I took full advantage of the truck. I couldn’t just sit around an apartment and do nothing. So I got dressed, pulled my hair back in a sloppy ponytail, and did something I never thought I’d get a chance to do.

Have time alone, be unknown, and write.

That’s right…write.

I didn’t confess everything to Zayne. Not about Parker. Not about myself.

I always had the dream of being a writer and tried to pursue it a few times, but never really got too far. Then I met Parker, and he sort of stripped everything good away from me. His vision was us, a house, kids, and his career. He wanted to open his own accounting firm and worked hard to get there. I tagged along, always hoping someday I’d get a chance to chase my dream down. But I became to blissfully ignorant to life that I found myself unable to really write.

The idea struck me when I saw a notebook on the counter in Zayne’s kitchen. It was a blank notebook. Not a single page used. I opened a few drawers and found a pen.

I climbed into Zayne’s huge truck and drove to Hundred Falls Valley and found a little corner cafe. I walked into the place as an unknown. I ordered a coffee without anyone judging me. And then I took a seat near the front window and sipped coffee and started to write.

What did I write about?

Everything that was happening in my life. It ended up in more of a journal format than a story, but what did it matter? I was putting words to paper. I didn’t have to worry about the diner, customers, everyone that worked there.

Although, my phone did ring twice with Emilio calling me with his angry accent wanting to know why I hadn’t come in and what the hell I was trying to prove. I just ignored the call and the voicemails. I’d find another place to work once I was done traveling and found somewhere to settle.

I gazed around the cafe and then out the window at the small town.

What was wrong with here?

To me, nothing.

I could hang here, right?

I could get to know Zayne better. There was something about him that was just comfortable. Not to mention the way he ran right to my side to defend me when he thought Parker had hit me. That was really sexy. But it sort of showed his own personal story. There was so much more to the tattooed hot guy than what met the eye.

With one coffee down, I walked to the counter and ordered another, plus some snacks.

When I turned, I heard a tiny voice say cookie.

There was a little girl in a stroller with her hair pulled up to the top of her head with a black bow with white skulls on it. A woman was behind the stroller, reaching into her bag.

“Cookie,” the little girl said again.

“We’ll get you a cookie, Paisley. Relax.”

“Here,” I said. I unwrapped my cookie and broke a piece off. “Do you mind?”

The woman shook her head. “No. But you don’t have to.”

I crouched and gave the little girl a piece of the cookie. “There you go. Is it yummy?”

She had beautiful blue eyes and a big smile. She nodded as she took the cookie and started to eat.

“Thank you for that,” the woman said. “I’m scattered-brained this morning.” She reached into her purse, and her face paled. “…and I left my wallet at home. Great.”

“No worries,” I said. I took out a ten and handed it to her. “Is this enough?”

“I couldn’t.”

“Please, I insist. Good karma.”

“Karma?”

I smiled. “Just…it’s a weird day for me too. Hopefully we can rub off on each other and get back to normal.”

“Sure,” she said. “I’m Diem. This is my daughter, Paisley.”

“I love both your names. I’m Bella.”

“I love your name too,” Diem said.

“Hey, D,” the woman behind the counter said. “What can we get you?”

“You know that already, Meg,” Diem said.

“How’s Cass doing?”

“Just wonderful,” Diem said. “Heading over to the shop now. Another fun day in the world of tattoos, after he spent half the night in his recording studio playing around.”

I froze. “Wait. Tattoos?”

“Yeah,” Diem said. “Paisley’s father, Cass, he does tattoos over at St. Skin. Are you new in town?”

“Yeah, I am,” I said. “Funny as it is…I know Zayne.”

“Oh, Zayne,” Diem said. “I’ve met him a few times. He’s quiet. Keeps to himself. Are you his…”

Girlfriend? Fiancee? Wife? Fuck-buddy?

“No,” I said. “Just a friend. Visiting. I was sitting over there, sipping coffee and writing.”

“Oh yeah? Writing what?”

“Just writing. Enjoy the peace and quiet.”

“I wouldn’t know what that is,” Diem said as she motioned down to Paisley.

“She’s so quiet, though,” I said with a grin.

“Because she’s eating that piece of the cookie you gave her. And she knows she’s getting another one. You should be at the house around six when it’s time for dinner. You’d swear a carrot was poison.”

I laughed.

“Well, you go enjoy your peace,” Diem said. “And thank you for this. Can I meet you here tomorrow? To pay you back?”

“That’s fine,” I said.

“I’ll make Cass pay Zayne.”

“Fine,” I said. “It was really nice to meet you.”

“Diem, you’re all set,” Meg said from behind the counter.

“On the run,” Diem said. “The only way to live, right?”

“Yeah,” I said. I looked down at Paisley. “Nice to meet you too, Paisley.”

She smiled. Then she said, “Cookie?”

“Once we get in the car,” Diem said.

I took my seat again and smiled.

This was exactly what I had been looking for.

Newness. Calmness. The small town jibber-jabber stuff.

