Chapter Two

The alarm sounding later that afternoon caused Jordan’s brows to furrow tightly.

“Already?” he mumbled, snaking his hand out from under the covers to press the snooze bar on the device and drifting off again.

But the machine’s insistent beeping ten minutes later caused him to snarl and throw the covers back.

Come on, lazy, go run, he chided himself. And then get ready for what will probably be a long Friday night.

He staggered his way over to the dresser and grabbed shorts and a t-shirt. As he got dressed, he could hear his phone buzzing repeatedly from the kitchen, but it stopped before he could finish tying his shoes.

Jordan moved through his apartment toward the counter where he had plugged in his phone. He picked it up and saw multiple texts from Evan.

About time you came to your senses, he told his friend silently as he read Evan’s words.

But Jordan also noticed Evan had not mentioned any plans to confess to Karli.

Why not tell Karli what he’s been up to anyway? his conscience asked. Doesn’t she deserve to know that she’s been taking their vows way more seriously than Evan has?

She does, he answered himself. But I am the last person she needs to hear it from. I could tell her – but if I do, I need to make damn sure it is for the right reasons, not a selfish one.

He sighed as he closed and locked his apartment door to head to the park, hoping he didn’t cross paths with Karli during his run.

***

I don’t feel like running. But it’s gorgeous out. I think I will just take my time and walk and enjoy the sunshine, Karli decided.

She changed into her jogging suit and headed for the park, hoping that physical activity would help calm her growing restlessness.

She meandered down the trail, watching a group of small children squeal with laughter as they took turns down the slide in the park’s playground to her left.

Karli turned her face away from the playground to focus on the path in front of her and noticed Jordan some distance away but approaching quickly.

A strange thought popped into her head.

Maybe I just need to ask him what the hell his problem is.

She waited until he was close enough, then waved to get his attention. But he never slowed his pace and moved past her without acknowledging her at all.

Stunned that anyone could be that rude, she stopped and turned around, watching him as he disappeared further along the trail.

Wow. I know for a fact he saw me. What a jerk.

It was just enough to torpedo her mood, and Karli’s eyes brimmed with tears of hurt and frustration.

***

He was so focused on his running and his music that he didn’t see Karli until it was too late.

There she is, right in front of me, Jordan realized. Dammit. What do I do?

He could not take the chance of stopping and talking to her. Not right now. He couldn’t trust himself to stay aloof and not bring Evan’s deeds to light.

So, he’d taken the path of least resistance – which was not to even acknowledge her, much less talk to her, and he’d noticed the flash of surprise and hurt in her eyes as he’d run right on past her without stopping.

I am so sorry, Karli. But it’s better for us all if you think I’m an ass. Trust me.

Even so, he completed the rest of his circuit with a heavy heart, knowing he had intentionally hurt her, and knowing he could never apologize for it.

After all, apologies involved talking, and if he talked to Karli, all sorts of things might come to light that were much better off left unsaid.

Why can’t I just move on, find somebody else? he shouted in his brain as he ran.

You know why, came the familiar answer. Fool yourself all you like, but you already know exactly why.

***

Since she knew Evan would not be home in time for dinner anyway, she indulged herself and made one of her favorites – angel hair pasta with chicken and mushrooms.

Cooking had always been a favorite hobby of hers, and Karli had found over time that the simple motions of preparing a meal also soothed her soul when something was weighing on her.

And something was. Karli shook her head, still in shock about what had happened in the park.

Still cannot believe Jordan just raced on by like that. He’s not even trying to hide the fact that he hates me anymore. And I still have no idea what I have done to him to deserve that.

She plated her meal, then poured herself a glass of the red wine she enjoyed occasionally. She had heard small amounts of wine could help settle an upset stomach, and hers had been acting up for the last couple of days.

Really hope it’s not the flu, she thought as she moved to the living room. I would like to be able to have a decent weekend with Evan – provided he gets to be home for once, that is.

Karli curled up on her end of the couch, flipped on the TV and called up the recordings of her favorite true crime series. She scrolled down, finding the next one in sequence that she had not seen yet, and pressed play.

Seven o’clock, she noted, twirling pasta onto her fork and spearing a chunk of chicken to accompany it as the opening credits came on.

Evan will be home in three hours. But until then, I am unplugging my mind. Gonna enjoy my food and my show.

***

“Ready for another one?” Tim asked.

“You know it,” Jordan answered. “I just hope it’s not too interesting tonight. Maybe the drunks will have the sense to let someone else drive.”

“I hear ya. Hey – grab some more gauze rolls and tape, we’re low on the rig,” Tim requested.

“You got it. Anything else we need to stock before our shift starts?”

“And…” Tim rummaged through the last cabinet, “two more cold packs, please. We’re good on everything else.”

“On it. Be right back.”

Jordan went and grabbed what they needed to stock the ambulance.

His pre-shift tasks accomplished, he grinned at Tim and said, “Okay, buddy, take us out.”

***

Karli had been so engrossed in her show she was not aware ten o’clock had come and gone until she paused the TV to get another drink.

“Wow,” she exclaimed. “It’s really almost eleven?”

She went into the kitchen and saw her cell phone still on the counter. Scooping it up, she noticed she had no new messages.

“I thought he said he’d text me if he wasn’t going to be home by ten,” she muttered, frowning, as she dialed Evan’s number and waited.

But the phone rang five times, then went to voicemail.

Karli hung up, confused, then dialed again. This time it routed straight to voicemail.

So, he saw it was me but didn’t answer, and then turned it off? What the hell is that about?

She could feel herself shifting from confused to angry; it was crawling up her spine to tense up her shoulders and her chest and inflame her cheeks.

She dialed again, and this time left a message for him to call her.

Then she refilled her wine, and settled back into the living room to wait, her phone within reach on the end table next to her glass.

By midnight Karli was mad down to her toes, and in a moment of spitefulness she used the lock chain on the front door before she went to bed, knowing Evan would not be able to get inside easily.