Chasing Air by Delaine Roberts Page B

and she was able to change and head home. David was behind her on the way out to the parking lot.
    “Hey Mak, can I talk to you for a minute?”
    She stopped and gave him her undivided attention. “What’s up David?” As if she didn’t know the answer before she even asked.
    “I just thought you needed to know something about Ryler. When his wife Cyndi left him, it almost killed him. He hasn’t been the same since, that is, until you. He’s captivated by you, but if you aren’t interested or you’re seeing someone else, let him know. Don’t hurt him. He bleeds red, just like you do.”
    David didn’t give Makenzie time to reply. He turned and moved on to his car, leaving her standing alone in the parking lot. She found herself feeling alone and in the midst of a funnel cloud, the world just turning around her. She stood there trying to grip what David asked of her.
    After a few minutes, Makenzie got in her car and let her tears flow, finding release from all the tension that had been building. Why did everything have to be so hard?
    She was paralyzed and unable to move. Propped on the steering wheel, she saw the small family photograph that she kept tucked away. She missed them so much and needed to see them, talk to them, if only she could.
    She was alone. It was a life that she traded in order to live. Her sobs were uncontrollable at times as she spent the next hour in her car trying to come to a decision. She tucked the photograph of her sister and parents away in a safe spot and put the car in gear.
    Back at home, she changed into her running clothes and sought to clear her mind by pounding the pavement. She didn’t even keep up with how far she went, but the morning sun felt great on her back. When she returned to the apartment building, she saw Sarah in the lobby.
    “Hey Sarah, I haven’t seen you since Saturday night. I just wanted to say thanks for inviting me out, I had such a great time meeting everyone. What a fun group.”
    “We enjoyed having you join us. I understand from my brother that you two have a date on Thursday. I’m thrilled!” Sarah gave Makenzie a cheerful smile.
    “Yep, sure do. He’s picking me up here at seven. I forgot the name of the place he’s taking us to.” Makenzie was like a child when it came to surprises. She didn’t know the concept of patiently waiting.
    “He mentioned what he had in mind, but I’ll let him fill you in. That’s between you two. I try to stay out of his relationships. I’ve got to run, hope you join us again very soon! Bye, Makenzie!” She quickly retreated to her office.
    Something Sarah said caught Makenzie’s attention: relationships. She used it in a plural tense.
    Makenzie had no room to judge, especially with Ryler and even her old ghost. She was extremely curious if Jonathan was a player. Despite the fact that he was gorgeous, she just had a good time with him and the entire group. She was definitely attracted to him as well, and that delicious kiss definitely created a nice spark.
    Grabbing a few hours for a nap, she awoke feeling refreshed. The laptop was calling her name, and she had an uncontrollable desire to perform more research on both guys. The next couple of hours was consumed studying articles and photos of both of them. It seemed that each of them had been involved in quite a bit within the community and there were photographs of them with so many different women. Jonathan was definitely photographed the most, but much of it had to do with the family business.
    The men were so different. She shook her head and closed the laptop. The nonsense had to stop, it was pure mental torment, and it was self-inflicted even, which was worse.
    She packed her bag and drove over to the gym to get a good workout in with a boxing bag and a self-defense class. She had mastered the class some time ago, but there was nothing like her Krav Maga classes. They reminded her of scenes from a movie she had watched several years ago where this woman