7

Zoe

The alarm is blaring, and I smack my arm down over the bedside table to try to turn it off. I miss, and the alarm keeps beeping. It’s an old alarm clock, with bright red numbers and a long snooze bar. I crawl my fingers over the bedside table until I find the alarm clock and turn it off.

I groan into my pillow before opening one eye and looking at the clock: 5:30am. It’s early, but it’s just enough time to go for an early morning run before work. I sigh and roll out of bed. My eyes are still mostly closed as I head to my stack of workout clothes. Thankfully, I left everything out and ready for the morning. I’m not sure I’d have the energy or the drive to dig through my suitcases for running leggings. I pull them on, still half-asleep.

It takes me about a mile before I’m truly awake. My headphones are blaring in my ears and I can see the first rays of sunshine coming out over the mountains. I’m at the edge of town, and there’s a thick mist hanging low on the ground. The air is crisp and clean. When I inhale, I remember why I like to get up this early.

By the time the sun is warming the ground, I’m turning back toward the town of Lang Creek. I wind my way through the trails that I’ve been running on, and head back toward the main road. As I leave the forest behind me, a black pickup truck catches my eye. I slow down, frowning.

My heart starts beating harder as I get closer to it. It’s parked outside a single-story house. Well, a cabin, really. Most of the houses in this town are log cabins.

I stare at the truck, reading the license plate and trying to remember the truck parked outside Ethan’s BnB. When I pass it, I shake my head and continue toward the town. I ignore the thumping in my heart, blaming my run for the hammering in my chest.

It’s probably not his. How many people around here have black pickup trucks? Probably everyone in town, and everyone in the next town, and the next. I shake my head, taking a deep breath and trying to forget the smell of his skin and the touch of his hands on my body. It was one night, and I’m probably never going to see him again.

And even if the truck was his, who cares? So he lives in Lang Creek! What does that change? We had one night of fun. I thought I’d never see him again, but even if I do see him, it doesn’t mean we have to date.

Still, my heart is still racing and I know it’s not because I’m running. A deep well of excitement starts to build inside me when I think of seeing him again. What if it was his truck? I might run into him at the grocery store, or at the bar. We could talk, and maybe even grab a drink together. And then… well, whatever happens, happens.

As I get to my hotel, I climb the steps up to my room and close the door behind me. I lean on it, closing my eyes and sighing. My blood is pumping and my breath is heavy, and all I can think of is Ethan.

Even if he lives here, seeing him again would be a bad idea. A terrible idea! I’d be the new girl in town, immediately crawling into bed with one of the locals. Bad, bad idea.

I open my eyes again and try to forget about him. There’s no way that was his truck. I’m just riled up because I’ve had sex for the first time in years. I’d probably be infatuated with anyone at this point.

I peel my sweaty running clothes off and jump in the shower. I stand under the water and try to wash off the thoughts of Ethan swirling in my head. I start a new job today, and I need to focus. I’m all over the place! Even the sight of a generic black pickup truck is sending me reeling.

I wash myself methodically, enjoying the billowing steam and the hot water of the shower. When I wash between my legs, a tiny thrill passes through me. I pause, and remember the way Ethan was touching me just twenty-four hours ago. My fingers move in slow circles, and I remember the way his breath was heavy in my ear. I remember his groans, and the way he grunted when he came. I remember his lips crushed against mine, and his hands all over my body.

The water is pouring down over me and I put a hand on the shower wall to steady myself. I’m panting again, and my fingers are moving faster and faster. When I come, I’m thinking of him. My body is shaking and I can hardly hold myself up, but I manage to turn off the shower and steady myself.

As I dry myself off with a thick white towel, I sigh. I wrap the towel around me and fall into bed, closing my eyes for a moment and groaning in satisfaction.

Even if it wasn’t Ethan’s truck parked in Lang Creek, I’m still getting some good mileage out of the thought of him.

I can’t enjoy the after-effects of my orgasm, because my phone rings. I drag myself out of bed and see my daughter’s face on my phone. I press the green button to answer, and a video call starts between us.

“Morning, Mom!” Audrey says. She has a huge smile on her face and I gasp.

“Your tooth!”

Audrey laughs. “I lost it this morning! Grandma says if I put it under my pillow, the tooth fairy will come and give me a dollar.” She glances behind her and comes closer to the camera. “But I know the tooth fairy doesn’t exist.”

“How do you know that?” I ask, my heart squeezing as I realize my little girl is growing up.

“Megan at school told me.”

“Ah, well don’t listen to everything Megan tells you.”

“She told me that I look ugly with my missing tooth,” Audrey says, and I see a flash of pain across her face. My heart squeezes again and I wish I were there to give her a hug.

“That was very mean of Megan,” I say, frowning. “You know you’re beautiful, Audrey, don’t you?”

Audrey makes a noise and doesn’t look at me. I frown again. “Is Megan mean to you often, Audrey?”

My daughter takes a deep breath and won’t look at the camera. I frown and sit up, holding the towel up on my chest.

Audrey shrugs and shuffles the phone in her hand. She shows me her tooth, turning it around in her hand and laughing. I smile, and my heart grows in my chest. We talk for a few minutes, and then she puts my mother on.

“Hey, Mom,” I say. “Did Audrey mention this Megan girl to you?”

My mom’s lips purse and I see her face cloud. She nods. “Doesn’t sound like a very nice girl. I’ve tried talking to Audrey about it but she gets really quiet when I try to press her.”

“I hope she’s not being bullied.”

“I’ll try to talk to her. How was your weekend? Did you go out for a drink on Saturday?”

“Yeah,” I reply. “It was nice.”

My mom nods, and I hear Audrey in the background. “I’d better let you go,” my mom says. “Love you, Zoe.”

“Love you too, Mom,” I reply.

We hang up the phone and I hold it to my chest. Yes, I’ve been lonely since Mark died, and yes, I loved Ethan’s attention. But at the end of the day, I’m here for my daughter. I’m making some money that will pay for her piano and soccer and start a small college fund for her. The next couple months working on this contract are important for me and most importantly, for my daughter.

I sigh and put my phone aside, rubbing my eyes and combing my fingers through my hair. I get up and finish getting ready. By the time I’m getting in my rental car, I’ve put all thoughts of Ethan aside. I’m going to go to the Ranger’s Station and start Day One of their new training. I’ll do the best possible job I can, and I’ll bring home a great paycheck for my daughter’s future.

Those words play back over and over in my mind until I pull up outside the Station. I feel calm, and confident, and focused. I’m ready to do this, even if it’ll be difficult.

When I get out of my car and head toward the small, green building, I catch a glimpse of a pickup truck parked on the side of the building. It’s the same one I saw this morning. I frown, and my heart starts beating faster. I keep walking toward the building, and grab the door handle with one hand. I glance at the black pickup one more time, and then pull open the door and step through.