Page 4 of Embracing Easy

I’ve been eyeballing the house next door to mine for a while, wondering if anyone was going to do something about the eyesore. It’s been abandoned and neglected. The landscaping is overgrown, the roof sagging, and unfortunately, now that it’s mine, I’m discovering there are a whole host of other issues.

“I’m heading home, brother.” Wrath calls over his shoulder with a two-finger salute.

I nod, deciding to head out too and salvage what’s left of my day off.

Lexi

“Tell me again why you couldn’t stay in Kentucky.” Mara knows why I have to move. Staying in Kentucky isn’t an option if I want to get away from John once and for all.

After leaving the hotel bar some weeks ago, he stayed away to give me time to move out.

He didn’t put up a fight at all, which I’m thankful for.

I thought things were done; over.

Boy, was I wrong. John was just boarding the crazy train and headed my way at full steam.

It started out with him blowing up my phone, begging me to hear him out. He claimed the few days apart gave him time to think,and he realized he was making a huge mistake, which led to his persistent pursuit in trying to “fix” things.

I tried everything I knew to get him to see that the damage is done, and if he gave it some time, he’d see it’s all for the best.

I thought I’d gotten through to him, but once again, I was wrong. John has now become obsessed.

He was showing up at my door in the middle of the night, shouting to be let inside so we could talk things out face to face.

When I refused to see him, he started showing up at the animal clinic where I worked.

The last straw and my breaking point was when he cornered me in the supermarket parking lot and pinned me against my car.

In that moment, as he stared down at me with bloodshot eyes and wrapped his hand around my throat, I saw that he was officially unhinged.

By the grace of the gods, a police cruiser pulled into the lot, and John took off.

For the next month, I managed to dodge him while I made plans to relocate out of state.

“Lexi?”

“I told you. Miami is a fresh start.” And far away from Kentucky.

“But why so far away?”

“You were there!” I laugh. I didn’t have the first clue where I wanted to go; each place was just as appealing as the next—New York, California, Las Vegas—the list went on and on.

Ultimately, I decided to leave it to fate. So, I taped a map on the wall, grabbed a dart, and let it fly.

Miami, Florida.

With the destination decided and out of the way, I searched the internet for a place to stay, rented it sight unseen—obviously—packed everything I owned into my car, and hit the road.

“I was, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you’re really gone,” Mara says through the speaker.

“You can come visit anytime you want,” I remind my friend as Siri instructs me to take a left.

I’m not supposed to be in Miami for several more days, but I’m anxious to put the miles between me and John.

Continue one-eighth of a mile to your destination.

“It’s not the same.” It isn’t, but there isn’t anything I can do about that.

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