PART 4–CHAPTER 163
JESS
The sky was painted with shades of pink and orange, and the ocean sparkled below like a million tiny stars. A brisk breeze whipped my hair around as I ran, and for the first time in a long while, it felt good to be moving–not running from something, but simply enjoying the freedom of it all.
A year ago, I was running because Aiden told me to, and sponsors promised me so many things if I just pushed a little harder. I pushed it too far, and my love for running turned into resentment. It took me over a year to start again after Aiden, but now? Now I loved running again.
I picked up my pace, the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement syncing perfectly with my country playlist. With every breath, I felt lighter, like the world’s weight was finally letting up. I’d landed a job I actually loved: working with injured athletes to get them ready to train and play again.
Then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration breaking the happy trance. I slowed down, just a bit curious to see who was reaching out. It was probably work–related–things had quieted down a bit lately, but I kept my eye on a few clients, primarily athletes nursing injuries.
I glanced at my screen and grinned. It was Mark.
“Hey, Jess! I know we have our appointment at noon, but any chance I could swing by earlier? My leg is killing me!”
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Mark was a football player I’d been working with since last season. He’d torn his hamstring during the finals, and recovery was a serious uphill battle.
“Absolutely! Come by at 10. I’m free until 2, so it’ll work out perfectly.”
I tucked my phone back into my pocket, slipping my one earbud back in.
As I turned around to head back, someone suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path. I skidded to a halt, clutching my chest as my heart threatened to jump out of my skin. He was tall, wearing a baseball cap low over his face, casting a shadow that made it hard to see who he was.
“Jessica,” the deep voice said, calm but unnervingly familiar.
I dropped to my knees, gasping for breath as I tried to steady my pounding heart. “Shit. You scared the crap out of me,” I muttered, rubbing my palms over my knees as I stood back up, straightening myself to get a better look at him. His eyes were locked on me, expectant, like he was waiting for something. Recognition, maybe? But my mind was drawing a blank.
He kept staring, his arms now folded across his chest, and I could feel the tension radiating from him. I bit my lip and offered a polite smile. “Uh… hi. Sorry, do I know you?” I asked, feeling awkward as the words left my mouth. This had been happening more often than I’d like–people from my past expecting me to know them while I fumbled to piece together fragments of my old life.
The guy cocked his head to the side, his expression hardening with disbelief. “You don’t know who I am?” His voice was laced
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with something–was it frustration or amusement? His arms remained crossed like he was testing me somehow.
I shook my head, feeling the heat rising in my face from embarrassment. “No, sorry. There was… an accident a while back. I hit my head, and now some of my memories… they’re just gone.” I sighed, running a hand through my damp hair. “So, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I really don’t know who you are.”
For a split second, something flickered in his eyes, something sharp. And then, his lips curled into a smirk. “That’s funny,” he said with a chuckle, but it wasn’t really to me. More like he was speaking to the universe like it was some kind of cosmic joke. “Nice try, Jess. What are the chances of that?” He shook his head, still smirking, and I could see the disbelief in his expression.
I narrowed my eyes. His familiarity made my stomach twist. There was something about him, but for the life of me, I couldn’t place it. “I’m serious. I don’t remember.” My voice was firmer now, and I stood up straighter, meeting his gaze head–on.
He stepped a little closer, his eyes searching my face like he didn’t believe a word I was saying. “You really don’t remember me?”
I swallowed hard, the frustration bubbling up inside me. “No. I don’t.”
He studied me for a beat longer, and then something in his face shifted.
The smirk faded, replaced by something unreadable. “Guess I’ll have to remind you then,” he muttered, almost to himself, before sticking out a hand between us.
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“I’m… Eric. The name is Eric.” He smiled at me. I paused for a second before taking his hand. “Jessica, it’s nice to meet yo
