Page 108 of Veil of Lies

Was there a 10-step program for sex addicts? If so, sign me the fuck up right now.

And this was exactly why I needed some emotional and physical space.

“I should go with you.”

I pushed him away and scowled. “No, it will be fine. I need some space to wrap my head around shit.”

“But it’s better if one of us is with you because—”

“No! I’ll be fine! I’m sticking to the circular trail. There are bound to be other people out there today. Look! The sun is shining! It’s still early!”

Quinn grumbled, but all this overprotective bullshit was doing my head in. I needed space and I wasn’t in the mood for a fucking babysitter.

Before he had a chance to change his mind and pull some running shoes on, I was out the door.

???

The trail was soft and spongy underfoot. I loved running in the forest, it was so much nicer than pounding the pavement or slogging away on a treadmill. Running was my escape. It helped quiet my brain. I could tune out and just be in the moment, forget about who I was and the shit show that was my life. Out here, on the trails, I was just a girl that liked to run.

Running was something I’d always been good at, not that I ran competitively or anything.

Hell no.

I had no great desire to take part in races or join the track team. I ran for fitness, to stay in shape, and for the buzz of pushing my body out of my comfort zone.

It was fair to say my fitness had taken a nosedive in recent weeks, but the burn in my thighs was pleasant rather than painful. I relished the way my body hurt a little.

The more uncomfortable it felt, the easier it was to push all the intrusive thoughts out of my head.

Although I’d told Quinn there would be other people out on the trails, I didn’t see a soul. The only sound was my labored breathing as I hit an ascent and the softer noises of birds and trees rustling in the light breeze.

The sun was sinking lower in the sky and the trees were bathed in a soft golden glow.

When I reached the lookout point, I paused to catch my breath.

Fuck I needed to start running properly again. My heart rate was higher than normal and my vest was soaked with sweat. The humid air wasn’t helping. It was hard to cool down when the air was so warm and sticky.

A twig cracked nearby, and I spun around, but there was nobody there.

I peered through the trees, searching for signs someone was nearby. I couldn’t see anything amiss; nothing stirred, not even the stagnant air.

It was probably just an animal, but the sun was setting quickly and I was at least three miles away from the campus perimeter.

My skin prickled with anxiety and all the good vibes I’d built up on the way here evaporated. I was suddenly very aware of how isolated this spot was.

If someone was following me, I’d have zero chance of fighting them off. Perhaps I was being paranoid…OK, so I probably was being paranoid, but given everything that had happened lately, was it so surprising?

I restarted my GPS watch tracker and headed back down the trail, my eyes scanning the deepening shadows around me.

The slightest movement sent my heart rate through the roof and the closer I got to the campus, the faster my pace.

By the time I saw the sports complex through the trees, I was practically sprinting as panic overtook common sense.

The trees thinned out and I was about to sigh with relief when someone grabbed my arm. I screamed with shock and stumbled over a tree root, falling hard, taking the other person with me.

We both landed in a pile of dead leaves, him taking the brunt of the fall. I desperately tried to escape, lashing out in panic.

“What the fuck, Stella!”

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