"Really? Are you sure?"
"I promise. So give me the list and I'll get started on everything."
"You're the best," Cara said, looking up at me and smiling.
6
Jackson
A loud knockat the front door woke me from a deep sleep. I rolled over and listened, praying that whoever dared to knock on my door before seven in the morning would just go away.
"Get up, you ass," I heard my cousin yell from the front of the house as he banged on the door again.
"Hold on," I mumbled out loud to myself and as I kicked the covers off and grabbed the pair of jeans that lay across the end of my bed. I shoved one leg into them and then the other as I made my way to the door. I pulled the door open, peeking out, running my hand through my hair.
"Holy shit, what the hell happened to you?" Asher said, taking one look at me as I pulled the door open and stepped to the side so he could come in.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Fuck, man, you look like shit."
"Thanks for the compliment," I grumbled.
"Was it a late-night party last night with Zoe?" He chuckled and pushed his way past me and flopped down onto the couch, placing his feet on my coffee table, just missing the plate of half-eaten dinner that I'd left there last night.
"No, I worked last night," I barked, shoving the front door closed.
"You're probably wondering why I'm here, aren't you?" Asher chuckled, grinning up at me with his cocky-ass smile.
"Since it's not even seven in the morning, that's exactly what I'm wondering," I grumbled and flopped into my recliner, shoving the empty beer bottles out of the way that sat on the table.
Asher shook his head in disbelief. "Well, since you forgot, it's our workout morning."
I blew out a breath. "Look, I'm exhausted. Maybe even still a little drunk. I'm not hitting the gym this morning, man." I leaned my head back against the chair and closed my eyes.
"I see, well, you're in luck then because I figured, instead of hitting the gym, we'd head down to the beach and go for a run. Maybe check out some hunnies along the way."
I chuckled and ran my hands over my face. The last thing I needed to do was to go check out some hunnies. "Nah, I think the gym will serve us just fine," I said, running my hand through my hair as I looked around at the mess of my living room and tried to summon an ounce of energy to get ready.
"Nope, I call it. We're hitting the beach. Was it a busy night?"
"Not really."
"Then why do you look as if you've only gotten an hour’s sleep?"
I looked from my cousin to the floor. I wanted to tell him why but figured I'd just leave it alone. I didn't even know how to begin to digest seeing Bailey again. When I'd heard she was coming back, I figured she'd bail or, if she did return, I’d be over her after all this time. I figured that the revolving turn-style my bedroom door had become screamed that, but one look into those baby blues of hers and, well, all I needed to do was take a look at myself in the mirror this morning to know that I was far from over her. She'd had the same effect on me the first time I'd laid my eyes on her in high school.
"Because that's about all I've gotten."
"Well, to make you and I feel better, go get your ass changed, and let’s get going. It's a beautiful morning, and we both could use the air," Asher said, standing up and heading into the kitchen.
"Where are you going?"
"To make a shake. I had no protein powder left." Asher chuckled.
"You never have any left." I chuckled. "While you’re out there, make me one too," I yelled as I made my way down to the bedroom to get changed.
The sun beatdown on me and sweat poured down my back as we continued our brisk pace across the wet sand. I allowed myself just to connect with the sound of the ocean, my breathing, and the pounding of my heart. Soon, the thoughts of Bailey were gone, and I finally felt like myself again. Asher had been right, this run, this time, had been exactly what I needed.