Page 30 of Loathe at First Sight

Finally, I decide to be the first one to leave this situation. “Well, I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, okay,” she says, and we both start jogging once again.

The problem is that we both start running in the exact same direction. So much for us being able to avoid each other. The next time the trail splits, I’ll make sure I go in the opposite direction.

Because I’ll be damned if this woman takes this away from me.

ten

Every Woman Needs a Box of Fake Dicks

Liz

My morning run didn’t go exactly as expected. Running into Jack made sure of that. Seeing me seemed to make him just as mad as I was, but much to my surprise, he finally conceded that we could both use the trails without affecting each other too much.

And he was right. Although we did cross paths, it wasn’t bad. We would just pass each other and keep on moving. I had music blaring in my ears, so I didn’t pay much attention to him.

I did notice, though, that he wasn’t wearing flannel. I guess that shouldn’t be surprising; flannel would be awful to run in. What is surprising, though, is that the shorts that he was wearing showed off a giant leg tattoo. Tribal designs with skulls woven throughout covered all of the skin showing on his right leg—his very toned, very muscular right leg.

I may not have any interest in Jack, but I can admit when it’s clear that someone takes care of themselves. I’m not blind.

Another thing that I realized was that running in Lilly Leaf Falls is a far cry from running in LA. A higher elevation makes for a far more intense experience. Back in high school, I didn’t notice when I was doing track or cross country, but then again, I didn’t know any better. Plus, I was over fifteen years younger. That may have something to do with it.

Aside from my unexpected run-in, running was just the release that I needed. My dad was right. It did help me to feel some better. Running gives me a high that I can’t quite explain.

But after I came back to my parents’ house and got a shower, I have done nothing else. I’ve spent my entire day lying in bed watching trashy reality TV. I can’t seem to get enough of the drama. I guess it helps me to escape my own. Oh, and I’ve eaten a shit ton of cheese puffs—enough that I wonder if my fingers will be permanently stained orange.

Oh well. Worth it.

About 6:30, my mom starts beating on my bedroom door like she’s the damn police.

“Yeah?” I call in nothing more than a grunt.

“We are having family dinner. Michelle just got here. Get your ass downstairs.”

Man, it’s like being a teenager all over again.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” I reply.

“Now, Eliza.”

Oh, yeah. Definitely like being a teenager.

I manage to pull myself away from the drama on the television--but not before making sure to record the next few episodes-- and head down the hall to wash the cheese puff dust off my hands. When I do come downstairs, I see my sister, Michelle, sitting on the couch. She’s doing something on her phone while sipping on a huge fountain drink, which I’m guessing is Diet Coke.

Michelle has brown hair, lighter than the rest of us but still the same brown eyes. Her straight hair hangs down to her shoulders cut in a way that frames her face.

Before I can go over and talk to her, I hear, “Aunt Liz!”

I look over to see my thirteen-year-old niece, Eve, rushing over to me to wrap her arms around my neck.

“There’s my girl!” I exclaim, hugging her as tight as I can.

I may not have been around much while Eve was growing up, but I always tried to make sure she knew who I was—and that I loved her. I always sent birthday and Christmas gifts and would buy whatever she was selling for her school fundraisers.

A couple of times, she’s reached out to me, asking some questions about college. She’s super smart, so I guess she’s trying to get a jump on things. I’m not sure how much her mom knows about her calling me. I haven’t talked to Michelle in quite a while. I’m not quite sure what I did to piss her off, but she inherited her ability to hold a grudge from our mother.

“How are you doing, beautiful?” I ask Eve.

---