us. They’ve become fast friends with Bella hovering over Tobias and watching out for him.