Free Escaping Perfect by Emma Harrison Page A

at her with both index fingers. “And this one’s gonna be epic.”
    â€œAlthough I think the bathing suit is strictly optional, no?” Jasper said, leaning one hip against the counter as he looked me up and down. “And I mean that in the best possible sense.”
    Shelby snapped another pair of jeans. I tried to ignore her.
    â€œWhat the heck is Fun Run?” I asked.
    â€œIt’s this thing Ryan’s crazy brother came up with a few years ago, and now that he’s off at college, Ryan has kept it going,” Fiona explained.
    â€œUm, excuse me, it’s just this awesome thing my brothercame up with a few years ago.” Ryan turned to me, rubbing his palms together, his knees slightly bent like he was about to catch a baseball. “On the first Friday of every month, we do a Fun Run. Every citizen of Sweetbriar between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five gets a text, from moi .” He paused to put his hand on his chest and bat his eyelashes. “The text tells them where to meet up and when. You have twenty minutes to get to the spot with the proper gear, or you have to work the party instead of enjoying it. And let me tell ya, we do enjoy our Fun Runs.”
    I glanced at Fiona. She nodded grudgingly. “They are pretty cool.”
    â€œSo tonight’s Fun Run requires a bathing suit?” I asked.
    Jasper raised his hands. “I still say strictly optional.”
    Snap! went Shelby’s jeans.
    â€œJax, don’t be corrupting our Fiddler here. She just got to town,” Tammy admonished.
    I smiled. Her protectiveness felt oddly gratifying. And this Fun Run thing had gotten my adrenaline racing. It sounded like an adventure. Like just the kind of thing Cecilia Montgomery was never allowed to do, which meant that Lia Washington was all over it.
    â€œThanks so much, Tammy. For everything.”
    â€œAnytime, Fiddler,” she replied. “And if you decide youwant those boots you’ve been eyeing, come on back and make me an offer.”
    â€œBet on it.”
    I paid her for the clothes and slid the heavy bag from the counter. Along with my change, Tammy handed me a gold chain with a pretty bird pendant on it, wings spread out like it was taking flight. She must have seen me admiring it earlier.
    â€œGift with purchase,” she said with a wink and a look that told me not to argue.
    â€œThanks,” I replied.
    Shelby stared me down so hard on my way out I almost flinched.
    â€œWhere you two off to in such a hurry?” Jasper asked. “I just got here.”
    â€œWell, apparently I have to go find myself a bathing suit,” I told him.
    â€œI suggest a halter style!” Tammy called after us. “It will totally flatter your figure!”
    â€œThank you!” I laughed as I followed Fiona out the door and on to the sidewalk. “She is awesome. How in the world did she produce Shelby?”
    Fiona shook her head, eyebrows raised. “One of the many mysteries of nature.”
    â€œHey, Red Sox!” We turned to find Jasper holding openthe door, giving me a teasing grin. “You need any second opinions on those bathing suits, you give me a holler and I’ll come running.”
    I just about melted into the sidewalk. Luckily, before I could blurt out what was sure to be an incoherent response, Shelby appeared behind him.
    â€œAre you coming back in, or are you just going to stand there wasting all the air-conditioning?”
    Jasper laughed and gave us a little salute. “Ladies.”
    He went back inside, letting the door swing shut behind them. I caught one glimpse of Shelby’s scowl before Fiona started up the sidewalk.
    â€œRyan seems nice,” I said, trying to get my mind off Jasper. And Shelby. And the potential of Jasper and Shelby.
    â€œHe is. He’s harmless,” Fiona replied. “Those two have been friends practically since birth. Started out as day-care buddies, and now