Free Finding Serenity (Serenity Beach) by Hunter J. Keane Page A

said. “They aren’t going to leave without a shot of me coming out.”
    “Okay.” I nodded, knowing that he was right. Getting pictures of Nolan looking upset as he left Snyder’s bedside was exactly what they wanted. “We should get this over with before more of them show up.”
    “You don’t get it, Jordyn. This isn’t your life. But trust me when I say that you don’t want to walk out there with me. You’ll become part of the story, and there’s no going back after that.” His eyes were pleading me to agree with him.
    He was right. I didn’t want that kind of attention. “Come with me. I know a different exit we can take.”
    Right after moving to Serenity, I cut my hand while cutting open a pineapple at work. Danny had brought me here to get it stitched up and they had been fixing the automatic doors out front. We had entered through a side door. That same side door led out to the back of the parking lot.
    “Nice work, Lewis,” he said.
    Since I had walked to the hospital, Nolan drove me home. I gave him directions for the long way, with lots of turns, so we could make sure we weren’t being followed. By the time he walked me to the door, he looked like he was about ready to collapse.
    “Maybe you should just crash here,” I suggested, worried that he wouldn’t stay awake long enough to drive back to the estate.
    “That is a very tempting offer, but if I step through that doorway, sleep will be the last thing on my mind.” Nolan’s mischievous look was very hard for me to ignore. When he looked at me like that, I wanted to jump his bones.
    “Point taken. Text me when you get there so I know you made it home safely.” I pulled him close for a long hug, one that was practically impossible to end.
    He kissed me goodbye, lingering longer than was kosher for a goodbye kiss, but still not long enough in my book. I was only inside a few minutes when someone knocked on the door. I threw it open, expecting it to be Nolan. Instead, it was a delivery man handing me a large bouquet of flowers.
    “Jordyn Lewis?”
    I nodded, staring wordlessly at the assortment. There was no way these were from Nolan. I knew that, but I was still hopeful when I set them on my kitchen table and checked the card.
    “ Who is he, Jor? I’m not giving up without a fight. ”
    There was no name, but I didn’t need a name. I knew exactly who had sent these flowers. And the person that sent them also knew exactly where I lived.
    My stomach churned and I ran to the bathroom, making it just in time to retch into the toilet. Nolan thought that his past was complicated, but I worried that when he finally learned the truth about my past, he would decide I wasn’t worth the trouble and he would be right.
    Nolan called me later in the day, after he had gotten a few hours of sleep. I expected him to be in better spirits, but he wasn’t calling with good news.
    “I just got a call from my agent,” he said. “My contract says I need to be seen by the team’s doctor. If he clears me to play, I have to rejoin the team.”
    “You’re leaving?” I tried not to sound completely devastated, but I failed.
    “Yeah. I’m leaving early tomorrow.”
    “How long will you be gone?”
    “Three, four days at the most.” Nolan tried to sound chipper. “I’ll hurry back. I promise.”
    “But not if they clear you to play. You won’t be back.” I didn’t like how my stomach twisted into knots at that thought.
    Nolan said, “Yes, I will be back, Jordyn. Even if they say I’m physically able to play, my head is just not in a place where I can do it.”
    “Do you really think you’re not ready?” I hated to think that Nolan might give up his dream just as it was starting.
    “I don’t know.” He sighed. “Look, let’s not worry about it just yet. Not until we know what’s actually going to happen.”
    “Alright.” I looked up and saw the flowers on the table and fought a chill that ran down my spine. I made a mental note to