Free Forever Distraction (Distraction #3) by Stephanie Jean Page B

around the corner, she was on her phone when she hit a hole in the road. She overcorrected and hit your grandfather. I thought he was gone for sure.” He paused, gripping the bridge of his nose before continuing. “She never slowed down. I was in shock for the first time in my life as I watched the scene unfold and couldn’t respond. Your grandfather climbed out the window and hurried over to help the young girl. He was wounded and in shock, but I heard him speaking softly to her, trying to calm her . He put his hands on her throat trying to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. He didn’t kill anyone; I was there, and it was a miracle she didn’t kill him.”
    I pivoted in my seat away from him, sadness engulfing me, sadness for my grandfather, and sadness for Jason. I stared out the window the rest of the car ride, not focusing on anything, just avoiding Smith. I didn’t want to hear anything else.
    We arrived at the beach house, the wind pushing against my back, forcing me toward the three-story vacation home. I had mentally envisioned a long run on the beach, but instead, I had some chicken and veggies, and then soaked in the large Jacuzzi tub. My feet throbbed, and just the bloody appearance of the soles was enough to make me cringe. I tried to relax in the bubbly bath, bombarded with thoughts about the story Smith shared with me in the car.
    I fell asleep reminding myself how important it was not to feel. Feelings made people vulnerable, and vulnerability showed weakness; it allowed others to hurt you. Numbness was my way of coping, my self-preservation. My dreams were of Grandfather drenched in blood and Jason watching. I hardly slept. In the morning, I got up early and found shorts and running shoes in my closet. I couldn’t lie there anymore; my plan was to sneak out and have a long, quiet jog before everyone woke up. I opened my door slowly, tiptoeing out into the long hall, and a series of alarms went off. The deafening sirens made me feel as if I was stealing a car.
    Within seconds , I had Smiths Two and Three at my attention. Annoyance and frustration fueling my tirade, I stormed around them, a loud growl escaping my lips. I headed for the back door, determined they were not going to kill my morning alone time. Smith was at the back door with shoes and long running pants on. He flashed me a triumphant smile, and it made me want to pull my hair out and scream. “Ms. Covington,” he said as he opened the door, pretending to be a true gentleman. What an ass.
    “Did you sleep like that, old man ?” I didn’t wait for an answer; I just took off on my morning run. The smell of the ocean wafted all around me, and I lost myself in the beauty and freedom of the water. The wind pressed against me, creating the sensation of an embrace, which I happily accepted. The mist hit me as I sprinted next to the water and I closed my eyes. We ran for close to two hours; Smith was gasping behind me when we returned. It was my turn to flash him a victory grin. “So maybe if I can’t fire you, I could get you to quit.” He was bent over huffing and puffing, and didn’t even try to look up or respond. I was kind of surprised he didn’t quit right then.
    The morning flew by , with Gracey meeting me at breakfast. She kept me busy with papers and things while the phone was attached to her ear as she made appointments and relayed stuff I said to other people. My father showed up for lunch, which was a surprise. He ate a spinach salad with me and did most of the talking. He sent my mother to a place in Arizona, calling it ‘a great spa place’. I knew the place, and this just meant they were fighting and he shipped her away to figure things out. I was a lot smarter than people gave me credit for. He asked me to go sailing with him over the weekend, but I told him I wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t say anything the rest of the visit.
    I strolled along the beach after lunch as Smith Two followed. I relaxed in the sand,