I bit my lip and started to write again.

My breakfast was coffee. My snack was coffee and two cookies. Well, to be fair, one and three-quarters cookie because of the piece I gave to Paisley.

I wore out my welcome, and when my stomach rumbled for food again, I found a place to get lunch before heading back to Zayne’s apartment.

I had no idea what time he planned on being home. I thought about texting him, but it wasn't my business. But I could have texted about my car. I needed to know what was going on and how much it was going to be. My bank account only had so much in it. And there would be nothing else going in it anytime soon.

At least I knew my years of diner experience could be easily transferred and would pay off at any restaurant or diner or cafe in town, if need be.

Then again, if I was going to be bold enough to make a move and stay in town for more than a day or two, I needed to get out of Zayne’s apartment. I couldn’t stay for long. A night was one thing. Two nights was something else. But more than that…

My phone started to ring.

I was hoping it was Zayne.

It was Parker…

* * *

I sat on the counter, my feet dangling, swallowing hard, my mouth instantly dry. I hated that just by seeing his name that’s how my body reacted. I hated that my mind flashed with images of Parker. In bed. With Abby.

As I started to shake, the call ended.

I didn’t answer.

I did not expect Parker to leave a voicemail.

But I also did not expect him to call right back again.

This time, I answered the call.

“Parker,” I said.

“Where the hell are you?” he bellowed into the phone.

“Can I help you with something?”

“This isn’t a game, Bella. You have us worried sick.”

“Us?”

“Come on,” Parker growled. “Don’t do this. Not now. Not like this.”

“Not like what, Parker? When did you plan on doing this? Huh?”

“I don’t want this conversation over a phone,” he said. “Come home. Where you belong. Before you end up hurting yourself or doing something stupid.”

“Like what?”

Like breaking down and ending up in the apartment of a guy who’s still a perfect stranger?

I looked around the apartment.

I hated when Parker was always right.

“Bella, where are you?”

“I’m somewhere safe,” I said. “That’s all you need to know.”

“Yeah? Well, I have Emilio calling me. Looking for you. You’ve been fired.”

“That’s okay.”

“That’s okay?!” Parker yelled. “So, this is who you are now? You just give up on everything? We have one little struggle…”

“A little struggle?” I asked. I laughed. “You were fucking my best friend!”

“Key word…were…okay? That’s why I wanted to talk to you. In person, Bella. Were. Things just got out of hand, okay?”

“That’s what you’re going to call it? Things got out of hand.”

“That’s exactly what fucking happened,” Parker said.

“Wait,” I said. “How are you yelling at me? You’re the one who screwed someone behind my back!”

“Just come home, Bella. Please. I’m begging you. Come home. Or tell me where you are. I’ll meet you somewhere. Anywhere.”

I bit my lip. I thought about it. I could have Parker meet me at the cafe. I knew we had a lot to talk about. This wasn’t just going to vanish on its own.

“Bella?” he asked. “Are you there?”

I looked around the apartment again.

“No.”

“No?”

“No. I’m not coming home. And you’re not meeting me anywhere.”

“You realize I can track your phone, right?”

“No, you can’t.”

“I can call the cell company,” Parker said.

“Then do it,” I said. “I don’t have a car right now, Parker. Okay?”

“You…what? You have no car? Of course you don’t. That piece of shit broke down again, didn’t it? How many times did I tell you to get rid of that thing? Huh? But you won’t. Hell, you can’t. You got yourself no money I bet. Can’t even afford a fucking car that runs. So where are you, Bella? Huh? Tell me. I’ll come pick you up. We’ll deal with the car later.”

“No,” I whispered. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Yeah, you’ll take care of it. Don’t make me get upset here, Bella. I’m trying to be patient with you. Think about everything you’ve caused between us in the last year…”

I lowered the cell phone to the counter and hung up on Parker.

I wasn’t sure if I’d ever hung up on him before. It sort of felt good to do. Just to get rid of him. He called right back, but I didn’t answer. He called again. I still didn’t answer. So he texted me.

This was my fault. This was all my fault.

That’s how Parker wanted me to feel. That’s what I started to feel.

I blinked fast, trying to keep myself together.

But what did it matter to keep myself together? I wasn’t out to impress anyone right then. I was alone. In an apartment that wasn’t mine. In a town that wasn’t mine. I was stuck. I was lost.

And then I was crying.

Parker texted one more time, but I didn’t bother to read it. I could already picture the way my life would be from now on. Parker convincing me it was a one-time mistake. Doing everything to make me forget about it. But it would forever linger between us. I’d walk on egg shells, worried I was going to do something wrong to make him do it again.

I swiped my hand against the counter and sent my cell phone flying across the floor.

I lowered my head, gritting my teeth. I wanted to be angry, not sad.

But I couldn’t control my body and the way it reacted.

So I cried. Because I was alone and because it felt good.

I didn’t expect the door to open.

I looked up, tears running down my cheeks.

And there was Zayne…