Free Always with You (WIth You Trilogy) by R. J. Sable Page B

the weeks to come. The idea of facing them without Jason didn’t make things any better but I didn’t think that would last too long. I loved Jason whole-heartedly and I knew he felt the same. A stupid argument wasn’t going to keep us apart. The only question was, which of us would be the least stubborn and apologise first?

Chapter 10
    Sunday 7th July 2013
    I found Xander at the kitchen table nursing a cup of very strong smelling black coffee. It was only just six in the morning but I wasn’t all that surprised to find him up. I was used to finding Ian in the kitchen before everyone else. Maybe it was just a military thing.
    I hadn’t slept at all. The unfamiliarity of my new bed, in combination with Jason leaving the night before, and Ian going away, had left sleep impossible. At least that meant I escaped the nightmares that I’d been plagued with since the kidnapping.
    “Morning,” I greeted Xander, summoning the last remaining threads of my manners.
    “Morning,” he grunted back without looking up from his coffee.
    I scowled. I was making an effort. I didn’t like being made to do this but he’d at least been given a choice, or at least I assumed he had. I sighed and made a lame attempt at hiding it whilst I made myself a cup of tea. I knew Adam wouldn’t be up for a good few hours so I tried to keep the noise down. My head was still a jumble and I knew what I wanted to do but I wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed to. The thought made me scowl again. I shouldn’t need to ask permission.
    Remembering my promise to Ian, I took a deep breath. “Um, I wanted to go for a run if… if that’s allowed,” I stammered awkwardly.
    Xander didn’t move, he just continued staring into his coffee. He stayed still and silent for so long that I wasn’t sure if he’d heard me.
    “Fine,” he said after an eternity, still not looking up at me. “ Back here in ten minutes with your kit.” With that he put his empty mug in the sink and disappeared up to his temporary room.
    I sighed and went to get changed into my gear. The twins had done a decent job of cheering me up the night before with their goofy senses of humour but now that they were gone I was a little down again. I needed the run to clear my head.
    “No music,” Xander instructed as I came back down into the kitchen.
    I bit back a complaint and pulled my headset out and dumped it onto the sideboard without grumbling – which was a challenge.
    “How far do you run?” He asked.
    I quickly looked him over. There was no way he was asking me because he wasn’t sure he could manage the distance.
    I shrugged. “I just usually run ‘til I get bored and then turn back.”
    Xander didn’t look impressed.
    “Um, maybe 10K?” I offered, seeing his look of frustration.
    “Fine,” he nodded briskly. “I pick the route, you set the pace.”
    I frowned again. “Um, you know your way around?” I asked sceptically.
    He nodded again and I decided that was the most information I was going to get. At least that would save me worrying about getting lost.
    “Wait here,” he ordered once he opened the front door.
    I frowned again and waited for him to check outside. It made me nervous to see him doing it. I guess it was because it was such an obvious reminder of the danger that could be out there. I shivered and pushed it out of my mind. I had never needed a run so badly.
    Xander motioned me out and started jogging towards Hyde Park. We jogged in silence with him indicating for me to turn left or right every now and then. It pissed me off that he seemed to be irritated by my very existence and I found myself picking up the pace just to try and annoy him. I should have known better then to try and outrun a military guy. He kept pace and I was even more annoyed when I caught him smirking slightly. I slowed down so that I could talk comfortably.
    “Why are you doing this?” I demanded.
    He raised his eyebrow at me but didn’t answer.
    “Seriously, why are you